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Michael E. Fader |
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Us Schnyder Michael E. Fader |
For all
those "experts" of the air show, the date was rather unusual. So it had
to be changed because of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The reason
was, not to collide with other air shows such as the "Royal Air Tattoo"
in Fairford, or "SBAC" at Farnborough.
Not an easy decision and attempt for Esther Blaine and her organizing
team, because at the same time there was also the traditional meeting of
the "Shuttleworth Collection" in Old Warden.
Almost the entire editorial team of WINGS-AVIATION was there at this
year's edition. Andy Herzog, Urs Schnyder and Michael
E. Fader attended the show that suffered from the typical English
weather.
Into the Sun - The great War
Neuport and Fokker Dreidecker (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Sopwith Triplane (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Neuport (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Fokker Dreidecker (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
One could
summarize the theme of Duxford: The airfield is located rather
unfavorable. (At least for all the photographers). From early morning
until midday you face backlight to the display axis, but that what is
offered then fully compensated for the few shots that could not be made.
The Duxford Air Show is very well organized and has some interesting
features. So had the press every morning the opportunity to visit the
"flight line", accompanied by our "stewards" who gave us background
information on each aircraft.
Flight operations took place in the afternoons and delighting the
thousands of spectators. Some aircrafts take off and fly in a
designated waiting room while earlier started machines made their flight
performance to the crowd. Rarely is only one aircraft in the air, often
there are two, three, or even an entire squadron.
In particular, the various fighter planes from past eras showed there
spectacular and attractive maneuvers.
Spitfire Country
It's not as if we of WINGS-AVIATION had never seen a Spitfire in the air, but in such formations (11 aircraft) like in Duxford is rare to see. Of the re-made airworthy Spitfire's, there were some different variations in formation flight to admire. The distinctive sound of many Rollce Royce Merlin engines filled the gently rolling hills of Cambridgeshire.
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Trainer Spitfire (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
That the
sound of these typical engines also can be attractive was impressively
demonstrated by the British Motors Club.
Installed on special
trailers, these Merlins, Griffons and Wasp engines rattled with
miniature propellers and delighted the audience.
Last year's show was overshadowed by the crash of a
Mustangs aircraft. (Luckily, the pilot was able to escape)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Between the Wars
Junkers Ju-52 Tante Ju (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Junkers Ju-52 Tante Ju (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Junkers Ju-52 Tante Ju (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Junkers Ju-52 Tante Ju (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas DC-3 Dakota (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas Dakota (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland Dragon Rapide (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Max Holste Brossard (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
To point a
highlight of the show is difficult to say, because there were many. For
some, it was the Spitfire's, for others the more civil looking Dakota,
or the old-timers such as the Sikorsky S-34 or the Beech Staggerwing.
This Beech Staggerwing is incidentally also immortalized in a song by
Marc Knopfler.
Certainly a highlight for us was the Sikorsky S-38 brought by Paul
Schrade, a wealthy American that restored this aircraft in an airworthy
condition. Together with a Catalina flying boat, the Sikorsky S-38 flew
several circles over the skies of Duxford.
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech Staggerwing (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland Tigher Moth (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bückers Jungmeister (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Hawker Nimrod (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Nimrod (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Nimrod (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Hawker Nimrod (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Naval Planes
Fairey Swordfish (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Fairey Swordfish (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Fairey Swordfish (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Fairey Swordfish (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Fairey Swordfish (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas AD-4 Skyraider (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas AD-4 Skyraider (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Vought Corsair Mk. IV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Vought Corsair Mk. IV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Vought Corsair Mk. IV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Vought Corsair Mk. IV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Vought Corsair Mk. IV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Warbirds
Duxford
during the Second World War was a base of the USAAF. Among other planes,
the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt were stationed at Duxford, to escort the
mighty B-17 on their missions over Germany.
Many movies used Duxford as their location, such as “Battle of Britain”
or “Memphis Belle” In the movie "Memphis Belle" a Boeing B-17F "Sallly
B" which bears on one side the inscription of the "Memphis Belle", still
reminds on these days of war.
An unusual guest was flying in from Salzburg (A), a famous Lockheed P-38
Lightning. This twin-engine fighter, which was used in WW II, impressed
by its size and with its maneuverability.
Other guests include the former pilot of the FAA (Fleet Air Arm)
Christopher Cartledge, Keith Peter Quilter and George were detailed
interviewed by our Correspondent, Urs Schnyder
(See
our report)
Republic P-47N Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Republic P-47N Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Republic P-47N Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Republic P-47N Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Yak (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yak (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yak (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Yak (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman F8F- Bearcat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Grumman F8F- Bearcat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Casa Boucon (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Casa Boucon (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Casa Boucon (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Hawker Sea Fury (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Consolidated Catalina (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Avro Lancaster (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Boeing B-17F Super Fortress (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Boeing B-17F Super Fortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing B-17F Super Fortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing B-17F Super Fortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
North American P-51D Mustang (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed Lightning (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Lockheed Lightning (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed Lightning (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Curtiss P-40F Kittyhawk (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Curtiss P-40F Kittyhawk (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Curtiss P-40F Kittyhawk (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Curtiss Hawk's (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Curtins P-40C Tomahawk (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Curtiss Hawk's (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Curtiss Hawk's (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Curtins P-36A Hawk (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Curtins P-40C Tomahawk (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Balbo
As Urs
Schnyder reported in last year's Duxford Air show, is the "Balboo"
formation the highlight of the airshow.
The mass take-off of all fighters and the flying display of up to 22
aircrafts are absolutely impressive.
The term "Balboo" was coined in England during the time of the Battle of
Britain. The name was derived in turn from Balboo of the Italian aviator
Balboo, who had in the 1930’s invented the large formations, but the Big
Wing also had significant drawbacks and finally wasn’t successful at all
and brought many losses of aircrafts and pilots during the war.
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The 2012 Edition of Duxfort Air Show was - despite the weather - a great airshow. We surely will report on further editions of this airshow in the up-coming years.