Across the country and the world we are adapting to a slightly different way of life at the moment. While we are all quite rightly spending a lot more time inside, in my case rather than going out to look at aeroplanes, I wanted to try and bring some stories to this blog from around … Continue reading Museum Update: Heinkel Project HE 111 at Hawkinge
2019 was a year of great firsts for the UK airshow scene. We saw the debut of the wonderful Ultimate Fighters team (who have already been confirmed for their first 2020 appearance at the Air Festival at Duxford in May) and the incredible DH9 from the Historic Aircraft Collection. It also saw a wonderful tribute … Continue reading Warbird Tails 2020 Season Preview
Not so long ago the sight of three or more Mustangs in the air over a UK airshow was not uncommon. Recent years have seen the UK population wildly fluctuate, at points reduced to just two examples regularly participating in airshows. It seems that the rise of the Hurricane and Buchon has outbalanced the American … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 11 – Duxford Mustang Gathering September Show
This years Flying Legends brought a number of season highlight but it was the mid-point of the show that brought the real high point for many and an act thoroughly deserving of an airshow moments post, Ultimate Fighters. Since the announcement and associated trailer went live early in the year, there had been high anticipation … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 10 – Ultimate Fighters Debut
The UK Airshow circuit has been lucky to enjoy a number of Hawker Fury/Sea Furys over the years but rarely have any significant numbers been on the circuit at the same time. The past few seasons have seen Anglia Aircraft Restorations Fury II, Shaun Patrick's R2800 powered T20 and Navy Wings' Centaurus powered T20. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/49078855551/in/album-72157711818073412/ … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 9 – Fury trio Duxford September
Carrying on the Flying Legends theme now with a look at another unique moment from that show. For the first time in close to 100 years the remarkable sound and sight of an Airco DH9 Bomber took to the air over Duxford. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/48301472202/in/album-72157709687428431/ This restoration has been almost a legend over the past five or … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 6 -DH9 Debut
With the always popular news that the Flying Legends dates have been announced for 2020, this seemed an appropriate Airshow Moment to choose. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/48301358271/in/album-72157709687428431/ The joker slot, flown while the traditional finale "Balbo" formation at the end of each day builds up, is one of the highlights of the season. As spectacular as the Balbo … Continue reading Airshow Moments 5 – Magnificent Jokers at ‘Legends 2019
Large scale Spitfire gatherings have now become at least an annual affair at Duxford each September and as impressive as that will always be, it does get a little less special the more such an event is repeated. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/48501421226/in/album-72157710212544041/ Similar gatherings of the airworthy Hurricane population are far rarer though, with four ships having been … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 3 – Hurricane Gathering at Old Warden
A slight change to the Warbird Tails advent schedule today to make the historic event earlier on today which saw the "Silver Spitfire" MJ271/G-IRTY land back at Goodwood having flown around the world after the past few months. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/48154024012/in/album-72157709319106207/ The aircraft and its PC12 support ship, together with three pilots have flown over large ocean … Continue reading The Silver Spitfire – Mission Complete!
Over the past three years, the Imperial War Museum has gone through a number of notable changes in relation to their own flying displays. The May show has gone from a changing "themed" event to a new rebranded "Air Festival" format. The September show now seems to have the permanent Battle of Britain theme, generally … Continue reading Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow 2019
