Duxford 18 11 24

After a psuedo anniversary weekend in Norfolk, which included a festive train ride, we came home today via the M11 which was a good excuse to pop in to Duxford. It's only a couple of months since I was last there and as it is now off season not a lot has changed. No sign of activity on the Beau of course nor the CR42 but many of the regulars are undergoing winter maintenance and the hangars are full of overwintering aircraft. There will be some musical chairs soon as Duxford hosts another winter exhibition in the front of the super hangar, this time devoted to the fall of France. Anyway, I still snapped off a few shots.

Cromer War Memorial

Manston Air Show for 2025?

Rumour has it there is going to be an International air show at Manston in August next year. Sounds grand, especially for me being so close. Let's hope it's not a pie in the sky thing and comes to fruition.

Varsity WJ945

I last saw this Vickers Varsity a few years ago when it was part of the Classic Air Force at Newquay, see here. When that collection closed it became part of the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Museum, still at Newquay. However, that museum closed last year but the aircraft has now found another new home with the South Wales Aviation Museum at St Athan. Hopefully this will be more permanent. It's a museum I still want to get to. Watch this space!

Lest we forget

Off to Coningsby

The Aero Legends Dakota Drag Em Oot is again over wintering with the BBMF to keep crews current on multi engine props whilst their own Dak is away undergoing maintenance.

MAM Meteor

This Meteor at the Midlands Air Museum was starting to look a bit tired when I saw it in 2021 but I am pleased to see that a repaint in to 264 squadron markings is now almost complete and it is looking a lot smarter.

Polikarpov PO-2

A KP kit that I picked up a little while ago. A bit rough around the edges but overall not too bad. Mostly used decals from the spares box as the kit examples were very pink.

 This was a Russian trainer aircraft also used in ground attack and reconnaissance and was in production from the late 1920s until the 1950s.I have seen a couple in the States and there is also one in the Shuttleworth collection.

Canberra Down Under

I attended Warbirds Down in 2018 and, until a couple weeks ago, that was the last WDU show as Covid had kicked it in to touch. Great to hear the show is back.

One of the aircraft that was a work in progress when I was there was this Canberra but in the interim 6 years it has been returned to flight and took part in the show this year.

Seaplane prop

Spotted this in a local museum today. Labelled as from a Short seaplane that flew with the RNAS from St Mildreds Bay, Westgate, I imagine it comes from a type 184.

On the move

This Javelin at Yorkshire Air Museum has deteriorated since I first saw it in 2010 and the museum apparently do not have the resources to restore it so it has been gifted to East Midlands Aeropark as a project and it will then get the attention it needs.

Blue Skies Richard Grace

Very sorry to hear this evening of the death of Richard Grace of Air Leasing, the Grace Spitfire, the man behind Sywell air show this year, the Tempest restoration and countless other achievements. Gone much too young. My sincere condolences to all those affected by his loss.

Shackleton progress

I last saw Avro Shackleton WR963 in April last year, as reported here when it undertook one of its final engine runs. The aircraft has now been dismantled in readiness for the planned move to Elvington which should be completed over the coming weeks. This will hopefully be a good move for the Shack which will be reassmbled to ground running condition once more in a more secure location than previously. Hopefully she will be looking her old self sometime next year.

Coming to Europe

The superb Avro Anson MkI that I saw at Wanaka over Easter has just been sold and I hear it is joining a Czech collection here

More from Duxford

A little belatedly here is some more of the action from the Duxford Battle of Britain show last month.