“Spring Air Show
Remembering the Mighty Eighth
Sunday 26 May
The Spring Air Show takes place on the 70th anniversary of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting RAF Duxford to welcome the 78th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Great Britain.
We’ll be celebrating this royal occasion in spectacular style as we bring together contemporary and historic aircraft for a fabulous day of flying.
The highlight of the Spring Air Show will be the first-ever display by the Eagle Squadron. This historic four-ship display comprises a Mark I Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, P-47 Razorback Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang Princess Elizabeth. Princess Elizabeth is being shipped over from the USA specifically for the Spring Air Show.
The Eagle Squadron will fly in four-ship formation, as pairs and also in an evocative display alongside B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B.
The four aircraft will be piloted by Dan Friedkin, Ed Shipley, Steve Hinton and Paul Bonhomme. Dan, Ed and Steve are best known as The Horsemen Flight Team and have performed spectacular P-51 Mustang displays at the Flying Legends Air Show in the past. The Horsemen perform their stunning aerobatic routine in a host of vintage platforms (P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning etc) at shows and events across the globe. Paul Bonhomme is a Red Bull Air Race pilot and has displayed historic aircraft at over 500 air shows to date.
The Eagle Squadron represents the history of American pilots in the Second World War. Spitfires and Hurricanes were flown by American volunteers in the Royal Air Force prior to the United States officially entering the Second World War. Soon these American recruits were formed into their own squadrons within the RAF, known as Eagle Squadrons.
From its arrival at RAF Duxford in April 1943, the 78th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts on bomber escort duty switching to P-51 Mustangs in December 1944.
The Eagle Squadron forms the centrepiece of the Spring Air Show where historic US warbirds will take to the skies as we remember the time when the stars and stripes flew at RAF Duxford.
Purchase your tickets for the Spring Air Show by Monday 13 May at our advance booking rate and enjoy 10% off our ‘on the day’ ticket prices. Also, one free child ticket is available with every adult or senior ticket purchased in advance.”
By: The Freshest - 7th April 2013 at 22:28
Princess Elizabeth, Happy Days!!!;)
By: alohha1234 - 5th April 2013 at 19:30
dont think they will have anything modern there due to budget constraints !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but Princess Elizabeth back in the sky’s over-here :):D
By: charliehunt - 5th April 2013 at 17:21
Yes indeed. Looking forward to a really strong USAAF presence, in every sense of the word, there.:)
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April 5, 2013 at 5:02 pm