May Air Show, Duxford 20th May 2007

Due to unexpected personal circumstances just after this show, this report is somewhat delayed for which we sincerely apologise.

The show was mainly centered around the 25th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands Conflict (is it really that long ago?!) and a number of helicopters were present for the event. Along with a Sea King HC.4, and a Westland Wasp, a genuine Vietnam veteran and the UK's only airworthy UH-1H G-HUEY made it's first appearence at this show. The RAF brought a Chinook along to show to represent the efforts of Chinook "Bravo November", the only Chinook survivor after the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyer by an Argentine Exocet missile attack. We also welcomed the return of the Army Historic Flight with the DH Beaver and Westland Scout, and also the Blue Eagles display team, who never fail to impress, especially when looping the Lynx!

That's a large mix of helicopters used in the 1982 conflict, however since the untimely demise of the FAA's Sea Harrier force, this major player in the war was sadly not present, and there wasn't even a Harrier GR.7 available this year due to the heavy workload undertaken by the Harrier force at present. Other RAF participation included the Hawk T1, and Tucano, and well as a polished display from the BBMF.

This year Lancaster PA474 wears new markings after a major overhaul during the winter months. In a change to the usual routine, she wears the markings of two squadrons. The aircraft chosen is Lancaster Mk.III EE139, which served with 100 Sqn and 550 Sqn over a total of 121 missions. The port side of PA474 shows 'Phantom of the Ruhr' as she would have been at the end of her time on 100 Squadron, with 30 missions recorded in 2 banks of 15 and HW-R on the fuselage. The letters of 550 Squadron, BQ-B are painted on the starboard side. She was joined in her display by Spitfire IIa P7350, and Hurricane IIc PZ865.

A favourite at UK Warbirds is the mighty Sea Fury FB.11 operated by the Royal Navy Historic Flight from Yeovilton. This year VR930 sports a new colour scheme, that worn by this aircraft when she first entered service with 802 Sqn at RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland in 1948.

Another new scheme for this year is HFL's Spitfire T.9 PV202, which was originally restored into her former Irish Air Corps markings of IAC-161. She now sports the markings of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) and joined her stable mate Spitfire XVI, and OFMC's P-51D "Ferocious Frankie".

The Classic Flight's Canberra returned to Duxford for this show, putting on a lovely display in less than ideal weather conditions, the cartridge start sequence is always interesting (see pictures below) and she just purrs when running at idle power. This aeroplane is simply a delight to watch, and really should be included in Duxford shows more often.

The finale to the show was a moving fly past of Falklands war helicopter types, which also included the Army Historic Flight's De Havilland Beaver following up the rear of the formation.

Click the images below for a larger image.

Thanks as always to the marketing team at Duxford for their assistance.

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