Remind me.
There was a Duxford Spitfire themed show a few years back and they managed to assemble quite a lot.
I recall 16 flew in one formation
1) Am I right?
2) Did this include BBMF, or were they there but not participating in the fly-past?
3) Did Southampton put up the same number, a few weeks previously?
Moggy
By: duxfordhawk - 3rd August 2004 at 11:50
The BBMF were part of the Big Wing at end of the show and led the formation somewhere i have phto’s of this show mainly statics but since moved 2 and half year ago i not seen them.
By: Tony C - 3rd August 2004 at 11:39
Hi Moggy,
This was the formation I was thinking of when I made my “silly comment” at Legends, claiming 60 airborne Spits (still 😮 ).
FP Nov 2000 reports 22 Spitfires onsite, with 20 airborne each day…
P7350
‘AR352’ – G-MKVB
‘AR3185’ – G-LFVB
‘AR4474’ – G-AWII
AB910
‘AR654’ – G-BMKI
MH434
MK356
MK732
MK912
ML407
PT462
PL965
PL983
‘MV268’
SM832
TD248
TE184
SM845
PM631
PS853
PS915
Report says that BBMF (Blue Section) displayed while the privately owned machined formed into separate sections (Red and White Sections).
The report also says that the BBMF has ‘special dispensation to fly in the same airspace as other aircraft’ but doesn’t say if this was in formation!
Also flying were Sea Hurricane Z7015, Hurriance ‘BE417’ and Hurricane ‘Z7381’
The previous record of 16 airborne Spitfires (again 22 onsite) was May 1998 and is listed in FP July 1998 and included…
‘K5054’
P7350 (*)
EP120 (*)
AB910 (*)
BM597 (*)
AR501
TE566 (*)
ML417 (*)
MH434 (*)
MJ730
PL965 (*)
TD248 (*)
TE184 (*)
MK178/TE311
MK673/TB382
ML407 (*)
PV202 (*)
MV293 (*)
PM631 (*)
PS853 (*)
PS915 (*)
VN485
Obviously K5054, MK178, MK673 and VN485 weren’t/aren’t airworthy and those highlighted (*) are reported as having taken part in the Sunday flypast.
Not sure if BBMF flew in formation with the privately owned Spitfires.
HTH
Tony
By: DazDaMan - 3rd August 2004 at 11:20
We had this debate a while back, didn’t we? The first Spitfire-themed show was 1998 (my first visit to DX) and I was sure it was 18 Spits in that formation on the Sunday. I have it on video at home.
The Battle of Britain show in 2000 boasted something like 20 Spits and three Hurricanes in the air.
By: duxfordhawk - 3rd August 2004 at 11:18
There was a show, about 3 years ago, that included a flypast by the ‘Duxford Big Wing’, from behind the crowd (for which special dispensation was obtained from the CAA), comprising Spitfires and Hurricanes. I believe that the numbers involved exceded those of the Spitfire Show a couple of years previously, but am not sure of the exact number.
I was there and i can not remember the numbers involved but it was one of the most emotional things i have seen at a show.,And BBMF fighters to part in that big wing.
By: Gareth Horne - 3rd August 2004 at 11:06
1. Yep, (only 13 on the saturaday when I got though)
2. BBMF present but flew seperately
The Hurricane filled in for the Mk. IX spit that had donated its engine to PA474.
3. Sure there was something similar at Southhampton, not sure of the numbers though.
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August 3, 2004 at 10:53 am