Duxford Spring Air show
Boeing B-17G-105-VE Flying Fortress 44-85784 G-BEDF Sally B Memphis Belle at Duxford Spring Air show 2009. Photo by Ian Bracegirdle
Duxford's Spring Air show held every year during May is the seasons opening Air show. The Duxford Spring Air show includes sensational Aerial displays from historic Aircraft, through to more modern Aircraft from the RAF. There are plenty of activities to join in throughout the Airfield which are suitable for all ages, also stalls and refreshments and as usual the Museum Hangars at Duxford are open for viewing too.
For the Duxford Imperial War museum section
Duxford Imperial War Museum Website
Duxford Spring Air show 2010 - Sunday 16th May 2010
Following the successful Battle of Britain Memorial event, the previous day, the weather conditions were cloudy and overcast but the rain held off almost until the end of the afternoon. The Battle of Britain flight were much in evidence, with a lot of their personnel on hand to meet the public and also a pair of Spitfires, a pair of Hurricanes, a Chipmunk and a Dakota.
Aircraft participating in the flying display were a Hurricane and Spitfire pair, a 3-ship formation of Hurricanes, B-17 Sally B, Sea Fury, Harvard, Mustang, Chipmunk pair and a Dragon Rapide, Hawker Nimrod, the Black Cats and formation fly-pasts by the Golden Apple F-86 Sabre and Hawker Hunter Miss Demeanour. Over all the Air show was well supported and for the first major Air show of the season a good effort by the organisers.
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Duxford Spring Air show 2009 - Sunday 17th May 2009
Duxford's first Air show of the season got off to a windy, wet and overcast start. Looking at the weather conditions it seemed unlikely that there was going to be much flying.
With most of the public taking a look around the hangars to escape the wind and wet, the normally busy exhibitions and displays outside were unnaturally quiet.
By the middle of the day things started to improve, but sadly the Battle of Britain Memorial flight and the Tiger Moth display team cancelled due to weather conditions.
Images courtesy of Bob Franklin
The best of British air show with some of the Aircraft taking part described below, included modern Aircraft such as the Typhoon and Hawk, through to the ever popular display by the Chinook adding a contrast to the slower moving piston Aircraft of Duxford.
A very special visitor to Duxford from RAF Brize Norton was a 101 Squadron VC10 tanker Aircraft. This particular Aircraft XV109 has been in service with the RAF for over 40 years and the type is due to go out of service in the next few years.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin
Another favourite with the crowds is the B-17 Sally B, displaying here for the first time for over a year. Among the more modern, larger Aircraft was the BAe 146 sporting a smart colour scheme from Titan Airways. Other larger Aircraft were the Britten-Norman Islanders, Plain Sailings Catalina and Mitchell B-25 flown by John Romain.
Some of the smaller Aircraft included a pair of Foland Gnats from the Gnat display team, which brightened things up with their RAF training and Red Arrows colour schemes.
Images courtesy of Ian Bracegirdle
Slowing things down Charlie Brown and Howard Cook put on a well coordinated display with a pair of Chipmunks. Coming bang up to date, Mark Jefferies (the several times British Aerobatic champion) put on a stunning display with his extra EA-330.
For pure nostalgia, the sound of Merlin engines from a pair of Duxford based Spitfires displaying over this World War II fighter base reverberated around the hangars as the weather once again closed in.
Duxford Spring Air show 2008 - Sunday 18th May 2008
Duxford Spring Air show 2008 as usual a mix of mainly vintage Aircraft with just a touch of new types thrown in for good measure.
It's surprising what a fast moving Typhoon does to your ears after the dulcet tones of Merlin's and big radial engines. With the usual appearance of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane and the classic pairing of Kennet's Seafire from North Weald and the Royal Navy Historic Flight's Sea Hawk, and a leisurely flypast by the Chipmunk pair with the Rapide, two more Aircraft from the de Havilland stable.
Other Aircraft performing were Duxford based Spitfires, the Corsair and the Bearcat. The Guinot's wing walkers also made an appearance with their young ladies carrying out synchronized acrobatics, and of course Duxford wouldn't be the same without the noise and smoke from Golden Apple's vintage Sabre.
With reasonable weather conditions once again visitors to Duxford were treated to a lively and entertaining day out.
Images courtesy of Bruce Martin