Duxford Saturday 13th April:
The BBMF Chipmunk is still present, looking great in its 1961 Hull UAS colours. This aircraft has been in service with the RAF for over 61 years.
“With Instruction We Will Master The Air”
Strong crosswinds and the threat of rain kept Bonus Day fly-in visitors down to only 17. Plenty of arrivals by road, however, made the Safety Day a big success. No ‘vintage’ arrivals (except maybe one or two of the pilots) so the purists should look away now.
Duxford Friday 12th April:
A different kind of bad weather today, low cloud and rain meant very little activity. The Gladiator is still absent from Hangar 2, presumed lodging with ARCo, and the BBMF Chipmunk remains sheltering in Hangar 2N.
DUXFORD 25 YEARS AGO (Part 3)
With nothing much to report, here are some more pics from 1988. 25 years ago, most of IWM Lambeth’s airframes were at Duxford while the London Museum was being remodelled. FW190A-8/R6 733682 was receiving an in-depth restoration (seen here 1-4-88) and departed early 1989:
Fairey Battle I R3950 was an ex Strathallan airframe, owned by Charles Church and on loan to IWM. It was sold to the Brussels Museum and departed in 1990 (seen here 1-4-88):
Ex Italian T-6G MM54099 was stored with OFMC and was due for restoration. It became G-BRBC but was not completed. Present location unknown (this pic 1-4-88): ((EDIT- confirmed in Wrecks And Relics as being on rebuild at Earl’s Colne. Thanks to Ewan H))
Harvard G-AZBN / FT391 was another OFMC airframe, seen on the flightline 23-4-88:
Beech D18S / 3TM G-BKGL was an ARCo/Graham Warner aircraft when seen
23-4-88:
The Plane Sailing group were operating this ex OFMC Pilatus P2 G-BJAX seen 16-4-88. EDIT-Changed owners in 1986 from OFMC to group including Arthur Gibson, John Watts and Paul Warren Wilson, later to become Lea Aviation. Dates are on G-INFO. Thanks to David Burke and David Legg)
On April 9th 1988, Slingsby Cadet XN239 was moved to Sawston ATC to be part of the Sawston Pageant:
Spitfire Tr9 G-CTIX / PT462 was owned by Charles Church and seen on the flightline 4-4-88:
Alongside PT462 was ML417 / G-BJSG, Stephen Grey’s Spitfire LF.IXC, with a newly applied colour scheme for the filming of ‘Piece Of Cake’ (Lots more pics to come next month):
Many thanks again to Andy Robinson for all the above photos. My scans don’t do justice to the original colour slides.
Duxford Wednesday 10th April (Part 4):
A few odds and ends from this morning:
A brief sortie from T-28 / Fennec N14113:
A shuffle at TFC:
Duxford Wednesday 10th April (Part 3):
The arrival of BBMF Chipmunk WK518 suggested a test from Hurricane PZ865.
The Hurricane departed around 1300, and after a short local flight continued to Coningsby.
Duxford Wednesday 10th April (Part 2):
First activity this morning was another outing for the Plane Sailing Catalina:
A little later this year’s first engine runs began:
Meanwhile, a sortie from the HAC Spitfire V:
A friendly wave to Pen Pusher:
Duxford Wednesday 10th April (Part 1):
A very busy day, plenty of flying. Highlight was the move of the TFC Gladiator to ARCo for engine runs. LOTS more pics later when I get home:
Duxford Tuesday 9th April:
Not a lot happening this morning. The TFC Harvard was out for engine runs, allowing this view of Hangar 2:
Last month I posted some remarkable photos from 1975, when the BBMF brought five aircraft to Duxford in order to fly with the Tallichet B-24. Another picture has emerged (courtesy Andy Robinson) showing an air-to air view. There must be more photos out there somewhere. Looks like a Harvard wing-tip.
Duxford Sunday 7th April:
For a change some warm sunshine, and a busy day at Duxford. Jet Provost G-JPVA/XW289 spent a short time in the circuit:
The RV8tors were practising:
Based Dragon Rapide active again:
More painting in progress at the DAS Ambassador:
One of yesterday’s visitors getting some minor repairs:
Elsewhere:
Duxford Saturday 6th April:
Warm sunshine at last, and plenty of visiting light aircraft. For those interested, next Saturday is the first Duxford Fly-In of the year (the Safety Bonus Day).
Only ‘historic’ visitor this lunchtime was Chipmunk G-BVTX / WP809:
Duxford Friday 5th April (Part 2):
Harvard G-KAMY was busy training today (Yes, that’s heat haze and dust!):
First flight this year from the ARCo based Harvard G-BGPB:
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