AIRSHOW DUXFORD
D
uxford – a former Battle of
Britain base – is perhaps
the perfect venue to host
an annual air display dedicated
to The Few and the momentous
conflict that unfolded in British
skies 78 summers ago.
The September event is always
hugely popular and, as ever,
crowds flocked to the hallowed
Cambridgeshire airfield on the
weekend of the 8th and 9th.
Unfortunately the show was
blighted by grey, rain-filled skies
and some strong winds – it’s to
the credit of the organisers and
participants that a good amount
of flying nevertheless took place.
The proceedings began with an
RAF100-themed flypast from 16
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moths,
and the show also included Bristol
Blenheim Mk.I L6739 accompaniedby – at one point – four Hawker
Hurricanes. A Eurofighter
Typhoon represented the modern
day RAF, and further participation
came from a Jet Provost T.5 with a
pair of de Havilland Vampires from
the Norwegian Air Force Historical
Squadron. A MiG-15UTI and a pair
of Folland Gnats were also among
the jet-powered stars.
The RAF Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight provided Avro
Lancaster PA474, Hurricane IIc
PZ865 and Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.IX MK356. The former also
flew alongside a Panavia Tornado
GR.4 and a Lockheed Martin F-35B
Lightning II from 617 Squadron in
tribute to the Dambusters. The
show was concluded on both days
by a stirring ‘balbo’ of Spitfires,
preceded by a beautiful solo
display from Mk.I N3200.Remembering The Few
Below
Hawker Hurricanes starting up their engines at Duxford. ALL DARREN HARBARA Spitfi re ‘balbo’ concluded both days of
the show.18 FLYPAST December 2018