Third Air Force (UK) Day, Duxford – 21Aug09

I was expecting more than 2 jumpers from the MC-130P Combat Shadow, but they did well in the stiff breeze. The rain actually came over lunch time and cleared just as the Combat Search & Rescue demo started. A pair of F-15E Strike Eagles did a couple of tight turns over the airfield pulling vapour trails in the damp air, that could have done with a bit of re-heat and noise, as the HH-60G Pave Hawk came in at low level across the M11 to pick up a downed pilot. I then trekked up to the tank bank, via the working dog display and the birds of prey of the Bird Control Unit. By now there was blue sky and sunshine but still breezy. The afternoon flying started with a quartet of F-15E Strike Eagles flying over in formation, turning over Bedfordshire, and coming back again. Next up was a KC-135 Stratotanker flypast with boom extended, and went a bit further than Bedfordshire to turn, and then the F-15s + tanker returned for a formation flypast.

Next up was the home team of Cub, F-86, Stearman, and P-51 ‘Ferocious Frankie’. B-17 ‘Sally B’ took to the air and did a fly past with ‘Frankie’ before going into it’s routine which included at one point trailing smoke from the engine position that has caused all the problems. Following the conclusion of the show, a plethora of war birds departed for Shoreham before the HH-60G and MC-130P fired up and took their leave. Unfortunately I was sitting on the bus when 15 minutes later, the photo opportunity of the day took place as they they returned with the MC-130 trailing both its hoses and the HH-60G was tucked up behind one of the refueling baskets with its boom extended.

More from American Air Day, Duxford HERE

Brian