Where do we start on this one? https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/48301358271/in/album-72157709687428431/ Aside from those fighters that are able to "earn their keep" with flight experiences or other commitments, 2020 was a fairly quiet year. Plenty of two seat Sptifires/Mustangs and the Hurricane were kept very busy. There was also a handful of privately owned fighter that got plenty … Continue reading Waiting in the Wings – 2020’s Missing Favourites – The Fighters
The peaceful interwar years conjure up images of silver, shining biplanes looping and rolling their way through clear blue skies thrilling crowds of passers by below. https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/25572711506/in/photolist-8AZZoN-8AZZqs-8AWTFK-8AWTGg-8AWTPc-8AWTPv-8AZZxs-8AZZx3-8AWTMc-8AZZNo-8AZZQh-8AWTAZ-8AWTWt-8AZZv3-8AZZML-8AZZkf-8AZZwq-8AZZPs-8AWTVa-8AWU8i-8AZZmN-8AZZR3-8AZZo5-8AZZrm-8AZZpC-2gjg2bH-8AZZnC-8AWU6X-8AWU2B-8AWTXn-8AWTTz-8AWTZe-8AZZLw-8AWU1a-8AWTLD-8AWTYK-8AZZHy-8AZZSd-8AWTT8-8AWTW8-8AZZAY-8AWTU4-8AZZjL-8AZZDm-8AZZNS-8AZZm3-bv8DYK-qGPScR-EXLQc5-E3nhis As war approached the biplane gradually started to be phased out. Modern monoplane designs were coming to the fore and it seemed inevitable that the biplane would soon … Continue reading Fiat CR42 -Biplane Brilliance
As we come to the end of another national lockdown (for some at least), the relative freedom we all enjoyed across August and September seems a long time ago. I thought it would be a fitting start to this years series of Advent posts to share this account of a warm Friday in September. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/50658090932/in/photostream/ … Continue reading Duxford and Mildenhall – 18th September 2020
In a year that managed to deliver a handful of great flying displays, Duxford managed to deliver one more treat for enthusiasts. The Imperial War Museum hosted three "showcase days" this year, which allow visitors to enjoy an hour or two of based aircraft displaying as part of a normal museum day. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/50666186087/in/dateposted/ The early … Continue reading Duxford Showcase Day – 10th October 2020
I'm not sure I can ever remember a year where it's taken until August for me to spend the day, or even 10 minutes at Duxford. With the museum being closed since March I couldn't wait to get back in and even better they had arranged for one of their showcase days (effectively a small … Continue reading Duxford Showcase Day 4th August 2020
For many years the opening sequence of the Flying Legends show has been the trademark Spitfire tailchase. Typically consisting of 7 or so airframes (though recently as many as 10 or 11) this wonderful mix of Merlin and Griffon engine machines, charting a broad range of the Spitfire lineage. The tailchase typically showcases the Mk … Continue reading ‘Lockdown Legends Week 11 – Spitfires
As we near the last week of May (hard to believe we are already here!) it's time for another look back at airshow seasons from the past. This weekend would have marked the 2020 edition of the Duxford Air Festival. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/35430854156/in/dateposted/ May airshows at Duxford have been an early season fixture for decades now, originally … Continue reading Warbird Tails Looking Back – Duxford Air Festival
A 'Legends retrospective series would be incomplete without a small tribute to the Horsemen. Now a legendary name in the airshow world themselves the Horsemen team specialise in close formation aerobatics. Starting as a two ship display in the mid 1990s, in more recent years the team regularly display in three aircraft. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/45265210064/in/album-72157673758154607/ The team … Continue reading Lockdown Legends Week 7 – Horsemen
A look at two special 'Legends visitors for this weeks instalment then. Previous posts have looked at visitors from the states and some Russian types that have performed at the show. This week it is the turn of two European machines. One was a one off visitor and the other attended many shows at Duxford … Continue reading Lockdown Legends Week 6 – European “B 17s”
Another week of lockdown passes and with it we approach another would be airshow weekend, at least in part. This weekend is (for those still able to tell the difference) set to be a long weekend, with the traditional early May Bank Holiday Monday moved to Friday. This is to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of … Continue reading Warbird Tails Looking Back – VE Day
Warbird Tails 