He did indeed have a beard!

His name is Norman! I’ve known him for years and he’s a hell of a nice guy to talk to, but is obsessed with shooting EVERYTHING static from his beloved stepladder…don’t ask me why? :confused:

I think you have to understand the difference between ‘Duxford’ shows and Flying Legends. The trainer Spitfires are ‘proper’ Spitfires but they are trainers and as such are passed over in favour of combat configuration machines. The Connie is just plainly hugely impressive and was the star of the show for many people I spoke to over the weekend.

…and the Dragon Rapides….???

Rob, there are other shows in the season where such a mix can be seen and I really enjoy those shows. However, Legends has a clear theme that doesn’t include jets and I like it that way – it’s only for one show in the year.

Guess you weren’t at Legends in 1993 then Robbo, when Mark Hanna gave a superb display in the OFMC T-33A, N33VC. I think the Golden Apple Sabre was flown at Legends one year also. These are Legends also, just like the Super Connie.

Glad you asked this Willow, as I was thinking exactly the same! I don’t think it has been asked and we’ll probably have to read about the identity in a reliable magazine like Aeroplane Monthly. It probably has got an ‘RA*****’ registration inside the cockpit and perhaps there is someone on this Forum that managed to get a peek inside and can tell us?

Dear Dear Albert you really don’t know anything do you? how the hell do you know what pilots or engineers have to do or how long it should take them to do it, basic answer is you don’t do you? You could allways ask TFC to get the engineers to work all night to get the checks done.

Dear Dear Digby, you have obviously not watched pilots and engineers AFTER they have finished either! 😡

Good, bl00dy grief! We have just had quite a few good comments about folks slagging off ‘drama queens’ & Albert comes on here with the above! Ground crew have a job to do, period, If you don’t like the idea of the ground crew doing what they are paid (& mostly un-paid) to do I suggest you go walk round the museums at Hendon or Cosford. (The you can complain about other visitors being in front of you) ground crew & miscellaneous people? How dare you show so little respect to them!!!

Another thing to remember, is that out of every 1000 visitors to the Duxford weekend show only probably 100 or so are enthusiasts, the others are there for a day out with the family, not there to take their stepladder/trolley/trailer with equipment for a day in the country.
Live & let live, otherwise the folks who flew these aeroplanes for real and died doing so will have had a wasted sacrifice!

Sorry, I am not slagging off ground crew for doing their job, but what is irritating is when both pilots and ground crew do ‘more’ than their regulation checks and have to ‘hang around’ ‘their’ aircraft, sit under the wing etc., as though it’s like a magnet that they just can’t walk away and leave. Then someone will talk to them and they HAVE to stand close to the aircraft when talking.

Well, it was a toss-up as to which day I went the rain-sun-rain Saturday or the warm/grey Sunday! I chose the latter and wish I had gone on the Saturday – it’s called ‘sod’s law’. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole show and all the new stuff was just great! They COULD have put up EIGHT Rapides if they had roped in G-AGSH from Hurn and G-AKRP from Sywell, but six was fantastic.
I also agree there were an awful lot of ‘unidentfied press’ there, which really made me grit my teeth. I have only had a press pass for Legends, provided I could provide evidence of my publishing, particularly of something to benefit Duxford. I haven’t published much on Duxford’s warbirds recently, so didn’t think it was worth me applying. Yet there were dozens of people with ‘Media’ badges that probably haven’t had a photo published in their life.
The ‘drama queens’ all provide atmosphere and have always moved when asked politely, so I have no issue with them. I do refuse to pay any more than the entrance fee though. The programme is subect to change, so not worth buying – I would rather be pleasantly surprised rather than look at my watch in anticipation of something that may have to be cancelled.
The Connie was simply magic and I’m sure the only reason for two flypasts is simply the cost of operating it. They are hoping to bring it to Biggin Hill in September, together with the Dutch Connie.
I think the commentator was Sean Maffet, who does RIAT. He is usually pretty accurate with his facts, but I had my doubts hen he described the TFC Wildcat and being operated by the RAF as the Martlet….Royal Navy, PLEASE!
Took my own sandwiches, so did not have to succumb to an overpriced grease-burger.
Also not happy about the grandstand blocking off the viewing area by the Land Warfare Museum. The crowds were definately down on the Sunday from previous years, probably a combination of the weather and gate charges. If Legends is going the same way as RIAT – a rip-off at every opportunity – it will be kill itself off.
The only way to pay for itself is to encourage mass attendance at a reasonable price, with no ‘extra charges’ thrown in for something that should be included in the gate price! I find the ‘Flightline Walk’ is a waste of time and money as all the aircraft are parked too close together and even then, many of them are too far away with ground-crew and ‘miscellaneous people’ ruining the shots.