Flightline UK 2003 - Duxford May Air Display - 4th May

Duxford May Air Display - 4th May

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The first major air display on the UK Airshow Calendar is the Duxford May Air Display at the Imperial War Museums own airfield. Although it was sunny, unlike many of the days leading up to the show, the winds were high and therefore impacted on what would have been a fine tribute to the 60th Anniversary of the Dambuster's Raid in the 16th May 1943 which formed the major theme of the days activities. The high winds made for some interesting landings from participating aircraft like the De Havilland DH89a Dragon Rapide pictured to the left. A more general theme to the show was "Against the Odds" missions and that brought together an interesting collection of machines.

The first of the displays for the days flying was to have been a reminder of "Operation Market Garden" in the form of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, but alas, they were also to form victim to the weather, though their Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C5 did make an all too rare flypast at the show. Hopefully, we will see a full tactical demonstration later in the year.

Making an interesting constrast in the skies and representing further Amry Co-operation missions were the Historic Aircraft Collection's Feisler Storch and a Piper L-4 Cub. The Storch was made famous by the highly daring mission to rescue Mussolini from the Gran Sasso, also celebrating it's 60th Anniversary this year. The winds played to the Storch's advantages allowing for extremely short take-off's and landings. A welcome return to the UK airshow scene.

More valiant flying from the second world war was represented by the Shuttleworth Collection's Gloster Gladiator. The "Glad" was made immortal by the impressive defence of Malta by three of the type named "Faith", "Hope" and Charity.

Representing more some of the more hazardous roles and missions of the second world war were the pair the of Bristol Blenheim and the Avro Anson. Both types served in Coastal Command in defence of the of the convoys during the Battle of the Atlantique. The Blenheim too attacked Berlin during the Battle of Britain as well as serving as a night fighter.

However, perhaps the most famous "Against the Odds" mission of the second world war was the 25th and final mission of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Memphis Belle. This was the first crew and bomber to complete it's tour of 25 missions. The Belle made her final mission on May 17th 1943 in an attack on Lorient, France commanded by Colonel Robert K Morgan from near by Bassingborn. To represent this historic achievement, resident Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Sally B put on her usual elegant display with "top-cover" courtesy of Steven Grey in The Fighter Collection's Republic P-47M Thunderbolt. The latter putting on a sintilating solo display with wonderful "top-side" passes for the photographers.

Heroic acts of the Cold War and the Vietnam War were represented by Martin Willing's Radial Revelations. The North American T-28J Fennec made a valuable contribution as a close air support aircraft to the conflicts fought by the French and the South Vietnamese Air Forces. The Percival Pembroke flew daring Photo-Recce missions along the air corridors to Berlin in support of NATO often chased by marauding MiGs.

However, the show stoppers for some "you can't do that!!!" flying were the Matadors in their Sukhoi Su-26M/31 aerobatic aircraft. They simply defy any laws of flight they want to to best show off the amazing presence of these russian aircraft.

Saluting the RAF's Finest.

One of the more suprising aspects of a show this early in the season was the sheer presence of the Royal Air Force with many of the teams making their debut public performance. First of the teams to go as the No 208 squadron BAE Systems Hawk T1A solo display, one of two solo displays on the circuit this year. Also from training command, the CFS Shorts Tucano T1. Both displays were typically spritely displays with several pleasing aerobatic passes. Strike Command was well represented by the SEPECAT Jaguar GR3, the BAE Systems Harrier GR7 and the Panavia Tornado GR4. The GR4 display in particular is perhaps the best seen in recent years with the big jet kept in a very tight and noisy display.

It was another Tornado though that had a starring role in the display. Sadly the Lancaster couldn't make it for the Dambuster salute due to high winds at Coningsby, but the history of the Tornado was just as historic. The aircraft that performed the flypast in honour of the Dambusters Veterens, including 617 Sqn Adjutant Harry Humphries, gathered for the display had only just returned from the Iraq War. The aircraft carried light grey camouflage of Operation Telic machines and even sported some nose art and mission marks. Hopefully, we'll see a few more aircraft from the Gulf retain their markings for the coming season.