Steve 964Yes a very nice little touch from FoTFC ,that came with the latest ‘Fighter Log’ it was much appreciated. Has anyone else seen the TFC behind the scenes video’s ‘Wings and things’ and ‘The race against time’ ? They are very interesting too.
Steve
Steve 964A realistic wishlist
All I really want to see is the home team (TFC) back in action on full strength. The gods to be kind and give proper July type weather and a full complement of aircraft and pilots on sunday evening.
After that I don’t really mind ,I’ve never missed a Legends yet and what ever the organisers can bring to the show is always a real treat.
As for the Vulcan , in my opinion it can be seen at other shows ,jets are not high on the agenda for Legends, and its not what I go legends for, so save it for somewhere else,
Steve
Steve 964£137 million profit ??
Take away the cost of the land from £137 million, Then build 550 houses, how much does a £250,000 house actually cost to build ? You won’t have 137 million after that little lot is paid for . I still reckon the scaffolding alone would consume the best part of ‘several millions’ It would be a major project to assemble scaffolding on that scale, there would be truck loads of scaffolding parts and it would take weeks to erect it and then hire it for a year or so. Or have I got it wrong ??? Whatever the profit margins for the builders I still say that those who had the buildings listed should at least contribute to the restoration. I have seen the outcome of someones little ‘lets make that a listed building’ plan first hand, it is these people that should be the ones paying.
Steve
Steve 964Its a Pity that the people who decided that the hangars should be listed don’t come forward and take responsibility for them. To be fair the other one sounds like it is in safe hands so no problem there.
Fair enough if the developers want to go that route,but you got to make a fortune out of the new houses to be able to support that project on top of supporting the builing company profit in the current financial climate.
It is a major project and will without doubt cost far in excess of any budget mentioned in my opinion.
Just imagine the cost of scaffolding alone for a building that size before you get into restoring it with the correct materials.I think that cost alone would be frightening.
Steve
Steve 964Listed Buildings
As the son of a man who had his new business premises secretly grade 2 listed by local historians who decided that someone else should preserve the building for their pleasure I would politely suggest that if someone decides that they want to have a building listed so it can be preserved then at least have the courage to approach the owner and see how he feels about it ,OR buy the building yourself and invest shed loads of your own money in it !!
I can speak from personal experience that it cost my father very nearly his life in terms of health through the stress,and good slice of all that he had earned over 20 year period.
I have no problem with buildings or anything else for that matter being preserved if it genuinely has a historic importance, but it is completely wrong to go around having other peoples property secretly put under such conditions just because it seem like a good idea in someone else opinion.
Its a bit like the age old argument about aircraft authentic colour schemes and markings , when you have purchased your Spitfire you are free to paint it any colour you like ,bu until then its upto the owner !!
Steve
Steve 964Ladders and tents
My view is that tents are completely uneccessary at Duxford as are stepladders but with the selfish and often ignorant attitude of many who frequent Legends in particular then I’m afraid it is a free for all and unlikely to change I suspect.
I will admit that I get there early and put my deckchair by the fence(I was there at 8.30am which is late by some peoples standards) however I always sit down unless i’m watching a particular part of the show.I also try to make sure those behind can get their pics, and I always let kids get upto the fence if they want get some pics or wave to a passing pilot
I did have a two hour drive to get there and there was very little space left by the fence by then!!
This year I overheard someone say that they were on the on the airfield by 7.00am to get where they wanted to view from!! Then as I was heading back to my deckchair at about 12.30 I heard some people who had just arrived moaning about the deckchairs and windbreaks.I felt like saying “what the **** do you expect at lunchtime “,”get yourself here earlier if you don’t like it” !!
I think the catering is fine as are the toilet facilities although maybe there need to be attendants or cleaners keeping an eye on conditions when it is really busy .
Steve
Steve 964FW 190
Yes the FW 190 looks great ,should give the ‘will it be at legends’ crowd something to think about !!!
Looking at the FW 190 taxying with canopy open it looks to me like the headrest slides with the canopy,i’m not sure there is much room for a second seat under that canopy -my observations only ,still looking forward to seeing it flying or not,
Steve
Steve 964Who cares !!
What is the fuss about whats going to Legends !!!
Most people who use this forum will know about previous shows and the previous participants.Most will also know what aircraft are airworthy in the UK and Europe.
We know the general theme and the amazing work in organising it all by TFC SO WHY WORRY ?
I haven’t missed a Legends show yet,nor do I plan too,its always a great show and personally I don’t think its particularly expensive for what is put before you.
I for one am not really bothered about lists because I know that on the day weather permitting it will be THE show for people who are interested in the type of aircraft that frequent Legends.
My personal view on the Vulcan is that whatever history and aura surrounds it the Vulcan it simply doesn’t fit into the Legends theme and it won’t be missed by me in the least .
I saw the Vulcan at Marham last year and athough it was nice to see it and I admire the efforts of those fighting to keep it going it really didn’t do that much for me.
Steve
Steve 964Responsibilities ???
Very glad to hear that JR escaped any injury and that the aeroplane suffered relatively minor damage,….. it could have so easily been a tragic loss of pilot and machine.
I notice from various forum posts that most people are slagging off the adjacent landowner and to a certain degree i’m inclined to agree.
However I’m also inclined to ask what the duty pilot or airfield manager was doing ?? from my experience in flying clubs there was always a duty pilot on flying days who,while in this role duties would include inspecting the runway or runways for debris or damage ,signal square ,check windsock etc and obtain weather forecasts before declaring the airfield open for operations.
I’m wondering if such a person was present to carry out these duties before allowing operations ??? clearly if this pole was big enough to be hit shortly after take off it should have been spotted by this person and at very least advised any pilot of its presence.
Steve
Steve 964Low level !!
I agree with Pete Truman here ,this thread has dropped to a very low level even by the standards of this forum !!
I can’t wait to see WG655 performing and I hope the Centaurus behaves for TFC and Mr Grey so he can enjoy flying her.
As for you lot who find it all unnaceptable ,then write to TFC and see what response you get.
I for one, along with many others are grateful for the opportunity to see whatever passes through Hangar 2.The airshow scene would be a lot less exciting without Mr Greys passion and funding for the aircraft he wishes to own,restore and fly.
Steve
Steve 964Re: Tailwheel
To be honest I’ll be happy to see WG655 in the air over Duxford and wherever she performs.
Sea Furies are so rarely seen in action these days that the authenticiy of a retractable tailwheel is of very little importance to me personally.
Absolutely top marks to Stephen Grey and TFC for investing in her,I hope the Centaurus behaves so we can see her in her rightful place.
Steve
Steve 964Thorpe Abbotts
Not strictly true, Rob Davies has also flown them both. Steve, I suspect you saw them while they were overhead Thorpe Abbotts, I’ve got some pics somewhere.
Hi, yes thanks for that you are quite correct ,from my location I hadn’t considered Thorpe Abbotts but they were overhead there before heading on towards Hardwick.
Thanks to Janie for pilot info ,guessed Maurice Hammond would be flying one of the Mustangs but was curious as to who would be doing the honours in the other one.
Thanks Steve
Steve 964Mustangs
That would have been Hardwick’s Janie and Marinell. They popped into North Weald in the afternoon. They did a super formation departure too.
Thanks for that Janie, they looked good as they flew around the Long Stratton area,can you tell me who was flying them please ?
Steve
Steve 964Mustangs !!
Saturday 23rd May approx 16.30hrs
Sitting in a garden near Diss , two P.51D,s fly over in close formation heading for Long Stratton and then probably Hardwick but then proceed to fly around the area briefly before fly out of view and earshot(I’m guessing they landed at Hardwick ??)
Steve
Steve 964Commentators
Yeah I’d have to agree ,I never disliked John Blake or Jerry Mead, and to be honest I’d rather listen to Bernard Chabbert than that Sean Maffett that used to commentate at legends and on the legends DVD’s .
I reckon the late Raymond Baxter was by far the best in my book.
As for Murray Walker ,commentating at an airshow would certainly make it exciting lol,not sure i could stand it though ,but in my opinion we certainly need a slice of his excitement and enthusiasm back in motorsport ,i’ve never been so bored with British Touring cars or F1,commentary and the racing ,
Steve
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