Legends Verdict & Was it Busier because of RIAT?

Curlyboy – disagree with you there. Sorry you feel the disabled and toddlers ‘plague’ Legends. They have every right to be there as you – in fact, those in the pushchairs are our future audience!

Well said and maybe some of those in wheelchairs are the same people who fought for our freedom in variants of the very machines on display so we should not complain about the either, what annoys me is that the country is in such a mess now they must be wondring what they bothered fighting for.

We were seven from Germany. This not our first time at Legends. Sorry that the 2nd Gladiator, 2nd Nimrod, RNHF Swordfish due to engine problems, and Sally B missing an engine could not fly or make it.
Always excellent EXCEPT…….The Commentators & Loudspeakers. We come to see the aircraft and HEAR the music of the Allisons, Merlins, Wrights & Bristol Sleve Valve engines. The continual bla bla bla at high volume during the flying performace pervents one from hearing that beautiful sound.
We also think that the 5 Stearmans & Beautiful Wing Walkers hit the spot just right for the Legends Display. Have them come again please.
Just restrict the volume and never ending noise(commentary) out of those loudspeakers during the flying.
Having been to many airshows over the last 40 years around the world (incl the USA) I can say that the Legends is the best!

My first Legends thought it was great highlights had to be the two B-17’s, but actually the thing i enjoyed the most was the Invader.
My god what a beautiful sound that thing makes. The last one i saw fly was the one at Biggin N3710G.[not the fatal year ] .

Toured the museum ,loved the AAM being able to walk under and around so many wonderfull aircraft was a delight. Mind you i was so knackered doing that and walking the length of the display line i had to sit down for the rest of the day . [being partially disabled and unable to walk far dosen’t help, but was worth the pain !!] I watched the flying from where my bike was parked next to the AAM.
All in all a very good day would like to go again next year.Many thanks to all involved in organising and running the show.

:)If you went to a football match and stood up in the seating area you would be told to sit down before you were asked to leave:)
Lovely display,thanks to all the volunteers for their work:)
The blog is a brilliant idea,thanks for keeping everyone updated:)

You can have a big lens and still sit 😉

Shame some people are not a little bit more considerate of those around them (not expecting establishment of “Considerate People” and “Inconsiderate People” areas!) – you don’t go to the cinema and then proceed to stand when the film starts, so why do the same at a similar ‘visual’ event?

I’m sure every year throws up yet more things you have to consider so thanks for the hard work and listening to the gripes 😉

Standing was an issue in there too – I had a go at two people who decided that standing at the back wasn’t good enough for them and decided to move down and stand behind the front row (we were sat in row 2).

Thanks for the feedback, looks like we need to establish ‘remain seated’ areas and ‘standing only’ areas, ‘big lense free area’ and big lenses only’ areas in future. We will have a plan by next Legends.

Group hug at the end would be most appropriate 😮

My apologies. We have a warning sign regarding that and yours truly forgot to set it out.
Some punters actually LIKE to stand there and get plastered in oil, . . . . takes all sorts!:D

Pete

Made my day actually……..!:D

I apologise if you feel it was an ill advised comment..I was only stating my observation during the flight line walkabout from 11ish to 12ish on Sunday, that there seemed to be fewer people walking around the aircraft than in previous years. We love hi-viz jackets really..we’d be lost without you!

On Sunday, there did seem to be fewer yellowjackets and assorted groupies hanging around the flight line aircraft..just the occasional engineer. Perhaps some of our feedback does have some effect.

I did think FL was a little muted this year…the absence of Sally B in a three ship was sorely missed..certainly if the expression on Elly S’s face was anything to go by when the other 2 taxied out and displayed. There were less unusual visitors and the Spitfires seemed a little gentlemanly, compared with the in-yer-face, kick-ass display of the P51’s..they come across the airfield like a bunch of hooligans..fantastic stuff.
But we are so spoilt really, all of these are minor niggles, and don’t in any way whatsoever detract from another great day. I worry that one day we will look back on these days as a golden age of display flying, not as a result of lack of enthusiasm and commitment from the organisers/owners, but due to insurance and fuel issues and the crushing bureaucracy of the EU.
Thanks to the IWM and TFC once again.

Chris,
Cheers…

Anyone know why the airband frequencies were so inconsistant this year? Half the aircraft stuck to 122.075 (DX TWR) and the display frequency, without any warning, changed to 134.650 We thought our Big Green Talking Machine had gone deaf untill we took it off the fixed chanels and gave it a spin around the dial. :confused:

grayfly,
I was in then Saturday and Sunday.
Bit annoyed as we headed straight for the flight line bimble gate first then went to the FoFTC corral after. Renewed my membership only to be told the ‘ticket’ included FLW entrance – D’oh……

Also, on Saturday the view to the left was interrupted by one of the tractors (big red one) being parked right next to the enclosure fence. About halfway though it was driven off but groans of despair greeted it’s return when it was brought back about 30 minutes later! Any chance this can be raised for future events? (It wasn’t there Sunday).

Standing was an issue in there too – I had a go at two people who decided that standing at the back wasn’t good enough for them and decided to move down and stand behind the front row (we were sat in row 2).

Was at Legends on the Saturday, got there at about 08:20, straight in and no hassle with parking or queues. Ambled down through the line of vendors and got re-aqauinted with ‘Liberty Belle’…havent seen her since I was on board during Oskosh 2005… had a good look at the Invader …thats a purposeful looking machine if ever !!!…and the ambled over to the flightline walk.

Well, actually the whole show was pretty good but one, but more importantly it was safe !. I think numbers where down this year…it didnt seem as crowded as usual…but the flying was varied and well run.

The over-riding memory for me was without any doubt, when I pushed down on the priming handle and pushed the start button on Peters Merlin. Now a lot of pilots will have had the pleasure of sitting behind and starting a Merlin, but they are normally sat behind a firewall and within a ‘cosy’ cockpit.

Me ?….I was standing directly, and I mean directly !….behind that awesome motor, without the benefit of a windshield and totally exposed to the slipstream and glorious noise (Regular attendees at FL will have seen these babes running and kow what the setup is). Dude…(enters into overexcited mode)…. I ground ran a Merlin for around 5 minutes !!!!!!.

Words just dont describe the feeling when that monster shakes itself out its slumber and the first pot catches closely followed by the rest. I dont know what hits you first…the lurch as she starts to turn over, the slipstream from the prop as she catches or the totally unforgetable sound track that only a Merlin can produce. I have to say that that soundtrack is even more fantastic when you are sat not quite 3 feet behind the stacks, and even wearing ear defenders, it was loud….errrrr, did I say loud ?….more like ohmygodtheyllhearthisinthenextcountryandwonderwhoseunleashedwhat kinda loud…sorry….LOUD.

You may have heard of people who like old aeroplanes, they’re very easy to spot when you run up a Merlin….theyre all stood round in silly grin mode and not one finger is in any ear !. I have to say that there where a lot of people who like aeroplanes, standing at least 5 deep all around the display area. Aaaand, the applause after the motors where shut down was almost as loud as the display was !.

My thanks go to Peter …for those interested, check out his website for the story behind this Merlin and the others … http://members.lycos.co.uk/pwgrieve/… for letting me have the opportunity to run his Merlin and to not only run it on the haloed ‘turf’ at Duxford during Flying Legends, but to also run in time with a Griffon and yet another Merlin at the same time with his colleagues. I think its fair to say, that we where the center of attention for that five minutes.

Peter, you sir are real Gent. Thank you very very much…..(looking for a ‘we’re not worthy’ smilie)

I still cant believe I ran a Merlin up. Even though I was video’d by Rocketeer and I was wearing a ‘helmet cam’ to get a different perspective on the event, I keep looking at the video footage taken and think you ‘lucky lucky barsteward’. I’m also pleased in the fact that my ‘Aluminum Overcast’ flight jacket and ASB hat, where ‘christened’…nope, they wont be put in for a wash !… during the run-up. Hopefully I can upload some video later today…thats if I havent worn them out through constant re-runs !.

Any way, that was my Legends, and yes, I’m still on cloud nine !!!!

Hello chaps.

, is there an area/s along the airfield where you can get a good view and not be subjected to “Spitfire look! Stand up…!”? Is the bank right at the bottom end any good?

Thanks,
Tom

Friends of The Fighter Collection enclosure, join Friends and get free entry for next year.

Shock News!. . . .
“Sunday: TFC employees confiscate all step ladders over 8ft tall to allow Jonathan Whaley to complete his display in AR213”

Thoroughly enjoyed one of the best Legends yet, and thankfully not really spoiled by the weather.

Pete

Got there just in time after thinking that if I cut round the back country lanes and arrived at 13.30 the roads would have calmed down! Instead got stuck behind some very angry lady screaming at traffic police that she had to get to Gatwick on time (aircon kept me calm!). Managed to get squeezed into what must have been the last car parking space available about a mile from gate! 😀

Came for the B-17s and was thrilled by the B-25 and A-26. Sight of all the aircraft you read about lined up on the airfield together is fantastic. Had a long walk around hangers 2 and 5. Can’t wait for 2009 as didn’t even have time to watch the balbo.

Ears still ringing from PA as only decent spot I found was the ground zero beneath some at the AAM end!

Thanks Duxford for another great legends!

Regards

I didnt have a problem with the witterings of the Guinot gal………but, at Biggin Hill, the Blades commentatoress did irk me somewhat…..she sounded like the popsie who presents Dancing on Ice, Holly Willowtree or whatever her name is……anyway I don’t watch it:o

I am reminded of a commentating incident from the Utterly Butterly days, poss 4 or 5 years ago? when they unwisely hired a commentator for their Duxford display who sounded like Timmy Mallett on acid or a very bad local radio DJ.
His narration was peppered with references to the off duty past times of the pilots and wingwalkers.
A number of us spent the display working out the quickest route into the commentary box to put him out of our misery.
Certainly the most embarrassing individual act narration I’ve witnessed.

The overall commentary at Legends, as I have already said, was very good.
You can’t go wrong with the likes of Brendan, Bernard, Melvin, Ron (as in David) or Strat Ritchie at a show.

P.S. Is it just me, or do Allison engined aircraft sound better than Merlin engined ones? (runs for cover)

Obviously the loud PA system at the your locale seriously damaged your hearing..:p;)

Hello chaps.

First post on here. A gang of four of us went to Legends on the sunday and we all enjoyed it overall.
I had been following the progress of the Sally-B but unfortunately I was dissapointed in not being treated to 3 B-17s in the air.
The worst gripe I had of the airshow is the ‘Joe Public’ standing up right in front of you and amateur photographers feeling the right they can walk right in front of you because they are taking a picture. We sat right beside the FOD enclosure in front of the American Air Museum. These ignorant types really ticked me off, and it detracted me enjoying the airshow more. I am hoping to go next year however, is there an area/s along the airfield where you can get a good view and not be subjected to “Spitfire look! Stand up…!”? Is the bank right at the bottom end any good?

Thanks,
Tom

how close were the B-17’s and what escort did they have.