Duxford Friday 14th November:
Etta Jeanne II’s drop tanks are now completed, though the carriers are still awaited. 75 US gallons (if unleaded) would get me 50 return trips to Duxford and cost around £350….
Some heavy rain (and local road closures) caused complications today, but some late sunshine was welcome:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/pLMfR2]
The A505 West of Duxford was still having problems mid-afternoon, I’d suggest a traffic check for weekend visitors.
Duxford Wednesday 12th November:
Among the visitors today were a pair of HH-60G helicopters which made a very brief stop on the runway. Not historic, but I couldn’t resist this heavily cropped image provided by George Land. Somebody is enjoying the flight:
Duxford Tuesday 11th November:
Forty years ago today, Lightning F.1 XM135 was flown into Duxford to join the growing IWM collection. She had served with AFDS and 74 Sq, then 226 OCU and Leuchars TFF, before ending her RAF career as a 60 MU hack. The delivery flight from Leconfield was the last flight of a Mark One Lightning. XM135 achieved 1,343 flying hours from her first flight on 14th Nov 1959 and is well known for a very unusual flight at Lyneham in 1966.
Here she is today:
For once, Duxman can’t provide a delivery photo! (Video of the landing in dreadful weather exists). His first shots are around six months later, before a repaint into 74 Sq markings:
Also today, some activity at the Eastern end:
And of course, Duxford marked Armistice Day at 1100.
Old Warden Armistice Day 2014:
Work is well underway covering the Camel fuselage:
Still an important tool of the trade (Sorry, I couldn’t establish the model and age, but I’m sure there’s an expert out there):
Progress on the Triplane:
Staying with today’s Sopwith theme, the Pup was taken for walkies this morning:
An evocative backdrop for today’s remembrance:
Many thanks as usual to all at Old Warden.
Duxford Sunday 9th November:
There were large crowds for Remembrance Sunday today. This year we were lucky to see a Spitfire display, and a very special display it was.
There were over 30 visiting aircraft:
Duxford Saturday 8th November:
‘Etta Jeanne II’ is still on show in Hangar 5, but now in two pieces. I’m told there is work to be completed on suspension fittings.
Why can’t this P-51D be exhibited at ground level?
Because it Must ‘ang !!
Duxford Wednesday 5th November:
A 671 Sqn Gazelle AH.1 dropped in for fuel at lunchtime:
Otherwise, the only entertainment was some formation hangar-swapping:
The DAS Comet was open again today. I don’t think I’ve posted a view of the very crowded flightdeck:
Another Airspace pic:
Finally, since it’s November 5th, here’s a selection of rockets:
Sea Cat, Sea Wolf, Blowpipe and Rapier:
Firestreak, Red Top, Sidewinder and Sky Flash:
The SAM SA-2 ‘Guideline’ uses solid rocket boosters to lift off, then this tiny liquid fuelled motor for the main stage:
The Bloodhound is not strictly a rocket (powered by 2 Thor ramjets), but uses 4 Gosling rocket boosters:
Scud and Patriot:
Sparrow:
Blue Steel:
Matra pod and SNEB rockets:
Duxford Tuesday 4th November:
Spitfire Tr.9 PV202 was flying another ‘celebrity’ today, with Harvard G-BGPB acting as camera ship:
A very welcome sight was the TFC Traveller back in the air:
The whole airfield was covered with gossamer threads, all produced by dispersing spiderlings. Known as ‘ballooning’, or more properly ‘dynamic kiting’, it is the product of billions of spiders on the move (thanks Wikipedia!):
Duxford Monday 3rd November:
With very little activity this morning, I decided to try some big-game hunting. I started by bagging four tigers:
This encouraged me to shoot more of Duxford’s big cats, starting with two more tigers:
I then shot a jaguar, trying to hide in the dense canopy:
Not far away were a lion and a puma:
Next in the bag were this pair of cheetahs. They may have been a breeding pair, with another posing alongside:
Rarest of the cats was this civet:
Another big cat was this lynx in hangar 4:
I nearly let this leopard get away. Curled up in its nest in Hangar 2, but I shot it anyway:
I was tempted to shoot the TFC big cats, but I’m told they are an endangered species.
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