Duxford Sunday April 29th:
Dreadful weather again today, so not much to report.
In Hangar 5, work is continuing on the Vampire’s Goblin. The design started in 1941 and was only the second British jet engine to fly. As the Halford H-1, it first ran on April 13th 1942, that makes the design just over 70 years old:
The inner wings and trailing edges of B-17G F-BDRS/44-83735 are together in the AAM. It will be a few weeks before they are reassembled, so the fuselage will stay in Hangar 5 a while longer:
Progress on the B-17 ailerons:
Duxford Friday April 27th:
Spitfire BM597 took advantage of a short weather window to perform a quick test flight. The Action Stations ‘Fly with a Spitfire’ season starts next weekend:
The finish on newly rebuilt Chipmunk WK586/G-BXGX has to be seen to be believed:
With TFC, the transfer of Sea Fury T.20 G-CHFP/WG655 to the UK register moves a small step closer:
The TFC Corsair is on jacks, allowing an unusual close-up:
Another film crew, another TV advert. In the words of Roger Bacon, WTHIH ?
Duxford Wednesday April 25th:
Many thanks to Fred Taylor for some different angles on Hangar 3 residents today:
Did Sally B get a repaint?
No, maybe the torrential rain makes the paintjob look new.
Here’s my favourite version from today’s photos:
Duxford Tuesday April 24th:
Heavy rain and bitterly cold winds this morning didn’t prevent a brave band of volunteers from completing Sally B’s annual roll-out. They are getting quicker, after 9 aircraft were towed out of the way it only took an hour before she was in her usual spot with wing-tips attached.
With such poor light, only ‘Yellow 10’ made a good picture:
With one B-17 moving outside, at the other end of the airfield another was moving inside. The inner wing sections of F-BDRS/44-83735 were moved through the doors of the AAM yesterday (first three photos). Today the delicate operation of lowering them onto new stands was underway.
P-51 Ferocious Frankie has just taken off.
That was just about it for this morning, an airtest complete before Museum opening, back in the hangar by1020.
Duxford Saturday April 21st (Again):
Another TFC milestone today. Snafu was not alone on the flightline this morning:
The distinctive shape of FG-1D Corsair G-FGID/KD345:
Start-up:
Pre-flight checks:
Another gremlin causing trouble:
Safely down, but starboard gear needs attention:
It was Fighter day at Duxford. Dropping in for fuel was the Grace Spitfire:
Spitfire MH434:
Ferocious Frankie was due for a test, but rain stopped play as I left:
Duxford Saturday April 21st:
Some more pictures of today’s main event:
The ascent begins:
Still running a little rich on start-up:
The big moment:
First approach:
On finals again:
Landing:
PK:
Many congratulations again to all at TFC.
A few gremlins accompanied this first flight (you may have noticed the flapless landing), so the work is not over yet. However, that’s what test flying is for.
Overshadowed by the P-47’s maiden flight was a test flight by the TFC Corsair, photos to come shortly.
Duxford Saturday April 21st:
After an hour battling with my ACME computer, I can offer a single image. More tonight.
Duxford Friday April 20th:
After a few days absence, I found plenty happening at Duxford this morning between the showers.
The HAC Nimrod had a lengthy engine run:
Should be on line in time for the May airshow:
The HAC Hurricane outside during the shuffle:
The Catalina has had a busy week, more practice today:
At ARCo, the Spitfire IA AR213 / G-AIST was also out in the sunshine:
A quick taxy test, complete with heat-haze:
This will be the final selection of British military photos from the archive. Thanks again for the extra information received on previous posts.
VW209, not a Dragonfly but a Sikorsky S-51 imported by Westlands in 1947 for military trials at RAE and A&AEE. Photo taken at Hatfield 14-6-53. Wfu by 1954, it became a Naval maintenance airframe at Manadon and was scrapped by 1963:
WG774 is the BAC221 (Ex Fairey Delta) now preserved at Yeovilton. Taken at Farnborough, probably 1966 (?):
XJ915/B, Sycamore HR.14 of CFS. W/O 17-2-66:
XL112 Whirlwind HAR.4 of 228 Sq (Coastal Command titles) W/O 20-11-70 after conversion to HAR.10:
XS111 Gnat T.1 of the Red Arrows. W/0 8-7-76:
All photos via Tony Clarke with thanks.
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