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Urs Schyder |
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Urs Schyder & Michael E- Fader |
The Battle of Britain
Besides the well known Bristol Blenheim and the Spitfires Mk 1, this year there was a Westland Lysander owned by the Aircraft Restauration Company in Battle of Britain colours. This aircraft flew for the first time again on the 8th of August 2018 after a 15 year restoration. The colour scheme is a refreshing change from the usual black in which some of these aircraft are painted. More surprising was the fact that there were no Hurricanes flying in this display as is usually the case. In fact there were no Hurricanes at all taking part in this year’s Flying Legends.
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bristol Blenheim Mk. IF (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Battle of Britain Flight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Blenheim & Lysander (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Battle of Britain Flight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Battle of Britain Flight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Battle of Britain Flight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Ultimate Fighter Team
This is a new display team that made its first public appearance at Flying Legends. Considering the different size and weight of the four aircraft as well as performance this was one of the highlights of the day for me. After some polished aerobatic manoeuvres in close formation, they split up into two pairs. According to their speaker, one of the most asked for demonstration is a real dogfight between two aircraft. Therefore the Buchòn and the Spitfire after a head on pass started into a dogfight. Now this was interesting to watch, as it was a far cry from those one pass and the Buchòn starts smoking affairs. You could see that a dogfight takes up a considerable space of the sky. This is also the reason why it was not possible to take pictures of the dogfight, except when the Spitfire came close for the kill. We will hopefully see this team performing at future airshows as well.
Casa Bouchon (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Casa Bouchon (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Supermarine Spitfire (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Ultimate Fighter Team (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Dogfight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Dogfight (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Navy Tribute
The usual suspects here.The high performance Corsair, Bearcat and Sea Fury flying in formation before doing a tailchase while the Wildcat and Catalina formed the second pair, doing their display. It was noticeable that the Wildcat didn’t stay in the air for very long.
Naval Fighters (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Grumman Wildcat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Consolidated PBY Catalina(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Hawker Sea Fury T 10 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Vought Corsair (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Vought Corsair (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Tha Navy Tribute (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Sea Fury T 10 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Hawker Sea Fury T 10 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Consolidated PBY Catalina(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Historic Aircraft Collection’s DH 9
Due to technical problems the DH 9 couldn’t fly on Saturday. However, on Sunday it did take to the air and gave its first public display ever. When looking at the aircraft in the air it was quite obvious that it was not easy to fly, let alone taking it into combat over enemy territory. While the aircraft displaying didn’t carry anything but the pilot, the thought of such an aircraft loaded with bombs and ammunition, lumbering trough the air, trying to evade enemy fighters and anti aircraft barrages day after day needed brave souls indeed.
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Haviland Dh9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The D-day tribute
The main topic of the airshow was 75 years D-day. Besides the invasion stripes on many fighters, there was a three ship formation of C-47 Dakotas that had come over from the US for the D-day celebrations that were held at Duxford and in Normandy. Now the C-47 is not normally associated with formation flying because they usually fly alone at airshows. In total contrast to the C-47 were the two Piper Cubs, both in size and performance.
Finally there was a solo display by a C-47 that showed some attractive flying. Anyone who has of course seen the Norwegian Dakota knows that it is possible to fly attractive and rather spectacular displays even with an aircraft the size of the C-47.
Piper L-4 Cub (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper L-4 Cub (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper L-4 Cub (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Aerosuperbatic Wing Walking Team
After Breitling cancelled most of their sponsoring, the wingwalkers are now appearing only under their own name Aerosuperbatic, until a new sponsor is found. It is not obvious to the audience, but the slipstream on top of the wind tears at the face of the girls. At the same time they make this seem so effortless and easy. I can’t think of many people doing this voluntarily. Hat’s off to the two ladies.
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Balbo and the Jokers
And again it is time for the final display of the day, the Balbo. Unusually the aircraft took off towards the east, led by the Corsair. This is unusual as normally the wind is blowing from the opposite direction. At this moment the stress level of the photographers increases because so many aircraft take off at virtually the same time.
While the aircraft disappear from sight to form up into the Balbo, the Joker normally enters the stage. Only this time there were two Jokers! The two last piston engined Naval fighters, the Bearcat and the Sea Fury gave a high performance display until the Balbo entered the airspace from the west, when the two Jokers exited the stage. After the second flypast the Balbo split into two sections which then run in for the final break and landing.
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
JOKER Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
JOKER Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
JOKER Hawker Sea Fury F.11 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
JOKER Hawker Sea Fury F.11 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Despite the weather it was a memorable airshow.
Our thanks go to Rachel Powell for providing press facilities.