Duxford Flying Legends Air show
North American B-25 Mitchells and Curtiss P-40N-5CU Kittyhawk at Duxford Flying Legends Air show 2009. Photo by Bob Franklin
Duxford's Flying Legends Air show is held every year in July. Possibly one of the most interesting and crowd gathering events in the UK, Duxford's Flying Legends features a plethora of impressive classic American and European Aircraft such as the Hawker Hurricane, P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire to name just a few. The atmosphere and nostalgia of Flying Legends are intensified even more so by the historic value of the Duxford Aerodrome and the events that took place upon it during World War II. Also you will find specialist traders, Second World War crew re-enactors, flight simulators and much, much more throughout the Aerodrome with the added bonus of a walk round Duxford's hangars to view the Aircraft and exhibits.
For the Duxford Imperial War museum section
Duxford Imperial War Museum Website
Duxford Flying Legends 2010 - Saturday 10th July 2010
Flying Legends is one of Duxford's busiest shows and with the weather we had this weekend (probably the hottest weekend of the year) this was an event not to be missed. With plenty of things for the public to look at, including the flightline walk, which was well supported. How often is it possible to view these classic aircraft at such close quarters? The flying started at 2pm, with the takeoff of eight Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Bouchon. These aircraft thrilled the spectators with some formation flypasts and aerobatics. Other aircraft taking part in the Air show included three Skyraiders, a Seafire, Sea Fury, a Bearcat and Corsair. Some of the more sedate aircraft included the Mew Gull, Magister, Gladiator and Lysander. A rare site at Duxford was a display from a Hawker Demon, Hind and Nimrod. To add a bit of variety to Flying Legends, the crowds were treated to a display by the Breitling wing walkers and their Boeing Stearman. The Air show was finished off by the balbo, which consisted of over twenty classic aircraft.
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Duxford Flying Legends 2009 - Sunday 12th July 2009
This years event was overshadowed by most of the Fighter Collections Aircraft not being available for the display. With the usual Cambridgeshire weather both mornings started with rain and mist, with some of the smaller Aircraft having to cancel due to the gusting winds.
With the B-17 Sally B still being grounded with engineering problems, but in the end the two days turned out to be something very special. With a line-up of six P-51 Mustangs, a pair of Skyraiders and two FW-190s, one on static and one flying. This Aircraft is owned by Christophe Jacquard and only flew for the first time a few months ago. The pilot was Marc 'Leon' Mathis.
With such a diverse selection of Aircraft on show including Spitfires, Hurricanes, a Sea Fury T.20 and more sedate Aircraft like the Gladiator and Lysander. Finished off by the traditional Flying Legends big formation, which had 21 Warbirds taking part.
Images courtesy of Colin Sayce - Airshowphotomania.ifp3.com
Duxford Flying Legends 2009 - Sunday 12th July 2009 - Gallery 2
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Duxford Flying Legends 2009 - Flightline walk - Sunday 12th July 2009
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Historic Aircraft Collection Limited
The Aircraft Restoration Company
The Old Flying Machine Company
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Precision Aerospace/Pacific Fighters Museum
Duxford Flying Legends 2009 - Saturday 11th July 2009
Images courtesy of Bob Franklin
Duxford Flying Legends 2008 - Sunday 13th July 2008
With the terrible weather forcing the cancellation of Fairford's RIAT show this year. Many of the enthusiasts made the journey up to Duxford's Flying Legends show, and they were not disappointed.
With no less than three B-17 Flying Fortress at Duxford. Liberty Belle, Pink Lady and Sally B, who unfortunately had engine trouble and was unable to fly with the other two Aircraft.
As usual there was the tail chase of Spitfires, other Aircraft included the 5-ship Mustang tail chase, with a welcome return to Duxford for the Scandinavian Historic Flights AV-26B Invader. Also displaying were the Duke of Brabant Air Force B-25J Mitchell, as well as some of the smaller Aircraft such as the Hawker Hind and Hawker Nimrod.
Images courtesy of Colin Sayce - Airshowphotomania.ifp3.com
Duxford Flying Legends 2007 - Sunday 8th July 2007
Flying Legends is probably the most popular of Duxford's Air shows because it generally presents a number of new arrival or special displays each year.
An unusual Aircraft for Flying Legends was the F-15E Strike Eagle from Lakenheath, this Aircraft was put through it's paces and certainly got the attention of the watching crowd. It later joined up with three Aircraft from the Fighter Collection, the P-39Q Airacobra, the TF-51D and P-51D Mustangs were all flown by American Heritage Flight pilots.
The show was graced by the usual massed flypast of Spitfires. Other Aircraft taking to the skies over the weekend included Hurricanes, The Battle of Britain Flight, Seafire and Sea Fury, and a pair Junkers Ju-52.
Images courtesy of Colin Sayce - Airshowphotomania.ifp3.com
Duxford Flying Legends 2006
Flying legends 2006, one of Duxford's premier Aviation events. Starting with the flightline walk, which gives the public the chance to get close up and personal with the Aircraft, even if you just want to look and take in the nostalgia of these fine machines.
This years show had several rare Aircraft previously not seen at Legends. Breitling's Hispano Bouchon, basically a Spanish built Me109 with a Merlin engine, a Dakota from Norway finished in it's very attractive bare metal and a French World War II Morane 406, which is the only Airworthy example. The display by ten Spitfires tail chasing brought back memories of Duxford being a former Spitfire station. Other Aircraft represented were the B-17 'Sally B' and B-17 'Pink Lady' and the Mitchell B-25.
Over all a good show of approximately three hours duration, with the added bonus of Stephen Grey's famous 'Balbo' massed formation flypast.
Images courtesy of Colin Sayce - Airshowphotomania.ifp3.com
Duxford Flying Legends 2009 DVD stocked by Planes TV
Flying Legends is Europe's greatest warbird airshow and 2009 was no exception, dozens of aircraft gathered at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford for a spectacular display organised by The Fighter Collection and the IWM.
This official DVD of the show, originally in Broadcast Hi Definition captures all the action from both days of the show. Using multiple ground cameras and in-cockpit minicams, this DVD gets you closer than ever before.
Stars of the show for many was the first display of a Focke Wulf 190 in Europe and the three ship P-51 Mustang formation team - "The Horsemen".
Duration 120 minutes