Aeroplane September 2017

AEROPLANE SEPTEMBER 2017 http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com 97

anticipated the routine by Steve Hinton,

Ed Shipley and Dan Friedkin was

outstanding. Miss Helen and Frenesi then

formed the closest pair you are likely to

see, though the naval ‘Ultimate Pistons’

duo of TFC’s Bearcat and the Fury in the

hands of Pete Kynsey and Richard Grace

ran them close.

The Swiss-based Classic Formation of

DC-3 and Beech 18s is well suited to

Legends, especially accompanied by the

melodies of the Manhattan Dolls. Later a

pair of DC-3s should have flown, but an

engine problem en route with the

Swedish Flygande Veteraner machine

meant we were down to one. Fortunately

this was Morten Andreassen in the Dakota

Norway example — a display that never

fails to impress, the question of whether

or not his wingovers go past the vertical

always being asked (they don’t,

incidentally).

Some new combinations added variety.

A North Africa campaign segment saw

Alan Wade in TFC’s P-40F chasing and

being chased by John Romain at the

controls of the ARC’s Buchón, complete

with smoke generator. The Buchón looked

splendid in its temporary 1941 desert

scheme. Plane Sailing’s Catalina and TFC’s

Wildcat performed a surprisingly

attractive duet. Perhaps it was something

to do with the difference in size between

the two types making it often seem as if

they were occupying the same piece of

sky, but this was very nicely done by

Derek Head and Dave Southwood.

Further reminding us that Legends isn’t

just about warbirds, an unusual air racing

group comprised Shuttleworth’s DH88

Comet and Mew Gull, Richard Seeley’s

reproduction Travel Air Type R ‘Mystery

Ship’ and Pete Kynsey’s Cosmic Wind

Ballerina, with commentary from former

Red Bull Air Race champion Paul

Bonhomme. The first day’s simulated

contest was well spaced-out but it was

tightened up the second time round,

Anna Walker and Ballerina indulging in

some spirited overtaking of ‘Dodge’

Bailey in the Comet.

But back to the Balbo, and

unfortunately there was a sting in the tail,

with the problems encountered right at

the event’s close by TF-51D Miss Velma. It

was with great relief that the crowd heard

there had been no injury to the pilot

following the two-seat Mustang’s forced

landing in a field east of the M11. This

wasn’t the happiest conclusion to what

had otherwise been a rather fine

weekend’s flying, with plenty of highlights.

Certainly, the Battle of Britain formation,

the Horsemen and Sunday’s pair of

‘Jokers’ will stick in the Flying Legends

memory bank. John Dunnell

The Battle of Britain formation — Hurricanes,

Blenheim and Spitfire Ias — stole the show.

PHIL WHALLEY

With super-sub Miss

Helen joining ‘the

Shark’ and Frenesi,

the Horsemen put

on a typically superb

Mustang aerobatic

display.

HARRY MEASURES

Air racing greats:

Comet, ‘Mystery

Ship’, Mew Gull

and Cosmic Wind.

JOHN DUNNELL

The Sea Hurricane and three

Hurricanes, flown by Paul Stone,

Dave Harvey, Keith Skilling and

Frank Chapman, fly through as Stu

Goldspink aerobats P2902 behind.

HARRY MEASURES

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