Legends, The Show Report live and after

You like the French bloke–as far as i a concerned ALL commentators should be kept away from a microphone unless it is turned off.One reason i don’t go in very often now.

This years was the first i’ve been to since 2010 having been a regular Duxford visitor back in the ’90’s.

I have to confess i found the commentary excruciating. It was littered with populist errors and seemed to me to be largely a marketing device with it’s constant hyping of this or that “unique,” “only today” and “get it while you can” item of merchandise, the majority of which are neither unique or only available today in reality.

I fully understand the need to raise funds and am happy to contribute to keeping the aircraft in the air and on display but this mindless merchandising just felt designed to seperate the gullible from their money to me. It was not an experience that i enjoyed and that combined with an astonishing number of basic factual inaccuarcies and embellishments in the commentary rather coloured the day(s) negatively for me.

Thankfully the noise of the aircraft drowned out the terrible commentary at times.

(PS i like the French chap, he does La Ferte Alais as well i believe and is very good. On another point i enjoyed La Ferte more than Duxford this year, perhaps due to the weather!)

You can tell him that he’s welcome to come back anytime. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that his input as a commentator was very much appreciated.

I caught up with Ando at Temora on Saturday, and after his usual impeccable commentary of the day’s flying, I told him of the reviews he had been getting here. He was pretty stoked, as it meant a lot for him to be there and commentate for all you lucky enough to attend. I’ve been attending Temora every fly day for the last 20 months and a volunteer since Feb this year, and I learn something everytime he speaks.

Stunning aircraft that absolutely thrilled me. The Spitfires…one my old mate Jim had been in charge of between lending it to Ginger at 57 OTU was my personal highlight as I’ve not laid eyes on her before…the Spitfires were stunning. That’s the most apt word. I’ve seen some marvellous Spitfire displays and flights but I was holding back tears watching them on Saturday, they were superb. If the pilots do indeed want to know how well they displayed then, as far as I am concerned, those of you up in the Spits displayed beautifully. It was so good the rest of the show was just icing 🙂

Quite agree. The display was excellent. To be honest I’d be in 7th heaven to attend an airshow with just Spitfires, though maybe with some Hurricanes, Mustangs and Buchons thrown in!

My only very minor gripe with Duxford is that I believe it would make more sense for the start of the displays to be brought forward to 12 or 1300. As it is, the displays usually finish at around 1730, leaving only 30 minutes or less before the museum closes.

Aside from that, my trips to Duxford are always worth the 160 mile trip from Bristol. Looking forward to Spitfires Merlins and Motors next Saturday.

As as been said Legends 2015 Second weekend in July !

Im blaming Mr Grey for this years weather if he hadn’t announced his retirement from public display flying last year his good graces with the weather goods as in all the previous Legends i have been to would have still been intact !!!!? Mind you Legends Friday with 30+ forecast and no shade at Duxford may have been an issue, could just see the elf & safety notice police sorry sir you cant go outside airspace because of high temperatures :angel:!!!!

I have to agree there, he always seemed to get us some good weather.

Been into Duxford today and it is hot.Imagine how bad this would be with a large crowd

Hi
As one who was lucky to go Legends 2014 on both Saturday and Sunday .I did really like the two French based warbirds solo displays on Sunday after landing on Saturday.
Just wondering why no dates for Flying Legends 2015 yet .

As as been said Legends 2015 Second weekend in July !

Im blaming Mr Grey for this years weather if he hadn’t announced his retirement from public display flying last year his good graces with the weather goods as in all the previous Legends i have been to would have still been intact !!!!? Mind you Legends Friday with 30+ forecast and no shade at Duxford may have been an issue, could just see the elf & safety notice police sorry sir you cant go outside airspace because of high temperatures :angel:!!!!

Don’t need them, second weekend in July.

Hi
As one who was lucky to go Legends 2014 on both Saturday and Sunday .I did really like the two French based warbirds solo displays on Sunday after landing on Saturday.
Just wondering why no dates for Flying Legends 2015 yet .

Certainly they did up until a few years ago. A more circumspect attitude to operating their aeroplanes is no bad thing IMO.

Not at all. If it prolongs the aircraft’s flying life I’m not going to complain, at least it is still flying.

Certainly they did up until a few years ago. A more circumspect attitude to operating their aeroplanes is no bad thing IMO.

I agree. The sight of the Gladiator losing momentum during a vertical manoeuvre and falling into a dangerous looking tailslide during a show at Duxford during the 1970s is still etched in my memory.

For the question earlier ref not announcing pilots names, I think that you will find that it is a policy of the organsers that the names are not mentioned in case of an incident.

I am pretty certain they do announce the pilots sometimes,especially at Old Warden.I am puzzled why aircraft will fly or be shipped in hundreds/thousands of miles and then either not fly or just do a couple of passes.
This isn’t new ,i remember the sr 71 Blackbird flying from the USA doing a couple of passes and going again.

James;

I think my views balance between the two. First and foremost, it’s the history of the aircraft and the men that flew them in combat that interests me most of all. Aerobatic (and non-aerobatic) warbird displays along with the pilots that fly them is almost a separate interest for me. I think this developed when I visited my first warbird shows as an early teen. The aircraft and the pilots back then certainly inspired me greatly, and there were some great characters on the circuit too. I treat the two quite separately.

I do remember the Grey/Hanna Sea Fury/Bearcat tail chase very well. It stands as one of the best displays I’ve ever seen. I have a few photos somewhere. What sticks in my mind was the communication between Ray and Stephen that were broadcast over the tannoy during the display. Seem to recall Mr Hanna giving out some stick to Mr Grey during the routine. It was very entertaining and a great display of skill.

Stand out’s for me over the years include Stefan Karwowski’s Bearcat displays, Dizzy Addicott in the T-33 and DC-3, Ray Hanna in MH434, Gary Numan in the Yak 11 at Earls Colne in 1992, Stephen Grey’s Joker routines, Anna Walker in the Jungmann, Charlie Brown for the consummate professional that he is and Barry Tempest’s crazy flying routines….oh, there’s too many to mention really.

Regards;
Steve

I love warbird aerobatics, hence my appreciation of routines by the likes of Kynsey, Akary, Skilling, Grey and co!

Thanks. I still like warbird aerobatics, but find other aspects of greater interest as I get older. (Hmmm. That sounds crustier than I meant! Of course I sometimes think of Legends as ‘the show that replaced ‘Classic Fighter’. 😀 Mr Tweed indeed.)

And it’s easy to forget (though we all know) that airshow aerobatics in warbirds have essentially nothing to do with the original use and purpose of front line types. Doesn’t make it wrong, or not enjoyable doing or watching, just an observation.

Rather like seeing ‘Vics of Spits’ in the show. “Jerry will getcha.” With four Mk.Is flying a Vic and box, probably the first time that’s not been anachronistic for decades!

Trivia, but amusing.

For the question earlier ref not announcing pilots names, I think that you will find that it is a policy of the organsers that the names are not mentioned in case of an incident.

Are warbird shows personality-driven entertainments, or demonstration of history and intangible heritage? They can be all those, let’s just be careful it doesn’t become just one.

Certainly the latter to a greater degree, although the personalities definitely play a part. Seasoned airshow goers will likely have their favourite display pilots, based on how that individual flies a particular aircraft. I would, for example, be more enthused to see Pete Kynsey fly the Bearcat than the majority of other pilots because I know his routine and its trademarks (full aileron roll in the vertical, aileron roll at the apex of a loop, eight point hesitation roll etc.) and how well that demonstrates the aircraft to my tastes. I love warbird aerobatics, hence my appreciation of routines by the likes of Kynsey, Akary, Skilling, Grey and co!

As for the old Stephen/Ray duo… Yep, I have some recollections! Difficult to compare after so many years though. One thing I do know is that those two helped inspire my love of aviation – particularly historic aviation – and if children are nowadays similarly being inspired by pilots like Nick Grey, Frédéric Akary et al, that’s only a good thing.

Shuttleworth does not loop or roll the Gladiator.

Certainly they did up until a few years ago. A more circumspect attitude to operating their aeroplanes is no bad thing IMO.

You might be able to find an unction for that problem DCK….

Once you’ve been Akaryised, you’ve been Akaryised. Its a disease. I have been infected. I deeply apologise.