The news broke last week that long-time Duxford resident and airshow favourite P-51D 'Ferocious Frankie' would be moving on to a new life and new owner in Turkey. The Mustang had been announced as being sold for a few months so it did not come as a surprise that the airframe would be leaving the … Continue reading Pastures New – Farewell to ‘Frankie’
At home in the Milestones hangar at Hendon is B.35 TJ138, the aircraft is displayed in a unique tail up position and wears 98 squadron markings. The aircraft was built at Hatfield and delivered as part of a batch of aircraft between July and November 1945. The aircraft flew with 98 Squadron in West Germany … Continue reading UK Mosquitos Part 6 – B.35 TJ138 RAF Museum Hendon
Over the Christmas break I took a trip up to the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon to get an up to date look at some of the recent changes. As you will know from past posts on this site the Museum is undergoing some significant changes. The hall previously dedicated to the Battle of … Continue reading RAF Museum Hendon Update December 2017
Occupying that ever-confusing time period between Christmas and New Year, the Shuttleworth Collection Open Workshop has now become a welcome traditional part of the Christmas break. The event offers the public a chance to take an unrestricted look at a number of the collection's aircraft and to speak with those who rebuild, maintain and fly … Continue reading Shuttleworth Collection Engineering Open Workshop 2017
The name Brooklands is synonymous with British automotive history, being home to the first purpose built motor-racing circuit in the world. Another important part of the sites story is a rich history of aviation development design and testing. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/38781374084/in/dateposted-public/ Brooklands was one of the first cradles of aviation in the United Kingdom and would ultimately … Continue reading Brooklands Museum Aircraft Factory & Flight Shed
As one final post for this year I wanted to take a quick look back at my personal top 5 shows of 2017. It has been another excellent year overall with plenty of variety, though once again Duxford and The Shuttleworth Collection feature highly on this list. 5. Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant As is a … Continue reading Warbird Tails Airshow Top 5 2017
For the final post of each Warbird Tails advent I try to have a bit of fun with a slightly silly Christmas themed post. I've put together a few Warbird Titles for some Christmas favourites! All I Want for Christmas is U2.... https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/27577542561/in/album-72157669238391171/ Santa (Sopwith) Baby.... https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/26212116005/in/album-72157666655901526/ Rockwell around the Christmas Tree..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/27244072340/in/album-72157666837149623/ Fairey Tail … Continue reading Warbird Tails Christmas Eve 2017 – Warbird Songs
Earlier this year it dawned on me that Warbird Tails would soon be racking up 300 posts - I thought the occasion certainly warranted some sort of celebration. I kicked around a few “300” themed ideas before ultimately concluding that there was one perfect answer; the Spitfire. The original Spitfire prototype was known as the … Continue reading Warbird People – Warren Pietsch: Spitfire at Reno
The 2017 instalment of Flying Legends has already featured in this Advent series already, taking a look at the mammoth journey P-51B Berlin Express took to fly as part of the Horsemen team for the weekend. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/36122305186/in/album-72157686765883725/ I wanted to shine the light on another standout moment from that weekend, the traditional "Joker" routine. The … Continue reading Airshow Moment 2017 – Flying Legends “Jokers”
For many years now, the Imperial War Museum's Mosquito, TA719 has hung from the ceiling in the airspace hangar at Duxford, the aircraft is painted in distinvtive target towing colours. This offers a very different representation of the Mosquito both in scheme and display. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/39180020641/in/dateposted-public/ A number of the Mosquitos currently on display are TT.35 … Continue reading UK Mosquitos Part 5 – TT.35 TA719
