Every summer, there's a sense of anticipation building across the internet forums and in the minds of aviation enthusiasts across the UK, Europe and, it's fair to say, the world over, as we count down the days to The Fighter Collection's Flying Legends Airshow 2011.
This year is certainly no exception, with a raft of exciting new participants already announced and speculation running rampant as to what will fill out the rest of the three hour flying programme over the weekend of 9 and 10 July.
Heading the bill this year are the American P-51D Mustang display team, The Horsemen, returning to Duxford for the second time under their current guise (though Flying Legends regulars will recall a breathtaking two-ship routine from Ed Shipley and Jim Beasley - who, incidentally, has now left the team - in 'Princess Elizabeth' and 'Twilight Tear' back at the 2005 show).
The Horsemen made their official UK debut at Flying Legends 2009, flying an extremely precise aerobatic display in three UK-based P-51Ds. This time round, they're bringing their own stallions, as the former 'Twilight Tear' returns to Duxford under a different guise as 'Fragile but Agile', accompanied by a UK newcomer in 'February'.
The importing of two US-based Mustangs has been a major undertaking and it's an absolute delight to have them here, let alone seeing them put through their paces by formation aerobatic artists Ed Shipley and Dan Friedkin. The Horsemen's mounts should ensure a healthy contingent of this potent fighter in the skies at this year's Flying Legends.
You won't see these Mustangs, or The Horsemen, elsewhere in the UK or Europe this year, making their Flying Legends appearance all the more welcome. At the time of publication, 'Fragile But Agile' has flown and 'February' is undergoing engine runs and should fly imminently.
The star attraction in the eyes of many, however, will surely be the UK debut of The Flying Bulls' P-38L Lightning and Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair from Salzburg, Austria. It's been 15 years since a P-38 appeared in the skies over East Anglia, despite the efforts made to bring 'Glacier Girl' across the Atlantic in 2008, and the Lightning's participation over the Flying Legends weekend will undoubtedly be one of the key selling points of the show. The Flying Bulls will arrive in the UK on Wednesday, getting straight to work with an air-to-air photo-shoot over Dover.
The Corsair certainly isn't to be sniffed at either, and its inclusion offers up the prospects of a Corsair duo for the first time since 2007, with MeierMotors' F4U already at Duxford (having arrived last week). Spectators at Flying Legends 2010 may recall the latter's French Navy scheme; this has now been replaced by a dramatic matt black scheme that makes the Corsair look every inch the devastator.
Further US Naval 'heavy iron' will be in attendance in the intimidating form of three Skyraiders from the UK and Europe, joined by TFC's Bearcat which will no doubt be one of the centrepieces of the show as Stephen Grey flies the 'Joker' slot in one of his favourite aircraft while the show-closing 'Balbo' formation forms up.
Continuing the Naval theme, albeit with a very British flavour, will be the Hawker Sea Furies, a potential four of which could be in attendance. We've seen TFC's T.20 and Frédéric Akary's Fury ISS tearing the house down for the past two years, but 2011 may take things even further with the inclusion of the Royal Navy Historic Flight's T.20 and Christophe Jacquard's Wright-powered machine (which, should it be booked, would be another debutante!). The two T.20s are confirmed attendees, but we will have to wait and see whether the two European Furies come over to join the fun... That much power must be illegal, surely?!
The RNHF T.20, which will fly up to Duxford following its display at the Yeovilton Air Day, will be accompanied by one of the first public outings of the Flight's beautiful Fairey Swordfish, bringing a touch of reserved patriotic stoicism to the proceedings.
Another very exciting multi-aircraft set piece will see three Hispano HA-1112 Buchons sharing the sky with one another in a sight that hasn't been seen for over a decade.
Joining the Duxford-based 'Battle of Britain' Buchon, an airshow regular for several years, will be the debuting privately owned desert schemed machine operated by the Aircraft Restoration Company and another UK first in the shape of the Air Fighter Academy's Buchon (now a stablemate of the familiar P-51D 'Big Beautiful Doll'), based in Northern Germany, which arrived on July 1st.
The Air Fighter Academy's Buchon is one part of an impressive show of force from the German warbird industry who are, once again, supporting Flying Legends in style. Reportedly due to arrive on Tuesday - so they may be en route, or even on the ground, by the time this is read - are TF-51D, P-51D 'Big Beautiful Doll', Spitfire VIII and, possibly at a later date, Spitfire XVI, joining the Buchon and Corsair that are already at Duxford. Who knows what else will be joining them from the Continent?
One of the sure-fire highlights of the weekend will be the unprecedented Curtiss quartet of Hawk 75, P-40B, P-40N (owned by Christian Amara and based in France) and P-40F, with the latter (a Merlin powered Kittyhawk variant) having arrived at Duxford in a crate following a long journey from Australia. What a tremendous mix of engines and aircraft that will be! What can be said about that sequence, really? It sells itself!
Turning the clock back further to the First World War, there promises to be quite a spectacle at Flying Legends 2011 as Mikael Carlson's Fokker D.VII displays in the UK for the first time, joining a host of WWI types. I've been following the progress of the Fokker D.VII project for some time and I cannot wait to see this brilliant aircraft in the air.
For many, Flying Legends is about the big piston tailchases and formations and I'd agree that they are the real selling point of the show, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to seeing the Fokker more than just about every aircraft at the event!
I've abused the word 'debut' way too much already without mentioning the first airshow outings, albeit static, of TFC's stunning P-47 Thunderbolt 'Snafu' and the Historic Aircraft Collection's equally wonderful Hawker Fury, both of which should hopefully be gracing the flightline with their presence over the weekend. The latter will, one hopes, be positioned alongside a quartet of airworthy Hawker biplanes, though HAC's Nimrod has been suffering from technical problems that have kept the aircraft grounded in recent months.
The long wait for that five-ship formation will be worth it, when it happens - assuming of course that it doesn't happen at Flying Legends 2011! If it does not, we still have TFC's Nimrod flying again at an airshow for the first time since 2008, which will be a very welcome sight. Sticking with the biplane theme, we'll also be seeing two de Havilland Dragons - one of them making the trek from Ireland - flying with a Dragon Rapide in a change of pace from the piston powered action.
Of course, these are just the highlights. Add to that the usual multiple Spitfires, Mustangs and Hurricanes alongside the usual ‘Legends rarities, with a smattering of inter-war vintage and transport types (the Dakota Norway DC-3 arrives on Friday) and you have a stunning line-up of classic aircraft that is unrivalled in Europe.
Looking back over that little lot, it's very easy to see Flying Legends' international appeal. Thousands will flock to Duxford from around the world (no exaggeration, RIAT is the only other UK show where you'll hear such a variety of languages and accents) to see an airshow spectacle that has become a legend in its own lifetime.
I could go on and tell you all how good the flying will be, how there's nothing else like it in this country and how you'd be mad to miss it, but it's likely that you'll know all that already. The aircraft already touted to appear should be enough proof, if any were needed, that TFC have indeed delivered once again.
2011-07-09 - Louis and Francine
Can't wait for tomorrow! It's always a great show and the wetaher looks good.
2011-07-05 - Richard & Sandy
First Class a BIG THANK YOU for this wonderful site
2011-07-05 - Ben
Both french Sea Furies are booked.
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