| REPORT by Jeremy Welsman
PHOTOGRAPHY by Simon Fenwick The Autumn Air Show at Duxford is the final full air show of the season each year and in 2009 I had the opportunity to attend for the first time. In fact this was the first Duxford air show that I had seen and it certainly won’t be my last. Many thanks to the media team at the IWM for allowing me to use the enclosure near the Land Warfare Hall, in the company of Simon Fenwick so that I could have a close up view of this excellent show. Due to distance, the next show that I will be attending at Duxford will be Flying Legends 2010 when I will once again be reporting for this website. As with all shows at Duxford, the morning is given over to the Flightline Walk when the public is allowed to get as close as is safe to the aircraft that are participating in the afternoon’s flying and it was a delight to have such a varied array of aircraft on view. The Autumn show usually has an eclectic mix of displays and 2009 was no different in this respect. The flying opened with the world’s only airworthy F-86A Sabre flown by Mark Linney who gave a scintillating demonstration of this aircraft’s 50’s heritage whilst trailing the telltale black smoke trail common to the type. Mark was followed by something totally different in the shape of the MT03 Autogyro flown by John Elliot who showed off its manoeuvrability, though due to its diminutive size it was slightly lost in the sky to those at the country end of the display line. This could not be said of multiple aerobatic champion Mark Jefferies, who’s antics in the Extra 330SC had to be seen to be believed. From a crowd gasping takeoff, though heart stopping aerobatic routines to his smoke trailing, sideslipping landing, an amazing sight. Next up was the ‘boss’ of the Fighter Collection, Stephen Grey in ‘Miss Velma’, the Collection’s TF-51 Mustang, who flew one of his renowned fast and looping displays. It is to be hoped that the problems encountered by TFC during 2009 can be resolved so that the entire collection can be seen back in the air next year. Duxford loves giving the public some special formations and at this show we had a pair of Chipmunks in their red/white training colours flown by ‘Rats’ Ratcliffe and John Dodd with a classic demonstration of close formation flying. Then, rumbling through were Martin Willing and Dave Southwood in a pair of NA T-28 Fennecs. There followed two aircraft that couldn’t be more different from each other, namely Kennet Aviation’s Westland Wasp and the Belgian Air Component’s F-16 Fighting Falcon. The former used the whole crowd line so that this small ‘bug’ wasn’t missed by anyone. The latter, in the hands of ‘Mitch’ Beulen, lit up the grey skies with the afterburner in a dramatic show. Showing off the traditional RAF ‘Transport’ colours of white and grey was Andrew Dixon from Bournemouth with ‘Percy’ the Pembroke, making a return to it’s former home having previously been based at Duxford. A real special event at this show was a tribute to the Air Transport Auxiliary and in particular the female fliers of the ATA. On hand to witness this tribute were Freya Sharland and Molly Rose who were ATA First Officers and delivered many aircraft from factories to units throughout WW2. The special part of the display commenced with Mark Miller in his Dragon Rapide together with Air Atlantique’s Avro Anson, both of which types were used virtually as taxis by the ATA to ferry the pilots around the country. The highlight however was Carolyn Grace in her Spitfire T.IX and Anna Walker in HAC’s Hurricane Mk.XII who flew some formation passes and a tailchase in honour of the ATA pilots. This was the first time on over 60 years that there had been two female pilots flying two ‘warbirds’ together and the applause from the crowd was truly deserved. Somewhat surprisingly making their debut at Duxford were the now famous Blades team of former Red Arrows pilots in their Extra 300LPs. With some special formations of their own, including their unique ‘crazy flying’, as well as some signature Red Arrows routines, this team has won a deserved reputation for excellence. With the sun finally breaking through the grey cloud, the Plane Sailing Catalina took to the air and the huge wing of this historic aircraft was lit to perfection as it turned in the sky. This was followed by another unique set piece comprising Golden Apple’s Boeing Stearman flown by Mike Dentith, Duxford’s Director of Flying, Jeanne Frazer’s L-4 Grasshopper and Pete Kynsey in his tiny Cosmic Wind. The latter aircraft is surprisingly fast, due to being very over powered for its size, but Pete flew it as if he was in one of TFC’s Mustangs with a stunning display of aerobatics. Aerobatics was the theme of the next item of Bob Grimstead in his Fournier RF-4. Belying the fact that this is by no means a new aircraft, this was a very graceful routine, made all the more visible by the use of smoke and apparently he is planning a duo show to music in time for the 2010 season. Back to the special pairings and also a couple of final shows, next up there was Matt Barker giving his final display in the patriotically liveried Hawk T.1 from RAF Valley and Al Pinner having his final flight as OC of the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight, flying the newly restored Spitfire IIa in it’s first public outing. This aircraft is now in the markings of the aircraft flown by Geoffrey Wellum, Battle Of Britain pilot and author of what is regarded as one of the best first hand accounts ‘First Light’. The markings are even correct down to the yellow diamond gas detector patch on the port wing (though as is traditional with the BBMF, the genuine aircraft serial is still carried, P7350). Al and Matt formed up into a ‘chase me’ sequence for a couple of passes so that we were presented with the unusual sight of Spitfire and Hawk together in the sky. They finished their pairs routine with a memorable head on break in front of the crowd before going into their individual displays. With both making their final appearances it seemed as though they were each having a great deal of fun and making the most of their opportunity, with Matt in particular giving what many thought was the best Hawk display seen in a very long time. This left two items on the display list and both were very special, if for different reasons, with the low autumn sun now giving the best light of the day. First were the Duxford resident OFMC pair of Spitfire Mk.IX and P-51D Mustang ‘Ferocious Frankie’. Throughout the years these two aircraft have thrilled crowds wherever they have flown and on this afternoon in the hands of Brian Smith and Alister Kay, they were at their fantastic best. This was close formation flying from the very top drawer and one wonders how they could ever better the show that they gave on this particular afternoon. Finally, and to close Duxford’s year was ‘Sally B’ the Boeing Flying Fortress. Who wonderful it is that she is now back in the air after all the problems that have been suffered over the past two years. The whole team that operates this iconic aircraft, that is flown in tribute to all the USAAF bomber crews that were based in and around East Anglia, have literally been through hell and back with engines failing, insurance problems and everything else that has been thrown at them. That they and their thousands of supporters have come through, with no official monetary backing whatsoever, it is a testimony to their determination to keep ‘Sally B’ in the air where she belongs. 2010 will be a very special year for them with is being ‘her’ 65th birthday, her 35th display season and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Supporter’s Club. Her final pass, which brought the show to a close, is not only in tribute to those airmen who didn’t make it back, but also to all those who support her today. Once again, many thanks to Esther and Gabriella for the opportunity to be able to see this show and provide this report on a fantastic day out. I look forward to being back for Flying Legends next year. NOTE FROM SIMON FENWICK: I would like to thank Jeremy for taking the time to write this report. I would also like to thank Esther and Gabriella and all the media team and escorts for their help and hospitality throughout the year. I think that 2010 should turn out to be a very special one for events at Duxford with it being the 70th Anniversary of The Battle Of Britain. With the May Show as the introduction to the year, through Flying Legends which always thrills the senses and springs some surprises, right through to October and the Autumn Show, there should be something for everyone. However, what may become the signature show next year could well be the Battle Of Britain Show in September. Could we see the biggest gathering of Spitfires, Hurricanes and maybe their opponents ever held on these shores since those dark days of 1940? Here’s hoping! |