Flying Legends Air Show

Duxford, July 12th, 1997

Phil's Duxford excursion continued. This is page five of six. To see the whole set (114 images) go here . More action - with the Fighter aircraft (the Bomber aircraft are here ).

FG-1D Corsair

Again, one of the aircraft I had specifically come to see was NZ5648 - this is the last airworthy ex-RNZAF Corsair. Rescued from the Rukuhia aircraft dump, it was exported to the USA in the 1960's. Operated for many years in the colours of 'Big Hog', the aircraft was returned to its RNZAF scheme in 1994, after it was acquired by the OFMC. The other Corsair illustrated below is Bu88297, owned by the Fighter Collection and painted as KD345 of 1850 SQN aboard HMS Vengeance in December 1945.

P-63A KingCobra

I was quite intrigued by this aircraft - delivered to the USAAF in 1944, 42-69097 is owned by the Fighter Collection (G-BTWR). It wears period plumage with its original serial and the nose-art 'Trussst Me' . I have seen plenty of pictures of the P-63 and the earlier P-39, but this was my first chance to actually see one. The P-63 was never used operationally by the USAAF, and this one like many of its companions was used in a training role.

P-51B Mustang

The only P-51B flying in 1997 was an unexpected surprise to me - but it had only been in the UK for a fortnight. The composite rebuild is serialled 43-25147 and presently registered as N51PR. It certainly added something a little special to the airshow, and strangely made all those 'D's seem a little ordinary!

Spitfires

More Spitfires than you can shake a stick at - well eight anyway. Wow, all those Merlins! Illustrated below are the Fighter Collections MK.V (EP120) and Mk.XIV (SM832). The third aircraft is the Nicholson-Leslie Tr.9, a 2 seat MK.IX conversion formerly operated by the Irish Air Corps, and restored by the late Nick Grace. The aircraft has a New Zealand connection in that prior to its conversion it was on the strength of 485 (NZ) SQN (whose colours it still wears), and was flown by, amongst others, Johnny Houlton .

F-8F Bearcat

Of all Grumman's cats, this is my favourite. Here are the Fighter Collection's F8F-2P Bearcat (Bu121714) N700HL in the colours of VF-41 (Red Rippers) and F8F-2 Bearcat (Bu121752) N800H. They are just so much fun too watch, and listen to, and . . .

F-7F Tigercat

F7F-3P Tigercat (Bu80425) is another of the Fighter Collections aircraft. The aircraft is amazingly elegant, given the huge radials hanging off each wing. The fusalage cross section is very thin, and when combined with the engines gives an image of grace and power!

The Rest

Rounding out the fighter performers, illustrated below are three more of the aircraft on display, shown taxing in after the mass flypast. First is the Fighter Collection's F-6F-5K Hellcat (Bu80141) N100TF. This is followed by the Ministry of Defence Historic Aircraft Collection Bf109-G2 Black 6, operated by the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Finally, the Fighter Collection's P-47D N47DD in the colours of the CO of the 82 Fighter SQN of the 78th Fighter Group, Lt.Col Ben Mayo, bearing the legend 'No Guts, No Glory'.