Anyone beginning to feel (dare we say ) a twinge of Spitfire fatique in this 75 anniversary year will surely have been newly enthused by the tremendous conclusion to today’s Duxford tribute display.
Though the afternoon’s display faltered a bit, with pauses here and there for Air ambulance to fly through, etc, the atmosphere was highly charged at 17.00 when 15 Spitfires and two Seafires bounded across the grass (mostly) into a perfect deep-blue September sky, and formed up for 2 balbo-style fly-bys, and before they were allowed off the leash, to commence the best choreographed display I can ever recall, with one group of 7 or so performing a left racetrack pattern, whilst an other 7 did a towering tailchase in a figure eight, and a further three flew top cover in tight vic.
There seemed to be Spitfires wherever you looked, tearing past, or soaring skywards in long twisting strings, on and on, for maybe 10 glorious minutes. until finally they turned downwind, one by one , to settle on the grass, and MH434 flew on alone, curving and rolling across the East Anglian sky, the most lyrical demonstration of everything the Spitfire represents.
Congratulations to Brian Smith who had the vision to put the whole ‘set piece’ together, and the 17 pilots who flawlessly performed it.
I think it will be one of those displays where people say ‘ Ah yes, but you should have been at Duxford for the Battle of Britain show. That really was something!”
By: thedawnpatrol - 21st September 2015 at 12:46
Brilliant show yesterday, well done to all, the sound of all those Merlins ( and a few Griffins) was fantastic.
what I liked was seeing MH434 alone in the sky as the others had landed and really showing us what a Spitfire is capable of !
that’s my Spitfire ‘fix’ for this year !
Jules
By: Propstrike - 21st September 2015 at 10:37
More memories here, for a rainy Monday..
By: Paul F - 21st September 2015 at 09:51
There seemed to be Spitfires wherever you looked, tearing past, or soaring skywards in long twisting strings, on and on, for maybe 10 glorious minutes. until finally they turned downwind, one by one , to settle on the grass, and MH434 flew on alone, curving and rolling across the East Anglian sky, the most lyrical demonstration of everything the Spitfire represents.
Congratulations to Brian Smith who had the vision to put the whole ‘set piece’ together, and the 17 pilots who flawlessly performed it.
Yes indeed, it was definitely one of those “You had to be there…” moments.
Well done to all involved, and especially to Brian Smith for coming up with the concept for such an epic “three dimensional” finale to the show.
Paul F
By: Tin Triangle - 21st September 2015 at 09:39
Branding is on the port side only. To be honest, if it means the IWM can carry on operating N3200 as an airworthy piece of magic, I for one am happy to let it pass..
By: hampden98 - 21st September 2015 at 08:15
Sunday was superb and the weather was gorgeous.
The swirling, twirling aircraft had me dizzy at one point trying to keep up.
Loved the little touches like the three ship loop.
Was interesting watching the aircraft pulling up and gaining height to fly over or avoid the M11.
By: Learning_Slowly - 21st September 2015 at 07:08
Unfortunately if that is the price we have to pay for having her in the air, is the branding both sides? Totally agree with the finale, amazing sight and the sound.
By: Russ - 21st September 2015 at 00:32
[QUOTE=DragonRapide;2258688
Hate the branding….[/QUOTE]
Totally agree, pointless, unnecessary and inaccurate. An insult to the team that restored this beautiful aeroplane. Get a grip IWM
By: The Bump - 21st September 2015 at 00:18
I was very impressed with the BBMF 6 ship formation,nice and tight and perfect.
I do tire of the occasional stick that they get always it seems from ‘that’ forum.
If anything,the BBMF have actually come on in leaps and bounds in the last 7 or 8 years with the more structured changes of command.
As for the Spitfire balbo and tail chase it was fab-u-lous.
What a way to mark the 75th anniversary.
By: DragonRapide - 21st September 2015 at 00:07
Love the image – is that Rats at the helm?
Hate the branding….
By: Duxman - 20th September 2015 at 19:24
A fantastic final tribute from all the pilots and aircraft that performed today at Duxford
Duxman
By: Tin Triangle - 20th September 2015 at 18:31
The noise was just something else. I was standing in front of Airspace and the echoes back off the massive building felt like the best surround-sound in the world.
By: Evalu8ter - 20th September 2015 at 18:29
It was a magnificent finale: well done to all concerned.
By: DragonRapide - 20th September 2015 at 17:07
Great photo Propstrike – feels like a still from the Battle of Britain!
Love the video Bob!
By: slicer - 20th September 2015 at 15:02
That is a Frank Wootton sky in the background of the video. Stirring stuff.
By: Trolly Aux - 20th September 2015 at 13:41
What a wonderful sight, just wheeling around like 1940 !
By: Bob - 20th September 2015 at 13:14
To match Propstrike’s photo above, if I may be permitted to share with you this short video ‘snapshot’ of the Spitfire tail chase – shot on iPhone mainly to capture the “awesome” sound rather than challenge PlanesTV video output!
By: Propstrike - 19th September 2015 at 22:23
.
By: Mike J - 19th September 2015 at 21:38
It was, indeed, simply sublime
By: Jagx204 - 19th September 2015 at 21:11
Having been to many Legends displays over the years, I have to agree it was the best Spitfire ballet I have ever seen. Perfect weather and perfect planes.
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September 19, 2015 at 8:28 pm
