Hi all, I went to the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford on Saturday (08/07/06), which was fantastic. A LOT of Spitfires, almost as many Mustangs (including one P-51 C), 2 Hurricanes, 2 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 3 Corsairs, one of each Grumman ‘Cats’, 2 DC-3s, 3 Bristol Fighters, 2 Catalinas, a P-47, a Gladiator, a B-25, A Seafire, a Sea Fury, a Skyraider, a Polikarov I-15, a Yak-3, a Ju-52, a Bucker Jungmann, a Bf108, 6 Yak-50s doing an aerobatic display, a Buchon pretending to be a Bf109, a Marane D-3801 pretending to be an MS406, a Curtiss Hawk 75… and a few more I forget. The best part of the whole day was on the drive up, just outside Duxford – suddenly, over the hedge at the side of the road appeared 3 Corsairs, head-on as if on a strafing run (they had just taken off) – wonderful sight, though slightly scary! And here are the photos that came out well… The ‘Sally B’ The ‘Pink Landy’ – based in France, and fresh from a big overhaul B-25 in Dutch colours Slightly blurry – but we are back in 1917! Apparently the first time in many years that 3 Brisfits have taken off together. All are originals… Bf-108 Counterfeit Bf-109! The Catalinas – the rear one is in Dutch colours, and is the oldest Catalina still flying. Two Corsairs – shame about the crowd… One of the Hurricanes Lufthansa’s Ju52/3 Sadly this is the best shot I got of the ‘MS406’ – the Hawk 75 pictures did not come out well at all. Apparently the Hawk that flew is the last surviving French aircraft to have fought in the Battle of France. Mustang & B-17 Sea Fury Seafire – this flew with the Skyraider, and the very eloquent French commentator described them as ‘the truck and the ballerina’ Bearcat & B-17 – despite the file name! Tigercat Yak-3UPW, with radial engine. This version did not see service in WW2 The final flypast – what a noise! It is noticeable that the Mustang's Allison Merlin has a much higher-pitched noise than the Spitfire/Hurricane's Rolly Royce Merlin. And then we looked at a few exhibits: dH Comet Pucara MiG21 Before popping in to the American Air Museum This is half of the display – it is basically a big hall built around a B-52 and crammed with American aircraft young & old. A-10 Thunderbolt II P-47 Thunderbolt Avenger – painted up as George Bush senior’s aircraft. Blackbird – gorgeous but menacing… B-24 Liberator B-29 – the black area at the top right is the B-52’s wing! F-111 exhaust pipe – it just seemed like a good picture to take. A Huey Phantom SPAD Then a look at a few armoured vehicles outside the Land Warfare Hall - Brownie Points to anybody who knows what these are... Obviously the excitment was too much for some people... And finally, thanks to my wife, a picture of me enjoying the day:
Ricky: Great photos... I've never seen many of those planes--running--in person. You comment about the "people" reminds me of the last time I tried to photograph a B-17G as it taxied-in for a show. I found a great vantage point, and held the 'trigger' til I had the photo framed perfectly. Someone stepped in front of me just as I snapped the shot. Bah! I salvaged things, but it was still maddening. At one point, when photographing a B-24J that was also present, I fell behind a group of three elderly gentlemen that were obviously WW2 aircrew vets. They spoke in whispers, and shook their heads from time to time. I couldn't bring myself to interrupt them, but I did take a few photos as they relived their air-war over Germany. Oh, the armor? First one is a BRDM-2 armored car Second one: I haven't a clue... Third one is a ZSU-23-4 Self propelled AA chassis. Thanks again for sharing the photos. The Bearcat and Tigercat look awesome... as does the Sea Fury. Tim
Nice Ricky. Very nice. The second vehicle is an MT-LB, with (IIRC) SNAR-10/ Big Fred radar for artillery counter-battery and battlefield surveillance work.
great photos....used to be back in early 80s we could sneak past cops and get right below the course for first pylon at reno air races...hide in sage brush till unlimeteds raced...u could literaly hit a p51 with an apple ..the were that low and going almost 400mph...that was an awesome thing to behold...cant do it no more ,the whole perimeter is cyclone with razor wire 8 feet high...a damm shame my lil boy will never get to see that..watchin from the stands is very tame,im afraid..
Im going to post a link from another forum with some other great pics of the Legends 2006...enjoy! http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/s ... hp?t=22150
ricky,,i had a mental picture of you being an aged and wise englishman ie.john guilgood or Q from bond movies...( you must be very well informed as you often agree with my posts....lol).... this photo !..what are you 12 years old.? .i didnt even know you could be married at that age in the uk...
Ricky: It might even be the same guy! At times like that, you want to give him a little push... into the spinning prop-blades! hehe. Tim
