Flying Legends, IWM Duxford - 10th-11th July 2004

Flying Legends is the "Event" for all warbird enthusiasts. It's also the biggest and best attended of all Duxford's based airshows. Organised by the The Fighter Collection in partnership with the Imperial War Museum, the show is one of the best run and executed shows you could ever hope to visit. The displays seemlessly flow into one another and there's always a special surprise or two. Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports.

The somewhat changeable weather continued from the previous weekends to threaten Flying Legends. Thankfully, everything displayed as planned and the weather failed to dampen the atmosphere of what was perhaps one of the best Flying Legends of recent times. Saturday was at least fairly sunny when it didn't rain while Sunday remained cludy and dark throughout the day much to the annoyance of the photographers.

The show opened on both days on typical flamboyant style with one of the largest gatherings of Spitfires recently seen since the Battle of Britain anniversary. A total of seven Merlin engined Spitfires and three Griffon shod examples through a two part tailchase over what could be considered home to the spitfire as Duxford was the first airfield to receive the type. Making a welcome reappearance later in the flying programme was the Real Aeroplane Complany's rare Spitfire PR11, an ex OFMC machine. The aircraft had until recently been kept in Florida in it's pink colour scheme. Now it's back in it's original 15 squadron photo-recce markings. There was also a rare gaggle of Hurricanes. Star of this group was the Fighter Collection's own Hurricane IV (Saturday only) in orginal VI squadron markings from the the North African campaign. It was flown by Dave Southwood and joined by Rod Dean in HAC's appropriately marked Hurricane XIIb.  Joining TFC's Hurricane was the Shuttleworth Trust's Sea Hurricane IB and RACo's Hurricane XIIb, the latter flying on Sunday only. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight supplied a two ship Spitfire display with their Spitfire LFIX and Spitfire PR19 in the markings worn by the last Spitfire ever to fly an active service sortie with the RAF. The Shuttleworth Trust also brought it's Gloster Gladiator and Westland Lysander for a Bristol Mercury salute.

The axis is becoming harder and harder to represent nowadays. Second World War era german aircraft are very few in number. Legends however, is the only place to see such a large number gathered together. Headlining was Lufthansa's Ju-52-3M and Me108 Taifun. Full credit must go to the airline for making a fuss over their past. It's a shame certain other airlines don't do the same. Anna Walker and Taff Smith both provided master classes in aerobatics in their Bucker Jungmeisters. Anna is particular deserves much credit for such a spirited display despite not having inverted fuel systems.

Another stalwart of British 1930's and 40's aviation was celebrating it's 70th Anniversary this year. The De Havilland DH89a Dragon Rapide was celebrated in typical Legends style with six of the elegant machines flying together. The flutter-by was lead by G-AGTG, which has taken 27 years of tireless restoration at Duxford to what is in essence a zero-timed Rapide.

As always though, many of the highlights of the show had an american background. Making it's UK debut was the P-39Q Airacobra "Brooklyn Bum II" recently delivered from Chino. The aircraft has only made a few flights and Steve Hinton gave a series of flypasts for the benefit of the cameras. Another Allsion powered aircraft gave a display with the P-39, TFC's P-40M Kittyhawk in the hands of aerobatic ace Paul Bonhomme. Sadly, a technical hitch on Sunday saw Paul's display curtailed. For the first time in many years, two B-25 Mitchells displayed together. The former TFC owned B-25 "Grumpy" flew at a UK airshow for the first time in several years with the Duke of Brabant's example. There were also two B-17G Flying Fortresses once again thanks to "Pink Lady" and "Sally-B" joined by TFC's P-47D Thunderbolt f

TFC's "Cats" formation was once again a highlight of the display with some awesome formation flyinf from the F7F Tigercat and F8F Bearcat. Other naval piston power came from the North Weald based Grumman TBM-3E Avenger and Douglas AD4N Skyraider. Of partiular note were the pair of Corsairs from TFC and Claude Semindaaz. Despite not regualrly being paired together Brian Smith and Claude put on an amazing formation duo display remaining very tight throughout, particularly during Sunday's more difficult conditions.

However, it was the P-51D Mustang stampede which was a major highlight of the American fighters. OFMC, The Aerial Museum and Rob Davies provided a thrilling tailchase in their Mustangs while Ed Shipley simply provided one of the best solo displays of the afternoon  in TFC's P-51 Mustang Twilight Tear.

It was espeacially good to see a number of Big Prop airliners and transports at the show. As well as the BBMF's Dakota C3 solo display with the usual precision and arm waving by the load master, French aviation journalist and respected airshow commentator Bernard Chabbert brought his stunning polished Lockheed 12 to the show. It's crew were seen frantically polishing the aircraft further after it's arrival at Duxford to remove the remnants of a bug storm they encoutered en-route. The aircraft is something of a legend amongst it's type being used on spying missions during the Cold War by Sidney Cotton on behalf of Her Majesty's Goverment! During restoration, evidence was found of the modifications to the aircraft to perform covert photo-recce.

However, the show stopper had to be the C-121C Super Constellation of the Swiss Constellation Flyers Association. It's fire breathing takeoff and all round elegance simply couldn't be ignored.

Much can be said of the Balbo finale at any Legends airshow, we think the picture at the top speaks volumes and is much better than any more words!

Again, full marks and some more must go to all at the Fighter Collection who organise this unique event. It's in danger of being taken for granted that such a show exists to provide us all with a unique atmosphere and some of the rarest aircraft in the world. This coupled with one of the most slickly organised flying displays anywhere makes this a must attend event - an experience not to be missed!

 copyright Flightline UK 2004