Duxford BoB Air Show

[Guest]

Well, what a show and what a day. First of all the bad news. The traffic was horrendous. We arrived at Junction 10 of the M11, where Duxford Museum is located, at just after 10:30 this morning. We were a bit concerned as the slip road all the way to the roundabout over the M11 was full and we just had our back end sticking out onto the road. About 20 minutes later, we were half way up the slip road to the roundabout, not very far, and I would estimate in that 20 minutes there was now getting on for a mile tailback on the M11 and it was the same northbound to. For those who don't know it, Duxford IWM is literally just off the roundabout and it took another 45 minutes to get into the gates. I am sure that many just never got the chance to get in at all.

Secondly, I left the longer lens for my Nikon at home so I had my short zoom compact and a short zoom DSLR, so no flying pics. I was annoyed with myself at first but then I enjoyed watching the air display instead of tracking it in a viewfinder.

Good news. The flying was amazing, OK it opened with the compulsory Red Arrow and closed with the compulsory French display team. Leaving them aside we were treated to a Bearcat, Sea Fury, Mustang and a pair of Havards

This was followed by a Belgian display of a F16 in honour of the Belgians who flew with the RAF at the time of the BoB. Then a Leopard Moth and Hornet Moth followed by four, yes four Hurricanes and a Bouchon 109 flying around in mock combat. This was followed by a Gladiator and the usual noisy display of a Eurofighter Typhoon.

We then had a display from a Dragon Rapide and 5 Hawk jets flew past of 19(F) Sqn in respect of the Sqn being the first Spitfire Sqn.

A good semi aerobatic display by a Jungmann and a Jungmeister which were German trainers at the time.

The Hawks then returned with on leaving the 'Missing Man' formation and a minutes silence was observed for the lost. I don't think a single adult spoke in that minute, it went really quiet at our end of the field, very moving.

Then, the most amazing sight I have ever, or will ever see. A display of sixteen, YES sixteen spitfires in a mass scramble and then just a wonderful spectacle and sound of these 16 aircraft literally swarming around the airfield, it was like a swarm of gnats over a pond. The noise was incredible and it ended with a great round of applause from all over the field. I will never forget it at all.

Stands, quite a few model stands and even more die-cast ones. Airfix had their own stand with the building tables and either a Spitfire of Skyhawk kit that you just grabbed and built. Kate grabbed a Skyhawk and put it in her bag telling the bloke we would build it later lol. For the rest of the day I was walking round with a huge Airfix sticker badge on...... sad I know.

Yes I did have to buy something, wasn't going to but good or bad, I saw something I had never seen. An Airfix Hi-Tech Harrier in 1:72 that has metal ejector seat, undercarriage and photo etch parts to. Never heard of these before and the box is ridiculously big for a 1:72 but it looks like it will be fun to do.

Also picked up an old airfix 1:48 Hurricane (I actually like the Hurricane more than the Spitfire but I have never built a kit of it) This will do until I decide on a better kit.

Lastly, one I have had a slight eye on for a while but couldn't make up my mind as it is 1:35 and I am trying not to do them but this kit I just love. It is the Mini Art Mk III Valentine II. This is, I believe, a fairly new kit and comes with three superb crew figures in Desert garb. It has 657 parts, 600 of which are the tracks by the look of it lol. Seriously though this box is crammed full of plastic and a small PE set.

No doubt Dave (Gern) will be begging me to send him the track links to prep as he loves the single link tracks so much ;-) This will make a superb model if I get it right.

Sorry I have no flying pics but I will post a few statics I took later.

[Guest]

Mini Art Mk III Valentine II that is one big kit,just looked at their website.Very impressive. Hope to go to Duxford next year,the last time I was there was over 25yrs ago.

Tony..

[stona]

Glad you made it Graham,we hit a jam just over six miles from Duxford at about 11.30. We went about two miles in the next hour,watching the red arrows from four miles away! Decided it was time to call it a day and went home. I doubt we'd have got there for the show anyway. Never mind.

I've been to other shows there and whilst I've had to queue a bit I've never seen anything like that. Looking on the bright side it's good to see how much interest there is in this sort of thing,albeit on a well publicised anniversary of the BOB. Good income for the IWM too.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

It was a shame you couldn't make it Steve, the line up of Spitfires, Seafire, Hurricanes were awe inspiring. It was heaving though, I have never seen it so busy.

[Guest]

Oh dear - I have a feeling that I'm going to be in a cast of one here! I've stopped going to Duxford; it's a case of 'seen it all before' for me. Yes, 4 Hurricanes sounds amazing to see, but as for the rest of it...Bear Cat, Sea Fury, Mustangs and Harvards? For a BoB airshow?? And as for the Buchons - why do people like Flypast Mag insist on calling them 109s? They're not - they don't look right and they don't sound right. OK, since the demise of Black 6 they're as close as we're going to get, but lets be honest. I'd be drawn to Duxford more if they could get some seldom-seen overseas participation - how about the Germany-based 109G? Or the Austrian P-38? Yes, I know - it does all sound a bit churlish...but to be frank, I've seen all of Duxford's residents flying many times over the years. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who keep them flying (especially Sally B), but I'm going to leave it a couple of years and then go back to see if there's any new kids on the block.

I stand by for the brickbats!!:devilangelfight:

[stona]

No brickbats Snapper,you're entitled to your opinion. I have some sympathy for your view though 16 Spitfires in the air doesn't happen very often and I'd have loved to have seen that. I was at Flying Legends a couple of years ago and thought that the 8-10 that flew that day was impressive. Don't forget that there is a limited number of these aircraft in flying condition. The point for me is,even if you've seen most of the aircraft before, That the BOB airshow would make a good day out as Graham has shown. It's also very reasonably priced compared to comparable events.

Duxford has an unfortunate history with P-38s doesn't it?

Dailymotion - P-38 Lightning Crash at Duxford Airshow - a Auto-Moto video

Incidentally rolling the P-38 at low altitude is expressly forbidden in the pilot's notes for the type due to the resultant loss of altitude. Before I get the brickbats I know what the official investigation concluded in clearing the pilot and blaming a mechanical failiure.

As for a real Bf109 of any marque......I'd be there both days just for that!

I'm 100% with you on the Buchon. It doesn't look or sound like a Bf109 but it's all they've got.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

No problem Snapper. To be honest, I find most of the flying at air shows boring. I never watch the Red Arrows on principle, to me they have not changed since I first went to a show when they flew Gnats (or was it the Provost?)

I tend to go for the atmosphere and the static displays of which there were few off the flight line at Duxford except of course that it has one of the best air museums there is. I managed to have a look around the American Museum for the first time while the Red Arrows were on and it is fair to say that there is some good stuff in there.

Two things really struck me about this show though, one was the number of Spitfires and my favourite Hurricanes flying, you don't get that sound any other way. The other was the very steady and majestic flight of the Sally B (now my favourite nose art and my wallpaper :-) I had never seen a B17 flying before. OK, the BOB Memorial flight was there but I still don't understand why the Lancaster is part of it. Like the B17, I would like to see the Lancaster showcased in its own right. I don't think many Lancasters took part in the BOB but I will be happy to be corrected.

All the flying wether you have seen it before, love it or loath it adds to the atmosphere of the day and it is certainly different to a none flying day even without craning your necks. But it was a great few hours entertainment and to walk around the displays, stalls and some of the Museum was well worth the cost for me as it was one of the lower priced shows to get into, the Flying Legends was too expensive I thought.

On top of that, I had a couple of great coffees and the best chips I have had for a while :laughing:

[Guest]

It's not pretty, is it, watching the P-38 go in. Black 6, the superb Bf109G, was also a victim at Duxford, but thankfully she (and the pilot) survived, albeit as non-flying.

I've never been to overseas shows like La Ferte Alais, but I understand they get participation from all over Europe. It's only another 22 miles to cross the Channel; get some over here!! (The Germans managed it in 1940, after all:grinball2

Graham - just to make you green; I was at Duxford one day in about 1989/90, and saw....wait for it...FIVE B-17s take off and formate before going off to film 'Memphis Belle'. Now that was a sight!

[Guest]

Consider me green lol