| The Flying Legends Air Show held annually in July at Duxford is widely regarded as the best warbird show in the world. Organised by The Fighter Collection (TFC), under the leadership of Stephen Grey, it is one of the few shows which relies purely upon piston engined aircraft with only the very rare jet invited to take part.
The 2008 show was yet another to be affected by the lousy summer that was suffered by Britain. However, Legends was lucky. Despite a massive thunderstorm on the Friday, which did affect some arrivals and rehearsals, the show went ahead with little change to the planned programme. As a first time visitor to the show, this writer found the Flightline quite awe inspiring with a sumptuous array of fighters, bombers and civilian period aircraft including the first public appearance from the decidedly shiny Spartan Executive which had only just arrived in the country. Highlights had to be the sight of two airworthy Gladiators, Nimrod I & II and Afghan Hind lined up together, an array of Spitfires illustrating the lineage from Sherringham Aviation’s Mk.I through to Christophe Jacquard’s PR.XIX (with contra-rotating prop) and an excellent selection of bombers including two Mitchells (from the Dukes Of Brabant and the much missed ‘Grumpy’) and taking pride of place, no less than three Flying Fortresses. Unfortunately the locally based ‘Sally B’ was grounded due to serious engine problems, but there was always a crowd avidly viewing ‘Pink Lady’ making possibly the aircraft’s final appearance and ‘Liberty Belle’ which had flown over from the United States especially for the show and to make special flypasts over various former 8th Air Force bases. The full story of this incredible flight has been covered in all the ‘monthlies’ and space precludes full coverage here. A brief account of the story will however appear in the ‘FlightlineUK’ report. Scattered around the Flightline, there were several re-enactment groups to give Flying Legends the atmosphere for which it is renowned. The flying display on each day followed the same pattern which commenced with a massed take off by Spitfires. These formed up into two formations to demonstrate the Merlin and Griffon powered variants. With the earlier marks giving a mainly formation routine, the growling Griffons indulged in a delightful tailchase. In amongst the Spitfires, Cliff Spink played ‘The Hun’ in Tom Blair’s Buchon with John Romain giving chase in the Mk/IX Spitfire. (HAC Mk.Vb; TFC Mk.Vb & Mk.XIV; Aerial Museum Mk.VIII; Spitfire Ltd Mk.XI & Mk.XVI; OFMC Mk.IX; Historic Flying Mk.XVIII; Christophe Jacquard PR.XIX; Kennet Aviation Seafire Mk.XVII; Spitfire Ltd Buchon) The whole display was arranged in themes with the Luftwaffe next. This included Junkers Ju52 & Messerschmitt Bf108 from Lufthansa Traditionsflug with Anna Walker in her Bucker Jungmann. From the other side of ‘The Pond’ there was the US Navy, Bombers and Fighters. The first of these was the traditional radial muscle from TFC in the shape of the Bearcat, Hellcat, Wildcat and the mighty Corsair. Eight more powerful radials rumbled in the shape of the Dukes of Brabant B-25 Mitchell and A-26B Invader from the Scandinavian Historic Flight, the former giving its outstanding display whilst the Invader powered through on a series of fast and low passes. The US fighters were represented by the TFC Hawk (Nick Grey), Airacobra and a brief appearance by the Pearl Harbour veteran P-40B Warhawk (which was yet to receive full display clearance). They were joined by The Salis Collection’s P-40N ‘Little Jeanne’ from France with Georges Perez flying. Always enthusiastic supporters of ‘Legends’ are the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight who this year brought along their C-47 along with Spitfire Mk.Vc AB910 (Mk.IIa P7350 on Sunday) and Hurricane IIc ‘Night Reaper’. Going right back to the earliest days of flight, Mikael Carlson took to the air in his Bleriot XI. This was a very brave move given the gusty conditions. Next up we were shown the development of that wonderful ‘gentleman’s carriage’, the De Havilland Dragon. The Norman Aeroplane Trust provided the ‘first & last’ with the DH.84 Dragon and DH.90A Dragonfly while Mark Miller was in his DH.89A Dragon Rapide. Following an excellent formation, each aircraft was shown effectively. Then came ‘1936’ and three classics from Britain. First off was the Shuttleworth Trust Gladiator. Originally it had been intended that there would be two of these iconic biplanes flying together for the first time. However, unfortunately, the TFC example had not completed its post restoration flight test programme and couldn’t display (though it was a nice surprise for the Sunday crowd that a test flight took place on that day as the Flightline Walk was about to end). This was followed by the wonderful sight and sound of a genuine Spitfire Mk.I. Recently returned to the air following a complete and authentic rebuild (including flat-sided canopy), it was flown by Jonathan Whaley. Also in the air were two Hurricanes with Dave Harvey in the HAC Mk.XII and the unique Sea Hurricane from just down the road at Old Warden. Then it was the USAAF scenario and three very different formations. First were the P-51 Mustangs and their famous, fast and low tailchase. Anyone who has not witnessed this spectacle has definitely missed a highlight. With ‘Mr Mustang’ Ed Shipley at the controls of TFC’s TF-51 ‘Miss Velma’, OFMC’s ‘Ferocious Frankie’, Scandinavian Historic Flight’s ‘Old Crow’, there were two welcome returnees, Rob’s Lamplough’s ‘Miss Helen’ and ‘Nooky Booky IV’ from the Salis Collection. This was adrenaline by the bucketload. This was followed by what for many was the high point of the day as B-17Gs ‘Liberty Belle’ and ‘Pink Lady’ took to the air. This was truly a majestic sight with a combination of low sweeping passes in formation accompanied by their ‘little friends’ the Mustangs ‘Miss Velma’ and ‘Ferocious Frankie’ a few feet from the wingtips all the way through. On Sunday, the P-51s broke off to give top cover thus opening the stage for the massive crowd (swelled with the cancellation of RIAT at Fairford) to revel in this possibly never to be repeated sight. Bringing the USAAF section to a close, two Piper L-4 Cubs from Jeanne Frazer and Robin Roberts did some ‘spotting’ demonstrating incredibly tight turns. Another step back in time took us to the Royal Navy represented by the Afghan Hind from The Shuttleworth Trust and Howard Cook in the Nimrod II from HAC. It had been intended that TFC would also fly their Nimrod I, but unfortunately a loss of brake pressure whilst taxying out curtailed its appearance. Always a crowd pleasing favourite are Team Guinot with their Stearmans with the glamorous ‘Guinot Girls’ atop the wing. A very different routine was presented her however with the public debut of their five-ship formation with pink smoke! The final show debutant was Chris Vogelgsang’s recently repainted Yak-3UA. Current British Aerobatic Champion was the pilot and his prowess showed through with a full aerobatic routine – though the distance from the crowd with the light blue machine did make it difficult to see at times. However, the routine was re-jigged for Sunday when some low topside passes were also included. So we come to the finale as Stephen Grey takes to the air in the Bearcat. As he disappears into the distance, a massed take off ensues. Hellcat, Wildcat, Corsair, Hawk, Airacobra, Buchon, Hurricane, Yak-3, 2 P-40s, 5 Mustangs, 9 Spitfires, A-26 Invader and Mitchell all lift from the runway and fly off. The ‘balbo’ is the set piece for which Flying Legends has become famous and while the formation is taking shape, Stephen Grey plays his ‘Master Of Ceremonies’ role with speed and power whilst in the distance, tiny speck joins tiny speck to run in over the M11 motorway. There is only a single pass with the two bombers and while they peel off to crowd rear and land and all the single engined aircraft turn to the south to prepare for another pass, the Bearcat muscles back in for more loops and passes. There ends another outstanding Flying Legends show as each section of the formation performs a run and break to cheers and applause from the crowdline. Unfortunately, the landings were slightly disrupted on the Sunday when P-51D ‘Miss Helen’ suffered engine problems on approach and touched down short of the runway, fortunately without injury to pilot Pete John. Apart from the engine problems which caused the mishap, the Mustang suffered a bent port undercarriage. This fantastic show could not happen without the undoubted enthusiasm of Stephen Grey and all at The Fighter Collection, but mention must also go to all the pilots who provide such a spectacle year after year. It is said that there are many things that everyone must do before they die. Visiting ‘Flying Legends’ at least once is very much one of them. |