The flying display at Duxford actually started with two minutes silence for the late Queen. The well known NHS Spitfire had taken off a few minutes before and the silence was called for and superbly adhered to. All we could here was the merlin of the Spitfire rumbling behind the crowd line as the Spitfire orbited in the distance. As the silenced ended the Spitfire dived down over the super hangar, pulled up in to a victory roll and departed over the American hangar. A very poignant moment I thought. The Spit then came back and displayed, starting off the show proper which, apart from the cloud burst disrupted finale was very slick. Here are a few shots of the day.
Aviation images
Tuesday 13 September 2022
Saturday 10 September 2022
Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show
So, back to Duxford today for their Battle of Britain Air Show, possibly my last show this year but another meet up with Gaz which is always a bonus.
A mixed bag weather wise, starting off a bit gloomy, brightening up with an odd light shower and then a heavy cloud burst at the end part way through the massed Spitfire and Hurricane flypast finale. Also a few aircraft that didn't show including the Navy Wings Swordfish, Seafire, a Beech 18 a couple of Mustangs and the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane which was due to the RAF honoring the sad passing of the Queen this week.
However, overall it was a good show with some nice flying displays especially the Czech Mil helicopters which was a first for Duxford, a pair of Lysanders flying with the Blenheim for the first time in years and a pair of Staggerwings together. However, I will start with some shots on the flight line.
Saturday 3 September 2022
Bristol Bombay
Friday 2 September 2022
Cornwall Aviation Heritage Museum
Saturday 27 August 2022
Stonehaven
Along the East coast of Scotland, a little south of Aberdeen, is the fishing village of Stonehaven. A pleasant coastal town with a nice harbour and a boardwalk along the seafront which has a number of stainless steel 'sculptures, mainly of fishing vessels from the area but also a lighthouse and a viking ship all built by a local artist. Among the sculptures was a Norwegian biplane marking the occasion in April 1940 when a Norwegian Type MF11 escaping the German military alighted in Stonehaven Bay. It moved on the next day but the story has clearly left an impression.
Thursday 25 August 2022
Wednesday 24 August 2022
Seaplane memorial, Dundee
The record distance flight for a seaplane took place on 6th October 1938 when a composite aircraft, which was one mounted atop another, took off from the Tay estuary at Dundee. The smaller top aircraft then separated before flying over 6,000 miles to South West Africa. A memorial to this is on the bank of the river in Dundee.
Diamond DA42 Twin Star
Tuesday 23 August 2022
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre
Montrose airfield was the first operational airfield in the UK of which more in another post. Flying had ceased by 1952 and some 40 years later it reopened as a Heritage Centre which has gone on to win many awards. Based around some original buildings the centre tells the story of the airfield and holds a few airframes, some of which are replicas and only recently took delivery of a Tornado which is displayed in an original hangar.
The centre is fairly small but staff are friendly, the exhibits interesting, including a poppy memorial area to which we contributed, and it is worth visiting.