Sundays Outside Team, the rest are underneath planes:
Starting just before 10:00 EP120 had an an engine test, quickly followed by the P40-F on the tie down. Elsewhere the team were busy cleaning down the Wildcat.
Spitfire
P40-F
Aeroplane news
Friday and both Bearcat and Gladiator have successful test flights today at the hands of PK.
Picture below caught the P40-F and Spitfire Mk Vb out for engine runs, possibly more important is that sky!
Important: FLYING LEGENDS 2013 UPDATE THURSDAY 4TH JULY
It’s the count down for the 21st Edition of Flying legends Air Show.
With only ten Days to go and after our gloomy, dismal weather, the forecasters are predicting a heatwave, participating aircraft and pilots are ready, The Manhattan Dolls are en-route to Duxford to wow you with their nostalgic renditions of bygone days, the marquees are built, and Duxford is alive with the promise of things to come.
It’s time to plan your visit to Flying Legends 2013.
Come and join us to celebrate the golden age of piston powered aircraft, come and witness outstanding flying display’s. Come and enjoy the many and varied ground attractions, relax with a picnic in the Vintage Village
Do not feel sad but Stephen Grey has decided the time has come to hang up his flying helmet & gloves. His final public displays will be at Flying Legends on the 13th and 14th July at Duxford, fittingly in our anniversary year. Your presence will be a wonderful thank you to the man whose vision, wisdom and talented flying has assisted the creation & success of this world class Legendary Air show. Stephen will continue to fly for pleasure and will continue to be a driving force behind the Fighter Collection in years to come.
Whilst the advance ticket line has now closed, we are pleased to confirm that air show tickets will be available on both the 13th and 14th July on the entrance gates.
A few remaining Sunday Gold passes are available for an upgrade on the day by visiting the Gold pass marquee located on the flight line adjacent to the control tower.
We look forward to enjoying the show with all of you.
4 July hangar update
Successful engine tests on P40-F and Bearcat 🙂 Test flights in the queue, awaiting pilot etc.
From Sunday we hope to have daily updates here.
Todays flying – Nimrod
More news from today, the weather was right and we had a pilot in the name of Stu Goldspink so the Nimrod was up and about for a practice flight.
A thrilling line-up announced for the Flying Legends Air Show Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July 2013
Over 50 aircraft are booked to appear at the Flying Legends Air Show, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July,
in a spectacular aerial celebration of historic aviation.
The Bremont Horsemen Flight Teamwill present the worldwide debut of their thrilling new display in a
trio of Supermarine Spitfires, including two rare Mark I variants.
To showcase the incredible lineage of the Supermarine Spitfire, we are proud to present variants ranging
fromthe Mark I to the Mark 19, flying alongside their old adversary, the Hispano Buchon (Messerschmitt
Bf 109). These aircraft will take part in choreographed dogfights reminiscent of the Battle of Britain above
IWM Duxford’s historic Second World War airfield.
The Fighter Collection is pleased to present a melee of Mustangs including two rare blue-nosed
Mustangs, Moonbeam McSwine and Princess Elizabeth. They represent aircraft flown by Captain William
T Whisner of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group at RAF Bodney, Suffolk in 1944. When the
352nd Fighter Group discovered that they were to be honoured by a visit from the then Princess Elizabeth,
they decided to christen Bill Whisner’s aircraft in her honour. Unimpressed by this imposition on his
beloved Mustang, Bill soon changed the name to Moonbeam McSwine. Princess Elizabeth arrived at
IWM Duxford in May this year to display as part of the Eagle Squadron commemoration at the Spring Air
Show. This is a rare opportunity to view this US-based aircraft in the Duxford skies once more before her
return to the USA.
Making a welcome return is the Flying Bulls’ Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair reg. OE-EAS. The Flying Bulls’
stunning aerial performances always wow the crowds at the Flying Legends Air Show.
The biplane era will be celebrated by a four-ship display comprising of two Hawker Nimrod aircraft, a
Hawker Demon and a Hawker Hind. These glorious aircraft are instantly reminiscent of the golden age of
adventurous aviation.
Continuing this bygone theme, we are pleased to announce that two Gloster Gladiator aircraft will fly
together for the first time at the Flying Legends Air Show and indeed anywhere else in the world.
A celebration of Curtiss aircraft includes The Fighter Collection’s Curtiss P-40B Warhawk , the only
remaining airworthy survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941, and their Curtiss P-40F
Warhawk, one of only two airworthy examples of this variant in the world.
Favourite aircraft returning to the Flying Legends Air Show include the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-
Stifutung Junkers Ju 52 and Messerschmitt 108; B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B; Dakota Norway DC3
On Sunday 14 July only, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster will join the Flight’s Spitfire and
Hurricane for a commemorative wartime display.
The wartime atmosphere continues across the museum. The Vintage Village, situated on the hangar
base next to Wing Co Joe’s Café, offers the perfect nostalgic destination for some rest and relaxation.
Enjoy authentic thirties and forties songs sung in true Andrews Sisters-style by The Manhattan Dolls, who
will have flown directly from New York to perform for visitors to the air show. The Wilmslow Concert Band
will be performing 1940s swing band classics.
Don’t miss the chance to clamber aboard the Home Front Bus! This unique living history experience
contains detailed reconstructions of a 1940s living room, a wartime shop, a bombed-out street and an air
raid shelter. Enjoy a glass of fizz fromthe Prosecco Bar and take the weight off your feet in our traditional
deckchair seating area. Complete your 1940s day by sitting in a replica Supermarine Spitfire!
Ops 1939-45 represent Battle of Britain-era RAF pilots and ground crew with uncanny accuracy. They will
present a dispersal point display at the Flying Legends Air Show, where they will be chatting to visitors as
they await the call to scramble. They will also be hosting Bomber briefings, where, as members of
Bomber Command, they will tell you about your target for tonight and get you ready for your bombing
mission.
The 42nd Field Hospital portrays US Army medical personnel from the Second World War, while the
Screaming Eagles Living History Group will be representing servicemen who served with the 101st US
Airborne Division, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Easy Company during the Second
World War. They will have displays at the air show and will be bringing the 1940s to life in US style.
We’ve got fun family activities happening between 10amand 2pm, in AirSpace, next to the Lancaster,
where you can get hands-on with RAF Bomber Command historical objects.
If you love the sound of a Merlin engine, don’t miss the dynamic display of seven instantly-recognisable
historic engines on the airfield jet pan, including two Merlins, a Griffon, two Leonides, a Napier Lion and a
Hercules.
Join us for another unforgettable Flying Legends Air Show! Advance booking has now closed but you can
still purchase your ticket on the gate on each day of the air show.
Flying Legends update for FofTFC members
We will have an engineering update in the next couple of days but not surprisingly the TFC Chief engineer is a bit busy with that manic look in his eyes that occur roughly three weeks before Flying Legends.
In the mean time some interesting news for Friends of TFC members – we are moving. That is the Friends tent is moving to a different location. So please make a note now. We will be located just east of the the Control Tower with frontage on to the Flightline.
Limited seating will as usual be provided but you are more than welcome to provide your own chairs. Note : NO STEPLADDERS!
We should have more news of interest to Friends of TFC as arrangements are confirmed.
Exclusive Video – Wildcat in the Air
While the temperature was a very humid 27 degrees today. Roy was demonstrating what happens to naughty engineers at TFC – they have to handcrank the undercarriage on the Wildcat for retraction tests. Just remember pilots do this while taking off! Thanks again to Greg who caught the Wildcat “in the air” today.
In other news, further flight tests are awaiting pilots and weather again. Corsair is awaiting engine parts and Sea Fury awaiting parts prior to overhauled propeller being refitted, Spitfire MkVb EP120 is being worked on. A more detailed report this week end.
Wildcat Flies
Monday 17th June, pm Wildcat has a successful test flight
– thanks to Greg for the pic
Flying Legends – Top Tips
Quick update the hangar is becoming quietly focussed and there is a definite air of purpose – The Nimrod and Wildcat have had engine runs and compass swings and all we need is the pilot and suitable weather at Duxford at the same time!! Work continues on the Spitire Mk VB with the addition of wingtips (again). The Mustang Tf-51 also recieving attention.
Now, however you choose to visit Flying Legends there is always more to do than time allows.
Here are a couple of ideas to save on time and hassle.
First join Friends of TFC online before you visit! This will allow you Free entry to the Flight Line Walk though the priority entrance. Plus you also have the benefit of the Friends of TFC members enclosure during the display. (We will have a special announcement about this area before Flying Legends): Join HERE
If you want to take the hassle out of Food why not pre – order the Keep Calm and Carry On picnic – details here:
Keep Calm and Picnic Advert 2013
The latest Fighter Log is nearly complete – we are just awaiting a few details before it heads off to the printer and is prepared as a download.
More news later this week.