Flightline UK 2004 - Duxford Airshow 2004, IWM Duxford = 4th-5th September = REVIEW

Duxford Airshow 2004 - 4th-5th September 2004

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The biggest show of the organised by the IWM team at Duxford is their September show. This show's major theme was the 60th Anniversary of the final sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz. However, this show is traditionally much more varied with a wide range of displays on offer. Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photograohy copyright of the author.

The hot warm sun and clear blue skies made a rare appearance of the weekend. Despite this, Saturday's show was not as well attended as previous shows, perhaps due to the Red Arrows only appearing on Sunday and the assured perfect weather.

As with most of the Duxford shows in 2004, the RAF put in a creditable appearance with most of the solo display teams appearing alongside the Red Arrows. Star of the line up though, as with many shows in 2004, was the Boeing Chinook HC2 from 18 Sqn based at RAF Odiham. The RAF is participated in the two special formations of the show. The first of these was a celebration of 100 Years of Roll Royce aero-engines flown by Carolyn Grace in her Merlin powered Spitfire T9 and the 100sqn Hawk T1 flown by Flt Lt Dave Hartley before they split into their solo routines. The Royal Navy was not left out with a solo routine from a Westland Lynx HAS3 from Yeovilton.

Another highly welcome aspect of the 2004 show was the presence of foreign air force aircraft in the static display. The Belgian Air Force put in an appearance with a rare UK outing for one of their SIAI Marchetti SF260 Warrior primary training aircraft in it's new all yellow training scheme while the Italian Air Force sent the slightly odd looking Piaggio P180 Avanti. We hope this is a trend that will continue.

The Tirpitz 60 years on

(photo from IWM archive)

Duxford hosted a unique event to mark the 60th Anniversary of the allied operations against the German Navy's most feared Battleship, Tirpitz in a Norwegian Fjord. The operations involved several missions from the RAF and the Royal Navy's X-craft midget submarines. Naturally, Duxford concentrated more on the aerial operations by Nos IX and 617 sqns which flew a number of missions with special modified Avro Lancasters from Russia and Scotland. However, Duxford is home to the remains of the X-7 midget submarine and a section of Tirpitz's Belt Armour. The aerial salute involved the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Avro Lancaster B1 joined by RAF Tornado GR4s from 617 and IX squadron. Unfortuanatly, the formation was rather loose so it wasn't most spectacular formation seen with the Tornados trailing well behind the Lanc. However, with the presence of so many veterens from the operations, it was very poignant.

The modern fast jets were joined by a choice selection of classic jets. Giving perhaps the best performance of the afternoon was Phil Shaw in Kennet Aviation's BAC Jet Provost T1. This ultra rare example of the breed has been a popular performer throughout 2004, thanks largely to the celebrations of Rolls Royce aero engines. However Phil, who is Kennet's Chief Pilot, put on a very tight routine keeping the little jet close into the crowd.

Another good display came from Golden Apple's pair of F-86A Sabre and T-33 Silver Star. As well as pairing up in formation both gave sparkling solo routines in clear blue skies.

In complete contrast with the noise of the jets was a display by Judy Leden, champion and record breaking Hanglider pilot. We've seen Judy display at Shepway airshows in the past, so it was a welcome reappearance on the display circuit. Sports flying of a completely different nature was represented by the Utterly Butterly Barnstormers again with their fourship routine that had been at Shoreham a week earlier.

Duxford's own warbirds population had a slightly subdued appearance, with many of the based Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs being away at the Goodwood revival. However, it did mean we saw two types not regularly displayed over home ground, the T-6 Texan/Harvard and T-28J Fennec. Making it's Duxford flying debut (unbelievably) was Plane Sailing's new PBY Catalina, also based here at Duxford. It was joined by another former Duxford/TFC Heavy, the B-25D Mitchell which is due to depart to the US very soon. The Fighter Collection also put it's collection of big cats on show with typically exciting routine from the Wildcat, Hellcat, Tigercat and Bearcat. They were joined by a brace of Spitfires from the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flights after the Tirpitz flypast - (see separate box)

The most hyped display of the afternoon however, was a display by a DHL Boeing 757 freighter from East Midlands airport. Last year we were wowed by a display from the South African Airways 747-400 and it seems displays by big airliners are proving popular at last. While it's always good to see big airliners displayed well; and it was a good display from Capt Paul Doust it was all over too quickly for some, especially those who remember the Jumbo's appearance next year. It was certainly the brightest aircraft in the sky though.

Things are defiantly moving in the right direction at Duxford over the last few displays. Since a somewhat disappointing D-Day show, certainly in terms of organisation of travel arrangements, the shows have shown great improvement. This show flowed well throughout the afternoon with plenty to see in the air and on the ground with a great deal of variation and quality.

Variety is the Key
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