RAF Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

[fordson]

Wife and I have been in the UK for almost two weeks visiting her relatives (after a long three years absence). This pass weekend we were in Cambridge visiting some family and her college friends. While there, we took time to attend the RAF Duxford Airshow. Duxford is just south of the city. September 15 is recognized as the Battle of Britain Remembrance Day. The airshow - if you like old planes - was great. Between us, we took 903 photos! Thank goodness it’s only electrons.
The show started with two minutes of silence in honor of the Queen, followed by a solo Spitfire fly by.
Here is a partial list of flying aircraft types and models. Most had multiple numbers flying. There were 20 Spitfires and 8 Hurricanes flying in formation at one point - not quiet the Duxford “Big Wing” - but what a thrill to hear those Merlins.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia, Mk.Vb, Mk.Vc, Mk.VIII, Mk.IX, Mk.XIV
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.T9
Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, Mk.IIb
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib
Hispano HA-112 M1L Buchon (Me-109E)
Yakovlev Yak-3UTI
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally B'
Westland Lysander Mk.III
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IF
P-51D Mustang 'Tall In The Saddle
F8F-2P Bearcat
Grumman FM2 Wildcat
Curtiss Hawk 75 (Curtiss P-36)
Goodyear Corsair FG-1D
North American AT-6/SNJ
Gloster Gladiator Mk.I
Beech D-17S Staggerwing
de Havilland Vampire FB6 (SE-DXS)
Tiger 9 Aeronautical Display Team
Mil Mi-17-1 Hip (Czech Air Force)
Mil Mi-24 Hind (Czech Air Force)
Some sample photos to wet your appetite

 

[fordson]

Some more photos for those interested

 

[quikdraw67]

Awesome!

I love the Hurricanes.

 

[H Richard]

In 1962 I saw many of the Brit planes who put on an airshow at RAF Sculthorpe where I was stationed. They really had a variety, and their Vulcan was bigger than most anything we had at the time.

 

[LVSteve]

The Bearcat was one of the pinnacles of piston engined aviation. The Curtis Hawk (P-36) is a forgotten classic.

 

[Rudi]

Outstanding! Thanks for posting.

 

[timjake]

Thanks for posting! I went to Duxford several times while stationed in the UK ('87-'89 and '93-'98). Always something new to look at.

Do you know where the Mi-24 Hind was from? I can't make out any national markings. I've seen one from Hungary with a similar paint scheme.

 

[fordson]

Both helos are Czech Republic Air Force aircraft. They were flown over for the air show.

A few more photos from the 900+ we took.

 

[Greyman50]

Thanks for posting, makes me miss air shows.

 

[fordson]

And to add…..
Some static display photos from the “American Hanger”……..
A nice assortment of US aircraft.

 

[quikdraw67]

The Me109's were from Spain IIRC.

They were re-engined after the war.

They were used in the 1969 movie "The Battle of Britain"

 

[LVSteve]

The Me109's were from Spain IIRC.

They were re-engined after the war.

They were used in the 1969 movie "The Battle of Britain"

They always looked "wrong" for a 109 at the nose because the Spanish used upright V motors, while the Daimler-Benz 603 and 605 engines were inverted Vs.

 

[timjake]

There used to be a real German Bf-109 (think it was an E model) at Duxford. It was pieced together from two that were shot down during the Battle of Britain. It belonged to the RAF Museum, but was on-loan to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Unfortunately, it was damaged in a crash in Oct 1997 while being flown by Air Chief Marshal Sir John Allison, Commander in chief of RAF Strike Command. He was not injured in the crash.

Here's a video of the crash: (crash occurs at 2:10)

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svw2vlicwwA[/ame]

 

[31FordA]

The Bearcat was one of the pinnacles of piston engined aviation. The Curtis Hawk (P-36) is a forgotten classic.

I think the only airworthy examples of the P-36 are in Great Britain.

 

[fordson]

I think the only airworthy examples of the P-36 are in Great Britain.

Correct, there are two. Both at RAF Duxford.

 

[LVSteve]

There used to be a real German Bf-109 (think it was an E model) at Duxford. It was pieced together from two that were shot down during the Battle of Britain. It belonged to the RAF Museum, but was on-loan to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Judging by the lack of tailplane struts and the long intake on the left of the engine cowling, I would say that was a G variant.

 

[fordson]

The HA-1112 M1L Bushon are Rolls Royce Melin powered “G” variants. They are painted to represent “E” models.

 

[fordson]

There also is a fine museum at RAF Hawkage. The museum specializes in BoB wreckage. On display are the wreckage of numerous British and German aircraft that went down over the UK. Each A/C has its own history and details of the downing action in addition to the crew’s biography and subsequent history. Extremely interesting, if you’re into that sort of thing……