”Bernard Chabbert totalled over 1,600 hours on over 250 different types of aircraft, including airports (Jungmeister Bücker, Jungmann, Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX …), most airplanes for sport and tourism, gliders, and also for the purpose of writing articles and in-flight evaluations of large airplanes (A 319, A 330, B 737, B 727, B 747, B 777, Concorde …), some military aircraft (Mirage III Alphajet, Hawker Hunter …) and some exotic simulators (Apollo Lunar Module, Space Shuttle, Soyuz …). Il possède lui-même plusieurs avions : He himself owns several airplanes:

Un rarissime et exceptionnel Lockheed L-12 Electra (le seul en Europe, l’un des 7 restants dans le monde), sorti de l’usine Lockheed de Burbank (Californie) en 1941. A rare and exceptional Lockheed Electra L-12 (the only in Europe, one of the remaining 7 in the world), out of the Lockheed plant in Burbank (California) in 1941. Cet appareil a appartenu à l’espion britannique Sidney Cotton , dont on pense qu’il a été le modèle de James Bond pour son ami Ian Fleming. This aircraft belonged to the British spy Sidney Cotton, believed he was the model for James Bond for his friend Ian Fleming. Cet avion a participé durant l’été 2008 au tournage du film “Amelia”, consacré à Amelia Earhart, avec Hilary Swank et Richard Gere. This aircraft participated in the summer of 2008 to film “Amelia”, dedicated to Amelia Earhart, with Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. Le tournage s’étant déroulé en Afrique du Sud, les convoyages aller et retour de l’avion furent en eux-mêmes des aventures épiques. The shooting took place in South Africa, the return deliveries of the aircraft were in their own epic adventures.
Un Piper J-2 de 1937, surnommé “Glue Angels”, ayant précédemment appartenu à l’ Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis A Piper J-2 of 1937, nicknamed “Glue Angels, having previously belonged to the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis
Un Beechcraft Bonanza de 1946, actuellement démonté et hangaré en attente de reconstruction. A Beechcraft Bonanza in 1946, currently disassembled and hangar awaiting reconstruction. ” – Wiki –

There has never yet been a commentator who wins universal praise, and they are all have their fans as well as detractors. It is clear that BC has great knowledge, much derived from personal experience or contact and is worth listening too, all the more so if he has interesting ideas. That said, all airshow commentators need to know when keep quiet.

The issue that Duxford has is that usually Legends is so good, that the other shows become ‘also-rans’, and feel a bit parochial. Today’s show was not bad, especially given the mighty 25 knot wind, and I was amazed to see the L4 take to the air, as well as the Moth and Blackburn B2. I loved the way the L4 took off straight from the parking line directly into the wind, as did the glider/tug combo. As usual, their act was outstanding. Guy Westgate in the glider did a stunning demonstration.

The Hawk display is dull and staid, and even the Typhoon was not that remarkable, doing the flat show. Unfortunately grey aeroplanes against a grey sky are not very appealling to the eye, or lens. Against a blue sky, with high scattered cumulus, it would not doubt be vastly better to watch.

The Islander duo was different, and they did well in the gusty wind, though without the usual meat-bombing, it seemed a bit inconclusive. The 146 was another oddball act, and whooshed up and down quite nicely.

By about 4, the wind, the cold and the sleet was sapping the enjoyment out of the afternoon, and Mark Jefferies efforts in the Extra did not get the attention they probably deserved, though the routine seemed a bit shapeless, as though he was making it up as he went along ( unlikely)

The pairing of the Mustang with the Su.29 was yet another strange act, and by then the blustery rain was driving spectators undercover, as cars headed for the gate.

All the pilots who flew today deserve a big ‘thank-you’ !

I too was thinking this..which is why i picked the nose

When meeting up with people you haven’t met previously, it may be better to try to reign in off-putting personal habits, at least initially.

Such forum meetings are often ‘arranged’ and almost always unravel, because people won’t/can’t decide on a positive signal of identification.

Thus people mill around, mixed up with ‘normal’ spectators and look about a bit furtively, but reluctant to say hello to strangers and risk looking like a fool.
The appointed time passes, people drift away again and wonder why the meeting never happened.

Get someone to carry a bamboo pole and put a FlyPast sign on the top, or get people to carry a copy the magazine under their arm, or wear a red bobble hat………or something.:)

Something of the ‘WW2 fighter ‘ variety came over Chesham at 12.30 ish, heading west.

Not a Spit, P51, P40 or Hurricane, actually looked more like a Tempest 11, though of course none fly at present. Also a bit like the LA9, but that has gone away. Any other sightings ?

Happily the wind was less scary than forecast, though I plodded field-by-field against a brisk headwind on Sat eve, and then the wind went round overnight and became an easterly, so I had a headwind home on Sun 😡

In Sunday, the level of activity never got high enough to feel that the event had really started, and looking at the actual arrivals versus the slot allocations showed the ‘plan’ had unravelled somewhat.

I suspect that operators of vintage aeroplanes have a problem fitting into an inflexible regime, and are more affected by weather conditions, especially if they are coming any distance. In the end, the mental ‘hassle factor’ of complying with a fixed arrival slot makes it all seem too much like hard work.

Allegedly, the ‘system’ was abandoned at some stage on sunday, and attempts made to hussle-up some more visitors.

Seemingly the CAA had insisted it had to be done this way.

Great shots!
Shame about that pesky bit of dust.

Dust!? That’s a bleedin’ asteroid ! 😀