….what do you reckon.
Having seen a fair few massed warbird formations/tailchases, I would like to nominate the Spitfire spectacle that closed Saturdays show at Duxford as the best demonstration of the power and grace of RJ Mitchell’s classic that I have ever seen. The mixture of the immaculate formation passes..
(which having seen the scribbles on bits of paper that were involved in their last minute planning were a masterpiece in making the best out of what must have been a rather ‘unknown quantity’ for much of the day!)
…combined with the hugely energetic tailchase (where the pilots obviously really get to enjoy themselves!) and the stunning aerobatic pair and singleton at the end were a perfect and evocative demonstration of a design that means so much.
The one brief moment that really crowned the whole thing was a split second when, viewed from the Air Space end, the tailchase described a perfect, dynamic, elliptical oval shape full of Merlin/Griffon power!
(See my drawing, the whole thing was far too impressive to go pointing my weedy little camera at, I just had to watch and take it all in! -I wonder if anybody from this viewpoint has any pictures?)
Of course I am willing to be proven wrong, what do people rate as the most memorable recent ‘Spitfire moment’, the Griffon tailchase that opened ‘Legends 04 (again performing against the elements, hailstones that time I think) or of course the larger, but more sedate, 2000 Duxford September finale?
By: Chris Broad - 12th September 2005 at 14:22
Shame about Sunday though – hope they try and make up for it in October.
yes i hope so 😡 😡
it’s official: I hate weather
By: Stealth-F117 - 12th September 2005 at 11:54
Yep had goose bumps when the 11 ship formation flew by – wonderful.
Shame about Sunday though – hope they try and make up for it in October.
By: Stieglitz - 12th September 2005 at 11:49
Yes, that spitfire chase and hurricane display where the highlights on saturday and they will stay in my memory for a long time. Simply wonderfull.
Stieglitz
By: Will J - 12th September 2005 at 11:45
I’d guess the hurricanes not joining in would be a crewing matter, seeing four of them together was fantastic, even if it was through a plastic tent window!
By: 92fis - 12th September 2005 at 01:12
I was quite surprised when they all carried on flying around after the flypast, I thought they were going to fly by in groups to break to land. Should have had the hurricanes up as well though. It was a much nicer sight than the usual legends tailchase but not as good as the September 2000 show finale.
By: Chris Broad - 12th September 2005 at 01:09
I’m fuming… Just spent the day at DX in the drizzly hazy misty low cloudbased clag. Most disappointed as it looks like i missed a good show by chosing to do the sunday! 😡
GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR! Bl**dy English weather!!!!
By: JonathanF - 12th September 2005 at 00:20
A spectacular 11 Spitfire display, eh? Well that’s just great. Couldn’t you have just lied and spared the poor Sunday bods the anguish? Last time I listen to the bloody MET office.
Don’t get me wrong, the Chinook’s an impressive aircraft, but…
By: Al Reid - 11th September 2005 at 21:06
As seen from by the Vulcan, the ‘route’ looks right to me even tho a couple of the planes don’t seem to agree!
Al
By: Bob - 11th September 2005 at 20:49
Drove past DX this morning and back this PM and it looks like it was low cloud and drizzle all day? It was an option to go today but the weather seemed to be in for the day so did something else….:(
By: darrenharbar - 11th September 2005 at 19:55
I could not agree more. Damien and I were gobsmacked by the display and we even paused (briefly!) from taking pictures to discuss the amaizing site in the sky. WELL DONE DUXFORD!
By: Will J - 11th September 2005 at 19:15
One of the most interesting bits was the differing ‘racing lines’ taken by the silver Spitfire XIV and the Spitfire I, in order to keep the racy newer model behind the timeless classic, facinating stuff!
‘Way too much fun’ you’re right there, the formation bit looks like hard work, the tailchase on the other hand looks like the most fun you can legally get away with in public 😀
By: Atlantic1 - 11th September 2005 at 19:01
I have to agree with you Will. It was certainly the most effective mass Spitfire display I think I’ve ever seen. Spitfires everywhere! You could tell both aircraft and pilots were having way too much fun up there.
Tom.
By: Moggy C - 11th September 2005 at 18:57
What do people rate as the most memorable recent ‘Spitfire moment’,
I saw that ellipse form too. Stunning.
But somehow not as good for me as Mr Hanna’s singleton display at Chailey last year 🙂
Moggy
By: Napier Sabre - 11th September 2005 at 18:42
At least someone got to see it.
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September 11, 2005 at 6:34 pm