My first Airshow was at Duxford (surprise surprise) in 1976. I was only 6 so I don’t remember a lot about it. I remember we parked the other side of the main road. I remember that as we walked onto the airfield between the hangars (4 and 5 in the current scheme of things) the Red Arrows flew over to start the show. I remember walking by a really big yellow thing, now positively identified as the ex Monarch Airlines Bristol Britannia, and seeing a small german aeroplane fly by as part of a ‘guess the height and speed’ competion. That would be Lindsey Waltons Bf108. I also remember seeing on the news later that a Spitfire (BBMF?) had stood on it’s nose while landing. That’s about it.
My next Airshow was at Woodbridge, also in 1976. There was a flyby by 3 F111s, each with the wings in a different position. I also remember reading ‘do not paint’ on the big black nose of a jet, which I expect was a Phantom as they were based there at the time.
I can also remember seeing my first Mustang, when an example visited from the US and flew alongside Sally B during the Duxford 1977 Airshow. Very exciting at the time. Actually it still is!
We lived in Royston at the time, which is only a few miles from Duxford, so there was often aeroplanes about.
Happy, happy memories.
Willow
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