How did the new Flying Legends go.

Well, in the words of Mick and Keef “You can’t always get what you want” – some folk need to grow up.

UKAR have pretty much had a downer on Flying Legends since it was announced that it would clash with RIAT so take most of what you read on there with a pinch of salt.

A lot of potential customers were left frustrated that it was announced for a weekend where they’d already made plans to be elsewhere. 

The full review at UKAR has now been published – Flying Legends Airshow by UK Airshow Review (airshows.co.uk)

Its is great that in this era of shrinking budgets and increasing stumbling blocks that they took the time/risk to try a new venue to bring back a much loved show concept. Although its wasnt possible this year, I shall keep my eyes open for the next one (hopefully) 

UKAR have pretty much had a downer on Flying Legends since it was announced that it would clash with RIAT so take most of what you read on there with a pinch of salt.

Saturday was difficult because of the showers, many of them heavy, but a reduced flying display was flown which included the traditional Spitfire curtain raiser which was excellent.

Sunday faired better with everything flying except the Wildcat, Gladiator and The Horsemen (The Horsemen actually flew after the event, presumably for the cameras and those that had helped put the show together). This was because of the high winds at the times they were due to fly. 

There were multiple display axis including a fantastic curve which should appease those who spat their dummies out over it being south facing.

The show site was divided because the airport FBO is next to the tower. More obvious signage would have helped those not familiar with the site, although it wasn’t really a big issue. 

The split carpark was unusual, but worked better on Sunday when there were no showers (people not wanting to nip back to their cars for shelter). On Saturday the airport opened up the hangars for shelter which seemed to have been appreciated.

I think that the ground events and merchandise stalls were likely kept relatively minimal in deference to the anticipated crowd size, but there were plenty of food outlets (even vegan/veggie) and the airport café was open (with ‘normal’ prices on their fayre!).

Leeds East Airport doesn’t look a bit like an industrial estate by the way, it’s maintained to a very high standard, so much better than it was during the last 20 years in military custodianship (access to the north carpark was via an old crashgate which was set aside for HGVs to protect the period main gates).

I came away both days feeling like I’d just witnessed something very special. The balbo was excellent, the flying displays superbly flown, the commentary was first class (the addition of Richard Grace was inspired).

That’s it really – oh, the bus/rail combo seemed to work just fine too although there are fewer stopping trains on Sundays. I think I overheard that there was also a shuttlebus to South Milford Station too but don’t take my word for that (Micklefield would have been better I think).

Just one of many videos of the weekend starting to pop up : –

https://youtu.be/pqXom0H3fGI

Cheers

Paul

Photos here Flying Legends 2023: All the best photos of heritage aircraft as airshow is held in Yorkshire for the first time (msn.com)
 

I was wondering as well – time was when the forum would be heaving with comments and photos from ‘warbird central’ 

The UKAR forum has some  observations, including this from pb643.

”Just home. Literally zero traffic in at around 10am, to the extent that when we ended up in the car park that had access restricted during flying, we were helpfully given directions to the other car park, being waved through all the road closed signs along the way.

Ground layout was not the best, with spectating split between two areas, with relatively limited access between the two. Ground entertainment was very limited, a small group of traders clustered together, a couple of areas of food stalls and a stage for the singers. Unfortunately, nothing compared with a world class aviation museum. The flight line walk was included, pleasant, but without the atmosphere of Duxford. Possibly two aircraft movements all morning.

The flying display followed a similar format to Legends of previous years. The curved display line and the unrestricted airspace makes you realise how restricted displays like the P38 and Bearcat are at Duxford. To me the displays felt much closer than most other shows, probably only comparable with Old Warden. A few types missing from the published program, two Mustang, Classic formation, a Hurricane, Corsair and most notably the Tempest. According to Richard Grace, held up slightly by the CAA being cautious at allowing a new type on to the register. The Gladiator didn’t fly due to the wind, two Mustangs didn’t fly, but I am unclear why.

The commentators Richard Grace and James Holland plus others were excellent.

So all in all it went from poor first impressions of driving onto an old airfield/industrial estate, compared with the excitement of arriving at a buzzing Duxford. By the end of the afternoon I am a convert, fabulous afternoon, brilliant flying display. Lots of room for improvement with ground entertainment, though that will clearly never compare with Duxford. Blessed by it being dry, there were very few shelters.

My only concern is that the event meets the financial expectations that allow it to return next year. The crowd was unsurprisingly not large.

Sorry, the Wildcat also didn’t fly, no reason heard.”

The feedback seems generally positive, though maybe lacking in some atmosphere. After all, how could it compare with DX? Of course, having the event fall on the worst weather weekend of the summer put a spanner in the works,  and some of the overly gloomy forecasts would have you belive no flying would be possible.

Hopefully, it was not a loss -making enterprise, and the incentive remains to run it in 2024.  People reported that the flying seemed closer, like Old Warden, even. The north of the country is something of an airshow desert these days, and that situation should be reversed. However,  the traditional home of Legends is Duxford of course, and somehow, only there does it feel quite complete.