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Text: |
Urs Schnyder |
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Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron
The Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron brought their Mig-15UTI and their Vampire FB.52 to Duxford.
The Mig-15 is the two seater
variant which was produced in Poland in 1952. The long canopy makes this
variant look even more tubby than the single seater. This was the first
time the aircraft was seen in its new colour scheme depicting a Mig-15
that defected to the Americans during the Korean War. The reason for the
colour change is of course the Russian assault on the Ukraine, as before
the aircraft wore the colours of the Soviet Air Force, flown by Yuri
Gagarin.
The Vampire is wearing Royal Air Force colours which it acquired for
recent film work. Normally it wears Norwegian colours. The Vampire was a
huge sales success for De Havilland, with over 4000 being built.
(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)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
US Warbirds
This North American Mustang was produced too late to see action in World War two, but served in the Korean War with a reconnaissance Squadron. When it was bought by the Fighter Collection it was modified into a TF-51D two seater. In 2007 it crossed the Atlantic to join the Fighter Collection at Duxford.
The North American T-6 Harvard or Texan depending on your preference is probably the most successful trainer, with more than 21’000 built. Some of them were used for a long period after the War, the South African Air Force only retiring theirs in 1995.
(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)
On both days in the morning, there was a Group of reenactors, representing pilots of the 8th Air Force posing around the P-51 Mustang. Unlike most reenactors who are in their fourties already, these were all in the age group between twenty and thirty. This is more realistic, as most of the persons who fought the war were of that age group.
(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)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Black Cats
The Black Cats were officially formed in 2001 as the Royal Navy’s official display team. That time they were still flying the Westland Lynx which was superseded by the Wildcat they fly today. The team has been reduced to a single helicopter as its parent Squadron 825 NAS is engaged in heavy training schedules. This also reflects the ever diminishing numbers of aircraft available to the Royal Navy.
(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 Blades
The Blades were formed in 2006 and consist of former Red Arrows pilots. They fly four Extra 300, which is certified to 10g. They are a fulltime civilian aerobatic team and are even licensed to carry fare paying passenger while flying formation aerobatics.
(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)
Boeing B-17 Sally B
Sally B must surely be the best known aircraft at IWM Duxford. Brought over from the US in 1975 by Ted White it has been a Duxford resident since then. The checkered cowling it carries on the right inner engine is a reminder of Ted who had his Harvard painted thus.
This time Sally B flew in formation with the Blades. On Sunday one of the Blades aircraft suffered a problem with its rudder and had to land prematurely. Therefore the formation on Sunday was a bit asymmetric.
(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)
Spitfire
The
best known Spitfire must be the PR Mk XI with the message THANK U NHS
emblazed on the wings underside. It appropriately was the last item in
the flying program of both days.
Unfortunately the skies were quite dark by that time so the PR blue
overall colour blended well into the sky, making photography difficult.
It was a pity that the
weather was that uncooperative and cold during the weekend. It must have
however increased the sales of hot drinks and food. Despite the weather
there were still a lot of people who came to watch the airshow on both
days.
The program provided something for everybody, from slow biplanes to
jets.
(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 Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Our thanks go to Imogen Sebba and Hannah Llewellyn-Jones for providing press facilities.