How time fly’s. 20 years ago my son (PU597) and myself as part of Russavia’s ground crew, got to Duxford early. To get ready for the airshow. The crowd line had been moved towards the runway for the first time, to get more cars in. All went well plenty of customers as normal. We flew passengers before the airshow and afterwards on these days. We watched the Blenheim take off and fly around, then it went of to do a display. I heard the Blenheim ground crew being called over the speakers to go someware. Around lunch time ( i could be wrong as in didn’t stop) Annie our manager told me the Blenheim had crashed! very sad after all the work they had done. I went back to work loading passengers. Later in the day, all passengers loaded. The Rapide taxied out, on its take of run it swung to the right. Watching helplessly it went over the barrier into the cars. Over the top of a skoda pushing in its roof, comming to a stop as in the photo’s. There was a man in the VW camper, he was shaken but ok. We where so lucky nobody got killed. I ran over to the crash site. Leaving my son at the departure area. Every body got out of the Rapide ok. All the cars where empty apart from a dog in the skoda i think. I got to the Rapide just before the fire crew got there.. The first thing to do was keep the public away and stop them from smoking. Later i got back to my son, he was upset a his favourite aeroplane had crashed. We where interveiwed by the the police, on what we had done and seen.
A few days later the Rapide was moved into the hanger and dissmantled by Arrow air services from Shipdam. Mike Russell bought G-AGTM back from the insurers. We moved the Rapide to Audley End where Ragwing started the rebuild. My father rebuilt the wooden stub wings. Mike later sold the nearly rebuilt aircraft. I didn’t see it again for sometime. But later saw it at Woburn moth rally.
Best wishes
Dave
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