25Oct14
I only went to Duxford today because the sun was shining so I thought I’d make the most of it. Half term activities have started in AirSpace with an interpreter dressed as a First World War pilot giving a talk about aircraft development during that period along with a large scale model of a DH9 that the kids can help put together. Talking of models, Concorde has a smaller version of itself nestling under its wing. In hangar 5, the F-15 seems to be completely stripped of its former identity now and there is a nice line up of war birds in hangar 3. The Gladiator in hangar 2 is devoid of a few more pieces of airframe as its winter maintenance continues. Meanwhile outside, it look liked a Bonus Day out on the airfield for General Aviation types. A gaggle of microlights arrived and parked on the grass and about as many larger GA type visitors were parked on the jet pan along with a nice war bird in the shape of Chipmunk/G-BBMZ.
Brian
02Oct14
Although it was cloudy when I left home, visibility was good, it was light and quite warm. Thirty-five minutes later down the A14/M11 and visibility was somewhat restricted, it was dark but still warm with it. The airfield was closed to fixed wing aircraft but from the south out of the low cloud/mist came a big yellow RAF Sea King following the line of the M11. It circled the airfield, just under the cloud base, while they phoned home to Wattisham for a weather report which must have been better than at Duxford as they then headed off to the east. By mid-day, the cloud was breaking up and the sun shining through and Spitfire T.IX/MJ627 arrived and parked up at ARCo for a bit of a servicing. The Me.108 went for a slow bimble along the taxi way as its brakes were checked and a Squirrel HT2 of the Army Air Corps dropped in so the crew could have a cup of tea. The RAF Grob Tutor spent another nigh in hangar 3 before it was flown back to Cranwell when the weather lifted enough. The Blenheim was sitting outside ARCo when I first arrived and during the afternoon it was being worked on and then there was an engine run. A first flight is apparently still a ways off. In the order they were taken.
Brian
28Sep14
A busy day at Duxford that started off with a little yellow helicopter parked museum side in the grassed area at the M11 end. It was soon moved air side and it along with a couple of microlights and a DHL sponsored Extra EA.200 were taking part in a Classic Wings flying event. Spitfire MH434 was also taking part in a Wing to Wing flying experience with the Classic Wings Dragon Rapide’s. Late afternoon and the Grace Spitfire went flying but not before Richard Grace took a Cessna A150L Aerobat for a spot of aerobatics over the airfield. First time I think I’ve seen a high wing Cessna doing aerobatics. A couple of notable visitors were silver Tiger Moth T7290/14 and a Piper J3C-65 Cub/’Rosie the Rocketer’ which had been to the Bottisham Museum open day which is just the other side of Cambridge. Between the American Air Museum and the Land Warfare Hall, the Triumph Owners Club were holding a little get together and in amongst all the Heralds, Stags and Spitfires, a rather nice looking two-tone blue 1940 Triumph Dolomite 2-Litre Roadster Coupe caught my eye. As it was the last Sunday of the month, the vehicle section of DAS were playing with some of their Tonka toy’s as they drove them around a rather dusty track.
Brian
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