This week looks at another Legends tradition that goes right back to the start. Back at the first Flying Legends in 1994 when Ray Hanna and Stephen Grey put on a thrilling pairs display in the Hawker Fury (example in a similar scheme pictured below) and Grumman Bearcat. This was dubbed at the time "Ultimate … Continue reading Lockdown Legends Week 2 – “Ultimate Big Pistons”
Well, we are all in the same situation at this point in time, stuck inside and chances are we will be staying that way for at least the first half of the coming season and summer. With that in mind, I thought I'd use the chance to put a small theme together. This series of … Continue reading Lockdown Legends – Week 1: Balbo Leaders
This post/series is something I have not revisited since the 2014 advent run but I thought it would be good fun to take a trip down memory lane and remember a few warbirds that have now departed for foreign shores. A large number of the fond memories in this post are aircraft that have passed … Continue reading Ghosts of Airshows Past 4 – Gone But Not Forgotten
After the original XF5F Skyrocket project came to an end Grumman sought to develop a new variation of the same design. The XP-50 was effectively a land based variant of the naval skyrocket, ordered by the US Army Air Corps in November 1939. XP-50 One obvious difference becomes clear when you first lay eyes on … Continue reading Grumman Fast Twins Part 2 – The F7F Tigercat
Grumman made an undoubted name for themselves throughout the Second World War with their famous “Cat” series of aircraft, culminating with the Bearcat and Tigercat, arguably the pinnacle of piston powered flight. In the late 30s however, Grumman almost created another twin engined legend. Grumman presented a design for a new twin engined carrier based … Continue reading Grumman Fast Twins Part 1 – The XF5F “Skyrocket”
It is a shame to start February off on a note of regret, but I didn't feel I could let the passing of US Navy ace Alexander Vraciu on the 29th January go unnoticed on this page. Without the brave men who flew these aircraft we love so much into war, we may very well … Continue reading Warbird People: Lt. Alex Vraciu – Hellcat Legend
A hallmark of Duxford airshows during the 1990s are early 2000's was the sight of the Grumman Cats of the Fighter Collection. For many years the cats made up the traditonal opening act of any show. Led by the distinctive Tigercat, with the Hellcat, Bearcat and Wildcat tucked in behind. A formation pass would always … Continue reading Photo Post – Grumman’s Big Cats
Flying Legends is always a highlight of any airshow season, the team behind the show always manage to secure something we haven’t seen before. 2004 was certainly a vintage year for Legends, rather than a review of everything that happened at the show, I thought I would use it to illustrate just how much the … Continue reading Ghosts of Airshow Past 1 – Flying Legends 2004
Warbird Tails 