Flightline UK 2003 - Flying Legends - 12th - 13th July

Flying Legends 2003, IWM Duxford

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Fairey Firefly WB271

It is impossible to reflect on this years Flying Legends without remembering the tragic events on Saturday involving the Royal Navy Historic Flight's Fairey Firefly WB271 pictured here during Kemble's Classic Jet Airshow. Pilot Lt Commander Bill Murton and Neil Rix were killed when the Firefly crashed into field on the far side of the M11. No-one on the ground was injured. Our Condolances go the the family and friends of the crew.

The show continued after the incident when the emergency services returned to the airfield. The incident has come at a time when safety at Duxford (as an airfield, not just for shows) is under review followed the accident last year when an L-39 jet trainer skidded through the boundary coming to rest on the M11.

The Flying Legends weekend was blessed by warm blue skies with the odd white cloud and an enthusiastic audience who enjoyed some fine flying displays of some of the most classic aircraft in the world.

The show was oped on each day by a gaggle of Supermarine Spitfires of various marks making a series of flypasts over this famous Battle of Britain airfield. Split into two sections representing the Merlin and Griffon powered types.

Despite a reduced line-up due to unserviceablilities and alike, the show still produced some star items. Sadly, TFC's latest aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane Mk IV was unable to take part due to problems with the undercarriage. Also having undercarriage problems on Saturday was Stephen Grey in the Spitfire MkXIV of TFC. Despite the ger not retracting properly, Stephen flew most of his display before being called into land by Air Traffic. Star of saturday's flying display however was OFMC's latest import, the Lavochkin La-9 which made a late appearance in the flying display. This year's US import was Chino Warbird's rare North American/Cavalier TF-51D Mustang Mk2 in the capable hands of Steve Hinton. The aircraft wore markings representing a mustang based at Duxford during the war and was joined by TFC's new P-51D Mustang Twilight Fear, a rare example of an actual airframe based at Duxford during the war. Also making it's UK debut was the Salis Junkers Ju-52/3mg looking magnificent in an authentic Luftwaffe livery and took part in a beautiful duo with the Lufthanse example.

The show ended on each day with the traditional "balbo", which remains one of the most spectacular sights on the UK airshow circuit. Flying Legends 2003 will undoubtably be remembered for Saturdays tragic events, but we should be appeaciative of the great work and skill that not goes into the flying, but also to the meticulous planning and running of the event. Even with a reduced line-up, the overall display was absolutely superb, with action in front of the crowd throughout the time the display was running. It remains the best display of warbirds in Europe and perhaps the world. Thank you IWM and The Fighter Collection for supporting and running this unique event.

Flying Legends 2003 Photo Archive