FLYING LEGENDS 2010 REVIEW
Reporting by Jeremy Welsman with additional notes by Simon Fenwick
All photography copyright Simon Fenwick
I must admit feeling somewhat daunted when I was asked to write a piece about this year’s Flying Legends. I had visited air shows in the past but none with the prestige or importance of this one. The following review is intended to give a general flavour of the weekend from the perspective of a ‘newbie’.
The Flying Legends weekend started on Friday morning when I left home in West Wales on the first leg of my long journey to Duxford, I was staying overnight in Hampshire which gave ample opportunity for a briefing over a couple of pints as to what could be expected.
Leaving Fleet at the crack of dawn, we arrived at Duxford at 7.30 on Saturday, and while queuing for the entry I felt the first tingle of anticipation and excitement in my stomach. The heat started stoking up, and once through the gates it was a great relief to get out of the car, although clouting my head on the open tailgate of Simon’s car wasn’t quite as much of a pleasure……I still bear the scar!
First stop was the media centre to sign in and collect passes and the obligatory tabards that would enable us to view the Flightline before the public were admitted. Then we were out there amongst those classic, iconic aircraft. Being able to get so close, I was like a kid in a toyshop. Starting - where else? - but at the magnificent row of Spitfires, this was a formidable line-up though one expected to be bettered in September, when the 70th Anniversary of The Battle Of Britain will be commemorated at this historic airfield. There are too many to list individually here, but those that particularly caught my eye were the “low back” Mk XVI C-RS, the Mk VIII ZX-M, and the immaculate Mk IX TL-B.
My Spit-lust sated for time being we moved on to the Colonial - sorry American war birds. Starting at the P51 “Ferocious Frankie” - nice to see it “bombed up” on the ground, we moved on to radial heaven with the three impressively large Skyraiders or “flying trucks” as the commentator so eloquently put it. This was to be the first time in many years that three of these beasts would be seen in the air together. Next up for me was one of the stars of the show in the shape of Steven Grey’s wonderful Bearcat, what a display he was to give later in the day.
The Russians were well represented by a Yak 9UM, two Yak 3UAs and the diminutive Polikarpov I-16 making the first ever visit of the type to these shores. The latter was flown on the Saturday by owner Thomas Julch, but he was definitely outdone by Jurgis Kairis, a supreme aerobatic pilot, who really showed of the attributes of the stubby machine.
Under brilliant blue skies the flying was absolutely opening as it did with an amazing Spitfire tailchase comprising six aircraft of various marks, whilst the Mk.VIII and Mk.XIX flew a fast chase in the foreground. This first section also included a Hurricane giving top cover whilst ‘the other side’ was represented by the Hispano Buchon, now flying in the colours it wore during the filming of ‘Battle Of Britain’. The golden era of the 1930s was superbly represented by a trio of Hawker biplanes, Nimrod, Hind and Demon (the first time three Kestrel powered aircraft had been seen in the air together in well over 70 years and a delight to behold and hear!), and as if that wasn’t enough, my favourite aircraft, the Shuttleworth Gladiator gave a graceful display with the similarly engined Lysander, also a Shuttleworth exhibit. Air racing of the 1930s was demonstrated with a trio of three more classic machines of the period namely the Miles Magister, Arrow Active and the surprisingly sprightly Percival Mew Gull.
The heavies were represented by the B17 ‘Sally B’ and the BBMF Lancaster (which was in company with the Spitfire IIa and Hurricane II, though the latter had a technical problem on the Sunday and couldn’t take part). ‘Sally B’, which was accompanied by her ‘Little Friend’ Ferocious Frankie gave a poignant flypast with port engines trailing smoke in tribute to those brave souls who flew to take the war to the Reich and also to those thousands of members of the Supporters Club around the world who do such sterling work to keep her in the air (the October Show at Duxford this year will be celebrating ‘Sally Bs’ anniversaries – she is 65 years old this year, it is her 35th anniversary of display flying and the Supporters Club has been going for 30 of those years – an incredible achievement). In mentioning the heavies mention must be made of the display put on by the Douglas C47 Dakota, the way the pilot threw the Dak around the skies was just awesome.
These of course weren’t the only items in the packed display. Flying Legends has a reputation of providing the viewer with a ‘not knowing where to look next’ feeling’ and this year’s event was no different with the next item taking off whilst the previous is still displaying above. This was perfectly illustrated by the amazing take off by Don Beattie in the Seafire XVII which kept incredibly low, whilst the Spitfire tailchase was going on above.
Germany was represented by the Junkers JU52 and ME108, together with a pair of Bucker Jungmeisters and Anna Walker doing what she does best with perfect aerobatics in her Jungmann.
Going back to those barnstorming days and showing off their new Breightling ‘art deco’ colours were the pair of Stearmans from Aerosuperbatics with Sarah Tanner and Stella Guilding wowing the crowd with their wingwalking routine.
Prior to the traditional finale of Flying Legends, the final solo act was the little Morane MS406 – the only example flying in the world.
The flying concluded with the ‘Balbo’, this year comprising only single engined types. They were 7 Spitfires, Seafire, Sea Fury, Fury, Hispano Buchon, 3 Skyraiders, Corsair, 5 P51s, P40, and 3 Yaks. Steven Grey, the Boss of Flying Legends was back in his element and provided his ‘Joker’ routine in the Bearcat, filling in the period whilst the main formation got together. What a sound it is to hear so many piston Warbirds together.
My first Flying Legends was an amazing experience, no other air show stands comparison, if you dear reader, love classic war birds as I do, you have just got to go, you won’t regret it.
It would be remiss of me not to say a big thank you to Esther, Gabriella and the team, your hard work is very much appreciated. Also thanks to our flight line guides who showed such patience and forbearance with one especially excited Legends ‘newbie’.
All photography copyright Simon Fenwick
I must admit feeling somewhat daunted when I was asked to write a piece about this year’s Flying Legends. I had visited air shows in the past but none with the prestige or importance of this one. The following review is intended to give a general flavour of the weekend from the perspective of a ‘newbie’.
The Flying Legends weekend started on Friday morning when I left home in West Wales on the first leg of my long journey to Duxford, I was staying overnight in Hampshire which gave ample opportunity for a briefing over a couple of pints as to what could be expected.
Leaving Fleet at the crack of dawn, we arrived at Duxford at 7.30 on Saturday, and while queuing for the entry I felt the first tingle of anticipation and excitement in my stomach. The heat started stoking up, and once through the gates it was a great relief to get out of the car, although clouting my head on the open tailgate of Simon’s car wasn’t quite as much of a pleasure……I still bear the scar!
First stop was the media centre to sign in and collect passes and the obligatory tabards that would enable us to view the Flightline before the public were admitted. Then we were out there amongst those classic, iconic aircraft. Being able to get so close, I was like a kid in a toyshop. Starting - where else? - but at the magnificent row of Spitfires, this was a formidable line-up though one expected to be bettered in September, when the 70th Anniversary of The Battle Of Britain will be commemorated at this historic airfield. There are too many to list individually here, but those that particularly caught my eye were the “low back” Mk XVI C-RS, the Mk VIII ZX-M, and the immaculate Mk IX TL-B.
My Spit-lust sated for time being we moved on to the Colonial - sorry American war birds. Starting at the P51 “Ferocious Frankie” - nice to see it “bombed up” on the ground, we moved on to radial heaven with the three impressively large Skyraiders or “flying trucks” as the commentator so eloquently put it. This was to be the first time in many years that three of these beasts would be seen in the air together. Next up for me was one of the stars of the show in the shape of Steven Grey’s wonderful Bearcat, what a display he was to give later in the day.
The Russians were well represented by a Yak 9UM, two Yak 3UAs and the diminutive Polikarpov I-16 making the first ever visit of the type to these shores. The latter was flown on the Saturday by owner Thomas Julch, but he was definitely outdone by Jurgis Kairis, a supreme aerobatic pilot, who really showed of the attributes of the stubby machine.
Under brilliant blue skies the flying was absolutely opening as it did with an amazing Spitfire tailchase comprising six aircraft of various marks, whilst the Mk.VIII and Mk.XIX flew a fast chase in the foreground. This first section also included a Hurricane giving top cover whilst ‘the other side’ was represented by the Hispano Buchon, now flying in the colours it wore during the filming of ‘Battle Of Britain’. The golden era of the 1930s was superbly represented by a trio of Hawker biplanes, Nimrod, Hind and Demon (the first time three Kestrel powered aircraft had been seen in the air together in well over 70 years and a delight to behold and hear!), and as if that wasn’t enough, my favourite aircraft, the Shuttleworth Gladiator gave a graceful display with the similarly engined Lysander, also a Shuttleworth exhibit. Air racing of the 1930s was demonstrated with a trio of three more classic machines of the period namely the Miles Magister, Arrow Active and the surprisingly sprightly Percival Mew Gull.
The heavies were represented by the B17 ‘Sally B’ and the BBMF Lancaster (which was in company with the Spitfire IIa and Hurricane II, though the latter had a technical problem on the Sunday and couldn’t take part). ‘Sally B’, which was accompanied by her ‘Little Friend’ Ferocious Frankie gave a poignant flypast with port engines trailing smoke in tribute to those brave souls who flew to take the war to the Reich and also to those thousands of members of the Supporters Club around the world who do such sterling work to keep her in the air (the October Show at Duxford this year will be celebrating ‘Sally Bs’ anniversaries – she is 65 years old this year, it is her 35th anniversary of display flying and the Supporters Club has been going for 30 of those years – an incredible achievement). In mentioning the heavies mention must be made of the display put on by the Douglas C47 Dakota, the way the pilot threw the Dak around the skies was just awesome.
These of course weren’t the only items in the packed display. Flying Legends has a reputation of providing the viewer with a ‘not knowing where to look next’ feeling’ and this year’s event was no different with the next item taking off whilst the previous is still displaying above. This was perfectly illustrated by the amazing take off by Don Beattie in the Seafire XVII which kept incredibly low, whilst the Spitfire tailchase was going on above.
Germany was represented by the Junkers JU52 and ME108, together with a pair of Bucker Jungmeisters and Anna Walker doing what she does best with perfect aerobatics in her Jungmann.
Going back to those barnstorming days and showing off their new Breightling ‘art deco’ colours were the pair of Stearmans from Aerosuperbatics with Sarah Tanner and Stella Guilding wowing the crowd with their wingwalking routine.
Prior to the traditional finale of Flying Legends, the final solo act was the little Morane MS406 – the only example flying in the world.
The flying concluded with the ‘Balbo’, this year comprising only single engined types. They were 7 Spitfires, Seafire, Sea Fury, Fury, Hispano Buchon, 3 Skyraiders, Corsair, 5 P51s, P40, and 3 Yaks. Steven Grey, the Boss of Flying Legends was back in his element and provided his ‘Joker’ routine in the Bearcat, filling in the period whilst the main formation got together. What a sound it is to hear so many piston Warbirds together.
My first Flying Legends was an amazing experience, no other air show stands comparison, if you dear reader, love classic war birds as I do, you have just got to go, you won’t regret it.
It would be remiss of me not to say a big thank you to Esther, Gabriella and the team, your hard work is very much appreciated. Also thanks to our flight line guides who showed such patience and forbearance with one especially excited Legends ‘newbie’.
