Legends Line Up

I said something like this last year and I’ll say it again. I really don’t care what I see and what I don’t see. I just feel so priveleged to have the opportunity to be there. Just a few weeks ago we all had the chance to say thanks to a group of people who did something extraordinary for us. Some of them got through ok, many didn’t. That’s what I’ll be doing a week on Sunday. Saying a thousand silent thank you’s. There will be tears, joy, sadness, but above all gratitude. I’m going to enjoy it rain or shine because of what it means for us all.

Let’s all just hope there are no problems.

Regards,

kev35

Now six Rapides…two from Classic Wings, David and Mark Miller’s stunning beauty I presume…what about the others?

G-AGTM and G-AIDL from the Air Atlantique Classic flight.

The Anson and Twin Pin will also be putting in an appearance.

Tom.

(pedant switch ON) Something slightly awry with that press release title – 66 years would date the last Airacobra appearance at Duxford to 1938… (pedant switch OFF)

😉

Although its not a ‘flyer’ could the Swedish Firefly not be pulled onto the static. Photos a couple of weeks ago showed it on wheels close to the doors, inside the HFL / ARCo hangar. Ok if the aircraft is being worked on I dont suggest that she be moved. But if its safe to do so many people would appreciate the oppertunity to see and photo such a rare and new exhibit. Maybe a collection box in front of the Firefly could generate a small sum, either for the aircrafts restoration or in memory of last years terrible Firefly incident.

DOUGHNUT

Personally, I’m not sure it would fit in on the flightline alongside all the pristine, airworthy aeroplanes.

Also, parts of both Fireflies were on display in Hangar 3 and subsequently Hangar 1 for about 5 months before moving to the M11 compound, so there has been an opportunity to see them (although obviously not for you…).

I can’t wait until they start working on them though!!

The suggestion that the P39 would be at Legends has probably never appeared on any official TFC website or info.

The IWM put out a press release last week indicating that it would be there – I’d say that was pretty official.

“Flying Legends Air Show sees rare Airacobra return to Duxford after 66 years”

Realistically though, I guess no-one knows for sure until it arrives and the engineers start putting it back together.

Does anyone have an idea which BBMf spitfire(s) may attend? I have yet to see the newly painted PR19 and re painted MIIa, so lets hope at least one of them is there.

Can’t wait for the show!!

We love the TFC…bring it on! 😀 😀

(do you think I am getting a bit too excited?)

Here’s Pink Lady

and more views I have posted here:

http://community.webshots.com/album/146533921eiMGrD

Martin / Swiss Mustangs

😀 I’m working on getting down to once Mike 😀

The other B17 is the French based Pink Lady.

TFC have previously operated 2 P63’s which as I understand it are a bit different from the P39. I guess the hype is down to the fact that the P39 is as rare as a rare thing.

This sounds like another excellent airshow coming up that I shall be missing. 😡

I notice two B17’s listed. Is there another one flying in the UK other than Sally B? Or is it flying in from abroad? Two together in the air, that’d be a sight in itself to see. I’ve only ever seen B17’s on the ground, never flying (Sally and Mary at Duxford).

Having asked this question, I have to say it makes me giggle at how people read the multiple numbers attending and need to know which ones are coming, like the Rapides, etc. You lucky Brits are so spoiled for choice. Here in NZ if an aircraft type is listed you generally know which one it is because there’s usually only one – unless it’s Harvards, Tiger moths or the ‘time-filler’ suedo Warbirds like Nanchangs and Yak52’s.

What’s all the hype about surrounding the P39? Hasn’t the Fighter Collection previously operated one in recent years? I’m sure it cannot be something new to your warbird scene is it? I think I saw one at Duxford in their hangar in 1993. And let’s face it, is it really an ‘important’ warbird? They were badly designed, dangerous, ineffectual aircraft hated by most people who flew them.
(That’ll no doubt get some blood boiling 😉 Sorry if I offend any P39 lovers)

I wasn’t getting at you, I was just commenting on the fact that it seems that it’s getting very difficult for the hardworking guys at TFC to get any peace at this time of year. Thankfully where I am now we can get on with the job and enjoy ourselves without everyone wanting to know the ins and outs of everything.

Although its not a ‘flyer’ could the Swedish Firefly not be pulled onto the static. Photos a couple of weeks ago showed it on wheels close to the doors, inside the HFL / ARCo hangar. Ok if the aircraft is being worked on I dont suggest that she be moved. But if its safe to do so many people would appreciate the oppertunity to see and photo such a rare and new exhibit. Maybe a collection box in front of the Firefly could generate a small sum, either for the aircrafts restoration or in memory of last years terrible Firefly incident.

DOUGHNUT

Indeedy

I’m hoping to be at Duxford on Tuesday next week, so I’ll keep my eyes open in (and around) the hangars

Y11F,

Sadly gone are the days of the guaranteed connection when they’d keep a train waiting until a connecting service had arrived. Sign of the times I’m afraid.

As for the warbirds, the difference, I think, is that the P39 has recently been well publicised in the press (in both Flypast and ‘the other mag’ news articles) as Philo has just stated and has been well known about over the years. It’s only natural that people will be interested in the status of an exciting new aeroplane if they are expecting it. It is probably much better to have last years Hurricane IV situation where very only the right people new about it until it arrived at Duxford.
The suggestion that the P39 would be at Legends has probably never appeared on any official TFC website or info. It clearly doesn’t feature in their advertising for the event, so they themselves have not generated the interest. But, if they wanted it to remain out of the public eye as they did so well with the Hurricane last year, they would need to find out how/why the magazines have printed storys on the subject.

Possibly, they’re too busy working on it to worry whether the general public know what’s going on or not, and actually, I don’t blame them.
As I said earlier, if it’s there it’ll be fantastic. If it’s next year, then it will be fantastic then. This years list looks very good even without the P39

But, if anyone DOES know, and it isn’t on the secret list, then why not share it!!

Willow

Good stuff, it will be nice to see.

According to the Flypast news section the latest mag the P-39 is ready to be crated over and will be flight tested prior to leg-ends

Not neccesarily, remember the Warbirds of Great Britain Collection (and now Flying A Services), and Charles Church etc, they seemed to get aircraft in and out without everyone wanting / demanding (at times) to know everything that was going on. Only the matter of 3 years or so ago we had a Mustang being built in the UK which only a very few people knew about.

As for my train journey it seemed to be pretty good considering, the only downside was spending best part of an hour at Marks Tey station due to the train from the smoke being 10 mins late

I don’t know of any other operators who are in the process of importing a major warbird type to the UK just before the major airshow that they run every year, after a major UK magazine has released the details.
If there was somebody else in the same situation then I’m sure they’d get the same attention.

Hey, Y11F, how was your train journey the other week? Cancelled, derailed, or just plain late?? 😀

On the other hand if it was any other operator anywhere else in the UK they would be able to do whatever they wanted (within the bounds of the CAA / FAA) behind closed doors without everyone wanting to know what’s what.

I’ve just asked this question on another thread.
Good luck in getting an answer. It’s like getting blood out of a stone.

I imagine that if it had arrived and been pulled out of a container then someone would have photographed it but you never know.

I do hope it’s there but we’ve been waiting many years for this aeroplane and I’m sure another year won’t hurt.

Willow