Spitfires at Duxford

[deanglen]

Ran across these at a favorite website of mine. Thought some might like them:

dean

 

[BellyTank]

Me, and 2 other FL members- Paddy and Alan Eardley,
were at Duxford together a couple of years back.

More than Spitfires.

B
T

 

[Spitfire]

Have been at Flying Legends two times - and have great plans and high hopes to go there again this summer.
Must be the greatest warbird show on earth!!!:eusa_clap

 

[BellyTank]

Must be the greatest warbird show on earth!!!:eusa_clap

Nope-

That would be New Zealand's "Wings/Warbirds over Wanaka".
(Lake Wanaka, NZ.)

Spitfires and much, much more...

Ohhh.... the Polikarpovs!

B
T

 

[Spitfire]

Guesse everybody has their favourits...personally I am pretty satisfied when I have seen eleven Spitfires, two Hurricanes and nine P51 Mustangs flying together at Duxford.

And then come all the others too.
The finale had 39 WWII planes in the air at one time....:eusa_clap

 

[BellyTank]

Yeah- you're right, that does sound prettty good.

B
T

 

[silhouette53]

Guesse everybody has their favourits...personally I am pretty satisfied when I have seen eleven Spitfires, two Hurricanes and nine P51 Mustangs flying together at Duxford.

And then come all the others too.
The finale had 39 WWII planes in the air at one time....:eusa_clap

Amen to that brother !! Duxfords 'Flying Legends' airshow is an experience not to be missed. Apart from all those wonderful aircraft zooming around, there is the Imperial War Museum itself -

Duxford is Europe's premier aviation museum - as well as having one of the finest collections of tanks, military vehicles and naval exhibits in the country.
This famous heritage site began as an airfield in the First World War and also played a vital role in the Second World War, firstly as an RAF fighter station and later as an American fighter base.

In addition, there's the American Air Museum

The American Air Museum in Britain stands as a memorial to the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases in defence of liberty during the Second World War, and also honours those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq and other conflicts and battles of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This outstanding example of contemporary British architecture houses the largest collection of American warbirds on display outside the United States, including a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and aircraft from the Cold War era such as a B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71 Blackbird and F-4 Phantom, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.

There are always veterans there too and it is always a pleasure and an honour to meet and speak with these people - their numbers are dwindling and one day this opportunity will exist no more. I recall speaking to one Battle of Britain vet and thanking him for what he'd done. his response ? "Oh, it was just a job you know "
Going up in a Hurricane every day and putting his life on the line was 'just a job' !! I remember his face as he watched the Spits take to the skies and I tried to imagine what he was thinking, - probably something along the lines of "Was it REALLY over 60 years ago ?"

If you've not been there I would urge anyone to go - this years Flying Legends airshow is on the 7th & 8th July - see you there ?????

 

[Micawber]

I lived close to Duxford for some years and it was always a treat to have so many lovely aircraft overflying our place every now and again. I have attended Flying Legends on a number of occasions including as a guest in the VIP enclosure, the mass flypast at the end never fails to impress.

One of the best Spitfire displays I ever saw was at Old Warden which was just up the road. We would sometimes trundle up in whatever classic vehicle I had at the time to attend their evening picnic displays. On one occasion it was a bit windy for the really old stuff so they let loose the MkV for an impromptu display - stunning stuff.

Going back to Duxford I remember going up there with my dad back in 1968 when they were filming Battle of Britain ...still one of my favourites. I have had the pleasure of taking and accompanying quite a number of veterans there over the years. Often fascinating, always an honour.

 

[deanglen]

See'em in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43zVRey2XEs&mode=related&search=

dean

 

[Spitfire]

Love that movie - and especially this part with the music. After all these years, it's still fantastic!:eusa_clap