Duxford Friday 23rd August:
Some warbird entertainment today, with Frankie performing at Clacton:
Spitfire LF.XVIE TD248 paid a quick visit:
The ARCo Spitfire Tr.9 also had an outing:
Stopping for fuel was this Belgian Air Force Agusta 109, presumably on the way to Little Gransden:
It was nice to see some of Harry Hawker’s family (2 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren) there to witness the departure this morning.
The press contingent was pretty sizeable as well….
This view of Hangar 2 reminds me that we haven’t mentioned EP120 getting ‘clipped’ again:
As one of many photographers who have shot countless pictures over the fence at Duxford, I was delighted to be sent these images taken in the other direction. Back in June, and Pen Pusher seems not to have noticed a B-17 at the hold. Maybe that hearing-aid is a clue…..
Duxford Monday 19th August:
Catalina G-PBYA was being prepared for the Project Hawker 100th Anniversary Round-Britain trip which starts from Duxford on Wednesday morning. The route overflies some very historic locations and the aircraft returns to Duxford on Sunday afternoon. Lots of background to interest everyone at:
The HAC Nimrod II spent the day airside, but stayed firmly on the ground:
This 771 NAS Sea King was on the way back to Culdrose from Nordholz in Germany:
3 FTS Tutor G-CGKW returning to Cranwell:
Peter Holloway’s beautiful Hawk Trainer/Magister looked very much at home on the grass at Duxford:
Duxford Sunday 18th August:
Today was very special for Sally B and her many supporters, with the unveiling of the 2013 ‘Roll Of Honour’, a record of donors names carried on the rear fuselage. The aircraft performed a display and later carried out a couple of training flights.
The Sabre returned from airshow duty at Eastbourne:
Classic Wings had another busy day:
Beautiful Hornet Moth, based at nearby Audley End:
Visiting Super Cub:
G-BPIV (Part 2, all DCW pics) :
The damaged airframe was dismantled and stored for a while.
9-5-04:
31-7-04:
8-10-04, and signs that a Mk.I Blenheim could be possible:
8-5-05:
The Mk.I nose seen on 12-3-06. The completed aircraft will carry the markings of this section (L6739) built by Avro as a Mk.IF and issued to 23 Sq at Wittering/Collyweston on September 2nd 1939, the last day of peace. 23 Sq was active on night-fighter and radar calibration duties throughout the Battle of Britain. L6739 was struck off 31-12-40, and the nose started a new career on an Austin 7 chassis from Filton:
Fuselage well under way on 26-8-06:
Wings attached, seen 21-1-07:
A trial fit of the Mk.I nose, 23-5-08:
Looking like a real aeroplane again, 6-3-11:
Back on her wheels, 14-10-11:
18-3-12:
Outside again, with a move to ARCo on 22-6-12:
12-7-13, with a rudder suggesting the future colour scheme:
The start of painting, 17-7-13:
12-8-13:
Last Monday the Blenheim Mk.IF G-BPIV spent some time out in the sunshine at Duxford, allowing a rare view of progress on the rebuild. Today, August 18th, is the tenth anniversary of the aircraft’s accident and a good time to dig out some pictures of the project so far (All the early pics are from Tony Clarke, with many thanks).
The first Blenheim IV (G-MKIV/V6028) had been brought to Duxford by Ormond Haydon-Baillie, and on his death passed to Graham Warner in 1979. First flight was 22nd May 1987, with the sad loss at Denham on 21st June 1987.
The replacement was Bolingbroke IVT fuselage 10201, imported to Strathallan by Sir WJD Roberts in 1985. The accompanying wings were from 9073 (the fuselage of which is with Kermit Weeks in Florida). Seen at Strathallan in July 1987:
Some work had been done at Strathallan, and the airframe arrived at Duxford on January 21st 1988. Registered G-BPIV on 15-2-89. By July 1990, the fuselage was at this stage:
Progress was rapid, these views August 1991:
October 1991:
September 1992, with painting under way:
First engine runs, April 22nd 1993, now marked as Z5722 of 68 Sq:
First flight was May 18th 1993, a remarkable six year achievement.
Seen here July 1995:
From May 1996, the aircraft flew as L8841 of 254 Sq:
From mid 2000, colours represented R3821 of 82 Sq:
Seen the day after the accident, and only a few feet from where her rebuild will be completed:
Duxford Thursday 15th August:
This morning, a Transport Trust ‘Red Wheel’ was installed near the visitor centre/shop at Duxford (yes, it’s a slow news day):
Duxford Monday 12th August:
I can only add one Blenheim pic to Duxman’s set, with a head-on view as she was put away. The gun-pack can be seen, and an RAF roundel on the port side.
Should we now be calling this airframe a Blenheim If ?
A morning arrival was Spitfire Tr.9 G-CTIX / PT462:
Nord 1002 G-ATBG / NJ+C11 was active at lunchtime:
Sally B has moved to the Eastern end of the jet-pan ready for next Sunday’s Roll Of Honour unveiling:
Old Warden Sunday 11th August (August Flying Day):
Another brilliant sunny afternoon, although strong crosswinds kept a few participants grounded.
Undoubted highlight was the 1930 vintage Klemm L25, only recently restored to flight:
The show was opened with a couple of flypasts from the BBMF Spitfire IX MK356, followed by the Hangar 11 P-51D::
Anson and Sea Hurricane
Departing before the show was Stearman N56200:
Featured ‘in the corner’ today was based Dragon Rapide G-AGSH:
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