Duxford Autumn Airshow 2007

PLEASED TO SUPPORT

14th October 2007

The 2007 Autumn Air Show was the first show I had attended at Duxford for many years (the last time, Sally B had only just arrived in the country and the IWM Sunderland and B-17 were still in pieces in one of the old hangars!). However, thanks to Sarah Pepper at The Historic Aircraft Collection and with very little persuasion (not forgetting the provision of a sofa to sleep on!) from Danni & Justyn of UK-Warbirds.net, I finally got there!

The show was a wonderful mix of aircraft types from biplane (HAC Hawker Nimrod II) to ultra modern (Belgian Air Force with a stunning and spirited display in the F-16).

For those who have never been to a Duxford show, the Flightline Walk is not to be missed with it's opportunity to get up close and personal with the aircraft and those who will be flying them later in the day. An unusual visitor (well, an unusual colour scheme) was the DC-3 from the Dutch Dakota Assiciation which is painted in period KLM colours on one side and Air France titles on the other.

The flying started with one of The Fighter Collection's famous Big Cat tailchases with the Hellcat, Wildcat and Bearcat thumping around the sky. This was quickly followed (in fact the slickness of the timing is something that could be learnt by some other show organisers) by the first of several unusual formations, this being the Golden Apple F-86A with the RNHF Hawker Sea Hawk. Martin Willing then put the T-28 'Little Rascal' through its paces with much verve.

There then followed the take off of the Bf109 (in fact a Hispano Buchon) to be chased by 3 Spitfires (Mk.IX MH434 of OFMC, Mk.XVI TD248 of ARC and making a rare change to be flying in formation with other than BBMF aircraft, Al Pinner in PR.XIX 'The Last'.

There were two very graceful displays during the afternoon from the surprisingly sprightly DC-3 from the Air Atlantique Classic Flight and Mark Miller in his gorgeous Dragon Rapide. Sandwiched between them was a re-run of an item from a previous show where the Aircraft Restoration Company Harvard IV tried it's best to get on the tail of the tight turning Piper Cub.

Apart from the Navy Historic Flight's Sea Hawk mentioned earlier, the Royal Navy 'Black Cats' gove one of their best displays, for the first time with both Lynx's fully painted in the special artwork.

Next came the Historic Aircraft Collection with Dave Harvey in the Hurricane XII and Charlie Brown in the Nimrod II. Following several formation passes, they each gave excellent displays with the Nimrod in particular giving it's first real aerobatic show. Duxford wouldn't be the same without P-51 Mustangs and OFMC's 'Ferocious Frankie' delighted the crowds with the signature 'Mustang Whistle'.

Before the fastest item of the show we were treated to a couple of much more docile items. First up were a formation of three Chipmunks shining in their red and white RAF training colours, with two examples from the Aircraft Restoration Company and one from the Historic Aircraft Collection. they were followed by John Romain in the unusual Pilatus P-2.

Then in from the east there was the noise! this was the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Belgian Air Force. Pulling very tight turns and squeezing the moisture out of the hazy October air with condensation streaming from several surfaces, the pilot gave a startling display of the aircraft's agility.

There then followed what was surely the highlight for many along the crowdline as the F-16 formated with The Fighter Collection TF-51 Mustang 'Miss Velma' and Historic Flyhing's Spitfire XVIII. With the F-16 streaming smoke from its 'smokewinders', what everyone thought would be a single pass developed into a routine of its own and finished with a crowd centre break.

After some wonderful topside passes from the Spitfire, The Fighter Collection got airborne with the return of the Hellcat and Wildcat, along with 'Miss Velma' and the P-39 Airacobra 'Brooklyn Bum II' which must have one of the most unusual sounds of any prop driven aircraft. Diving passes, fast duos and wonderful sounds! Heaven!

The show was closed in gorgeous autumn light by the always impressive Red Bull Matadors in their Sukhois. The tightest of formation flying, precision at its best.

Roll on the 2008 season of Duxford Shows!

FFlightline Walk - Douglas DC-3, Dutch Dakota Association	FliFlightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - P-39 Airacobra	Flighline Walk - Buchon & FW190, Spitfire Ltd	Flightline Walk - Chipmunk & DC-3
Flightline Walk - Dragon Rapide	Flightline Walk - Dragon Rapide	Flightline Walk - F86A Pilot	Flightline Walk - FW190, Spitfire Ltd
Flightline Walk - FW190, Spitfire Ltd	Flightline Walk - HAC, Nimord II, Charlie Brown	Flightline Walk - Harvard IV	Flightline Walk - Hawker Sea Hawk, RNHF
Flightline Walk - Hawker Sea Hawk, RNHF	Flightline Walk - Hawker Sea Hawk, RNHF	Flightline Walk - Nimrod, Hurricane & Spitfires	Flightline Walk - Spitfires
Flightline Walk - Spitfires, Buchon, FW190 & Dakota	Flightline Walk - T28 Fennec - Little Rascal - Radial Revelations	Flightline Walk - T28 Fennec - Little Rascal - Radial Revelations	Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - Beech D17S
Flightline Walk - the Fighter Collection - Cats	Flightline Walk - the Fighter Collection - Cats	Flightline Walk - the Fighter Collection - Cats	Flightline Walk - the Fighter Collection - Cats
Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - Hawk 75	Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - Hellcat	Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - P-39 Airacobra	Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - P-39 Airacobra
Flightline Walk - The Fighter Collection - P-39 Airacobra	Flying 01 - The Fighter Collection 'Big Cats'	Flying 01 - The Fighter Collection 'Big Cats'	Flying 01 - The Fighter Collection 'Big Cats'
Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust	Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust	Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust	Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust
Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust	Flying 02 - F-86A, Golden Apple Trust	Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing	Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing
Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing	Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing	Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing	Flying 03 - T-28 Fennec 'Little Rascal', Radial Revelations, Martin Willing
Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Bf109 (Hispano Buchon), Spitfire Ltd	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Bf109 (Hispano Buchon), Spitfire Ltd	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Bf109 (Hispano Buchon), Spitfire Ltd	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Bf109 (Hispano Buchon), Spitfire Ltd
Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfire Chase	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfire PR.XIX 'The Last', BBMF, Al Pinner	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfire PR.XIX 'The Last', BBMF, Al Pinner	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfires - Mk.IX MH434 OFMC, Mk.XVI TD248 ARC, PR.XIX 'The Last' BBMF
Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfires - Mk.IX MH434 OFMC, Mk.XVI TD248 ARC, PR.XIX 'The Last' BBMF	Flying 04 - Chasing The Hun - Spitfires - Mk.IX MH434 OFMC, Mk.XVI TD248 ARC, PR.XIX 'The Last' BBMF	Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight	Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight
Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight	Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight	Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight	Flying 05 - Douglas DC-3, Air Atlantique Classic Flight