Duxford Autumn Airshow 2004 - 10th October 2004

The end of the season is officially marked by Duxford's Autumn Airshow. This airshow also traditionally takes the honours for the coldest of the year. It has often been the case that this airshow didn't really shine in terms of entertainment and was simply your last chance to see some air displays. 2004 was definatly different. Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography copyright Author.

The airshow organisers at Duxford have had something of a rough time in the press in previous years. 2004 however definatly saw a massive improvement to the variety and quality of Duxford's air displays. Traditionally the Autumn Airshow has often been something of a poor relation of the other shows, but this year was definatly different. Theme was anything but inspring for a Duxford event - a tribute to the Spitfire and Hurricane. For many this was something of convient theme as Duxford is of course home to many of these types. Come show day there was only one Hawker Hurricane XII on the flight line from Historic Aircraft Collection, but there were SEVEN Spitfires - a number more akin to the Flying Legends extravaganza. Flown by Rod Dean, the Hurricane was put up against HAC's Fielser Storch in something of an unfair dogfight, although the Storch did come complete with smoke generators to signify it's fate! After seeing to the Storch Rod put the Hurricane through a fine solo display.

The Spitfire's formed the finale to the show, and the season! The aircraft were split into two formations of Merlin and Griffon engined examples. The Merlin's put on a fine formation display led by Nigel Lamb in OFMC's Spitfire LFIXb MH434. He was joined by TFC's and HAC's Spitfire MkVs. The Griffon's put on an exciting Legends-esque tailchase against the rousing sunset sky. ARCo's Spitfire MkXVIII lead the chase with TFC's and ARCo's Spitfire MkXIVs and Roll's Royce's Spitfire PR19. An excellent way to end the 2004 season.

But there was so much more at the show that just Spitfire's and the Hurricane. 2004 saw the strongest support yet seen at a Duxford Autumn Show with pretty much all the display crews makign their last displays of the year. Star of 2004 for many has been the RAF Chinook HC2 flown by Sqn Ldr Dave Morgan from No 18 sqn based at RAF Odiham. Once again the Chinook was put through it's paces for the Duxford crowd - we hope to see the display back in 2005. Another display that won much praise this year was the Shorts Tucano T1 flown by Flt Lt Martin Day and it was typically polished. Also amongst the RAF performers were the "Tac Demo" C-130J Hercules C5, Panavia Tornado F3, BAE Systems Harrier GR7 and Hawk T1 from 208sqn. Both of 208sqn Hawk wore the striking special paint scheme for the Hawk's 30th anniversary. On the ground, Strike Command's Hawk solo pilot Flt Lt Dave Hartley gave "walkaround breifings" around a static Hawk T1 from 100sqn.

But it was Naval types that really stole the show. The Imperial War Museum deserve a great deal of praise for bringing out their Fairey Gannet and Sea Vixen FAW2 into the sunlight to complement a strong line up from the Royal Navy. As usual the Navy supplied a Sea King HC4 for taxi duties between Duxford and Cambridge Airport where the Tornado F3s were based. They also brought an example of the Sea King ASac7 and Jetstream T2 for the static line-up. Perhaps the most poignant aircraft from the Royal Navy parade were a pair of Sea Harrier FA2s from 899sqn based at RNAS Yeovilton. This is probably the last time we will see 899sqn fist emblazoned aircraft flown by 899sqn at an airshow. One of the aircraft made a visit elsewhere during the show, so it was defiantly the last flight at an airshow for 899.

However, it was the historic Naval aircraft that stole the show with another outing for the Hawker Sea Fury FB11 and Sea Hawk FB6 from the Royal Navy Historic Flight. Although the Sea Hawk managed it's full display the Sea Fury developed a minor fault when a step extended in flight forcing the pilot to make a landing rather than continue his display. The presence of the Sea Hawk also lead to perhaps one of the most memorable formations of 2004 when it joined up with Golden Apple's F-86A Sabre and T-33A Silver Star for a couple of passes before the latter performed a tail chase display.

Also putting on a memorable display was Alistair Kay in OFMC's P-51D Mustang Ferocious Frankie in conjunction with B-17 Sally-B. Alistair's display are certainly characteristic of those given by OFMC pilots showing the aircraft performance and shape off to the crowd to best effect.

OFMC also showed off two of their latest additions to their display fleet. On the Ground, the Ryan PT-22 Recruit was displayed on the flightline while in the air, Boz Robinson flew his Bucker Jungmann, now based with OFMC, in company with Anna Walker's Jungmann  and the Fighter Collection's Jungmeister. Lee Proudfoot also displayed De Havilland Rapide G-AGJG which had made it flying debut at Flying Legends earlier in the year

This was an excellent end to the season. If it was an album, it could certainly of been called "Best of 2004" as it brought together many of the best displays of the year for one final fling in the cambridgeshire skies. Despite blustery conditions and a definite chill in the air, a sizable crowd enjoyed another excellent show.

 copyright Flightine UK 2004