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
Another week of lockdown and this new world gone by and time for another look back at a show many of us would be enjoying this weekend. The annual airshow at La Ferté-Alais near Paris in France is arguably the greatest celebration of flight around the world. The show covers everything from Edwardian pioneer machines … Continue reading Warbird Tails Looking Back – La Ferté-Alais
Air Legend has managed to establish itself as one of the world leaders in terms of variety and quality airshow line ups, all hosted at a wonderfully characterful airfield lifted right out of the cold war. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/49195352292/in/dateposted/ The show features a couple of times in this years Airshow Moments and this first look back features … Continue reading Airshow Moments 2019 4 – Battle of France at Melun Air Legend
Just a few months on from my last warbird chasing trip to the continent for the now annual pilgrimage to La Ferté-Alais, it was time to return to France to take in a newcomer on the airshow scene. Located only around 30 minutes to the east of La Ferté (I even stayed in the same … Continue reading Air Legend 2019 – Melun Villaroche
Getting stuck in traffic outside an airshow does sometimes have its advantages. Waiting to climb the iconic hilly path up to the legendary aerodrome at La Ferté-Alais, the unmistakable outline of a warbird practicing aerobatics in the local area stood out. As I sat waiting for the traffic to move the silhouette moved into focus … Continue reading Meeting Aerien 2019 – La Ferté-Alais 8th June
Moving on from the Biplane Hawks and racers covered in the last post in this series it is now time to take a look at Curtiss' first monoplane fighter to make a mark in the Second World War, the P-36. Development This stocky fighter first took to the skies in 1935 and while a Curtiss … Continue reading Curtiss Story Part 7 – P-36/Hawk 75
Duxford’s May airshow generally marks the first major airshow of the UK airshow season. Especially important this year given the new regulations currently imposed on the UK scene by the CAA following the tragic events at Shoreham last year. Early displays at Abingdon and Old Warden had led to a few negative comments in terms … Continue reading American Air Show – Duxford 28-29th May 2016
I may have only attended one day of this years La Ferté-Alais show but even that has caused the need for two separate posts. This first post is going to give a brief overview of the morning before the show, the pleasure flying and the excellent flightline walk. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/26802822100/in/album-72157666051019644/ Arriving on the airfield you're instantly … Continue reading La Ferté-Alais Meeting Aerien 2016 – Flightline Walk
As January draws to a close I wanted to introduce a new feature to Warbird Tails, a news round-up of all things historic aviation. For what is usually the quietest time of the year aviation wise there has certainly been plenty of exciting news doing the rounds, with one major disappointment coming to light … Continue reading Warbird Tails News Round-Up 20th January 2016
The last major airshow of 2015 came with Duxford’s Battle of Britain anniversary show in late September. Saturday’s show was heavily affected by a road accident on the M11 early on in the flying program. With standstill traffic on the motorway and the attendance of the air ambulance, flying was heavily restricted to 1000 feet … Continue reading Duxford Battle of Britain Anniversary Airshow – 19th and 20th September 2015
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