Like many other enthusiasts from Ireland, I travelled to Duxford to this event and spent both Tuesday and Wednesday there. This cost substantially more than the basic admission fee, when air fares, car hire and accommodation are factored in, but it was worth every penny (or Euro in my case). I have been to several shows at Duxford and this was as good as any event I have been to there, in terms of the quality of the aircraft and an ability to watch the action from lots of different vantage points. The weather was not perfect but from what I can see it seems have been a good deal better than in Caen. I don’t expect ever to see DC-3 activity on this scale again, other than perhaps at an Oshkosh show. Those who can hop in their car and get to somewhere like Duxford – even on a non-airshow day, in a hour or two and for modest cost – should appreciate it. I would add that having tracked the 15 aircraft that travelled from the USA, over multiple sectors and taking a week to ten days each, I have the height of respect for all of the crews, sponsors and organisers involved. The youngest of the aircraft was 74 years old and the oldest almost 82 years old. Also, the weather on the North Atlantic is notorious for its changeability, even in summer time, so this was not a risk-free endeavour when the possibility of mechanical failure is factored in. I hope that the aircraft and their crews continue to have a successful visit to Europe and that they all make it safely back to the USA in July.
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