Duxford Summer Air Show

Part 1

Text:	Urs Schnyder
Pictures:	Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

As always at a Duxford airshow, there were a number of reenactors on site. Mostly these display military camp life, but this time there was also a unique civilian canteen on display, with people wearing the appropriate civilian clothing of that time.

The week before the airshow had seen nice and warm weather and the forecasts promised more of the same. Indeed, the Saturday started promising if a bit windy. During the afternoon however dark clouds appeared and the wind became colder. So cold in fact, that it was necessary to put on our warm jackets.

If you believe in conspiracy theories this would be a prime example. The weather conspiring against airshows. Not only were some of the acts let down by the grey skies, but the wind was having an impact on the program too.The Battle of Britain Flight display was cancelled on both days because of the wind in Coningsby their base being too strong. On Sunday the Falcons had to cancel due to too strong Wind when they were already overhead the airfield.

Already before the show the Boeing 727 had cancelled its appearance due to an unplanned mission. On Sunday the appearance of the Grob Tutor and the Trainer formation was cancelled due to supposed time constraints. This proved premature however as the Red Arrows couldn’t display either. As their speaker was on site, this was something of a surprise for everyone including the speaker.

It was only after the weekend that it became known that they were at RAF Mildenhall and the Americans refused to give them take off permissions because of ongoing operations in Iran. Back to the conspiracy theory. As soon as the airshow was over, the weather improved again.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Asian War Scenario

This was one of the biggest set pieces of the display, having participants from the Second World War to Vietnam. There was a scouting formation of two Piper L-4s, an Auster AOP 6 and a Cessna L-19 Bird Dog flying in Formation. Not easy in the strong wind blowing across the airfield.

They called in the R4D which had come all the way over from Texas. This aircraft is a real Navy veteran that had a long career. During the war it was used for anti submarine patrols. After the war it served in the special service squadron evaluating electronic equipment. After its service life it was bought by the CAF*.

As the planned Sea Fury was unserviceable, it was replaced by the newly restored Supermarine Spitfire FR XIV in Indian Air Force Markings. Together with the R4D it proceeded to attack the suspected enemy positions.

Giving its UK debut, the Bell AH-1 Cobra from the Czech Helitech organisation did the mopping up. Sporting an attractive shark mouth on the nose, the cobra was the first successful attack helicopter. Its very narrow fuselage has the same width as its rotor blades requiring slim pilots.

Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Cessna L-19 Bird Dog (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bell AH-1F Cobra (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire FR XIV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Skytrain & Spitfire (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Bell AH-1F Cobra (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Supermarine Spitfire FR XIV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Cessna L-19 Bird Dog (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Piper L-4 Cup (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Auster AOP.6 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bell AH-1F Cobra (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bell AH-1F Cobra (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Bell AH-1F Cobra (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Cambridge Glider Aerobatics

This is the first time as far as we know that a glider display was part of a Duxford Summer Airshow. An aerobatic display of a Schleicher ASK 21 by the Cambridge Gliding Centre was flown. This Glider is used for training as well as aerobatic and cross country flights. It has been in production since 45 years now. Until 1991 the Cambridge Gliding Club was actually based at Duxford airfield.

Schleicher ASK 21 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Chinook HC Mk 6

Entering service with the RAF in 1981, the Chinook was used in all the British military operations since. The newest version, the Mk 6 is used for various roles like troop transport. They can carry a load of 10 tons internally or externally. The external carrying of a light motor vehicle was demonstrated together with the possibility of landing troops via ropes. The troops however were missing in this demonstration.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Jet Pitts

The so called Jet Pitts is actually a completely rebuilt aircraft with lots of changes compared with the standard model. It has two 770 kp trust engines mounted on either side of the cockpit. These two engines generate more trust than the weight of the aircraft and therefore make it possible for John Goodwin to hover in the air. John seems to be quite busy, appearing on many airshows in Britain but also abroad, as we had seen him already two weeks earlier in France.

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Pitts S-2E Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Grob Tutor

The Tutor named after its namesake the Avro Tutor of the 1930s entered RAF service in 2001 when it replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog. Like its predecessor it is used with the University Air Squadrons, Air Experience Flights and No 16 Elementary Flying Training Squadron. Like in the Bulldog, student and teacher sit side by side. This makes communication between the two much easier. The Tutor display on Sunday was unfortunately cancelled due to alleged time constraints that didn’t materialise. Fortunately it had done its sequence already on Friday in even better weather.

Grob Tutor G-BYUU (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Grob Tutor G-BYUU (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Battle of Britain Salute

A classic formation of the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire and Bristol Blenheim.

The Blenheim was the most numerous aircraft in the RAF inventory at the beginning of the war. This had to do with the belief at that time that the bomber would always get trough. Blenheim crews paid a heavy price for this ill conceived idea. When it first flew it was faster than some fighters, but with the pace of aircraft development it was no match for the new German fighters with their cannon armament.

The Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2902 and the Supermarine Spitfire Mk I N3200 have one thing in common. Both of them were involved in the Dunkirk operation. Unfortunately, both were damaged in combat and force landed on the Dunkirk beaches, where they were left to be slowly covered by the sand.

In 1986 the Spitfire was recovered and in 1988 the Hurricane was discovered. Both were brought back to Britain to be restored to flying condition. It is probably safe to say that they are in better condition today than when they flew their missions.

Battle of Britain Salute (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk I(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk I (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bristol Blenheim Mk.I (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Hurricane Mk I (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Joint Helicopter Command

Die Army und Navy haben alle ihre Westland Lynx Helikopter durch die neue Westland Wildcat AH Mk 1 und Mk 2 ersetzt. Sie begann ihren Einsatz 2014. Sie können für eine Vielzahl von Einsätzen verwendet werden, von Aufklärung bis Truppentransport und deren Schutz. Sie können auch bei Extremtemperaturen eingesetzt werden Mit dem in der Bugnase montierten Sensor können Ziele bei Tag und Nacht erfasst werden.

Die Wildcat arbeitet oft mit den Apache Kampfhelikoptern zusammen. Die Apaches der ersten Generation wurden 2024 ausser Dienst gestellt und durch die neue Boeing AH-64E ersetzt,, von denen zwei an der Airshow gezeigt wurden.

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Wildcat AH Mk 1 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Wildcat AH Mk 1 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Westland Wildcat AH Mk 1 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hughes AH-64E Apache (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Wildcat & Apache (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Wildcat & Apache (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

* CAF = Commemorative Air Force, formerly known as the Confederate Air Force

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