Centenary of flight Sep '03
The Duxford's Centenary of Flight Airshow commemorated the 100 Years of powered flight at the centenary of flight, with excellent displays from teamsas far and wide as South Africa for example. The airshow was held on the 6th and 7th of September. I attended the event on the 7th of September.
The Airshow opened with the RAF's Red Arrows. As it was a very hot and sunny day, the display from the Red Arrows was made even better by the sun gleaming off the BAe Hawk Jets that the team fly. Dare I say more about the Red Arrows?
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sally B", Duxford's flying flagship was on show. It is the only aircraft perhaps in the whole world that has taken part in every Duxford Airshow for Over 20 Years! Anyway, a couple of Tornado's were present as well as some very old aircraft. The Spectacular Wright Flyer, or a Replica took part and completed several high end turns before coming in for a excellent landing on Duxford's grass runway [Duxford has two, a hard standing tarmac runway and a grass runway.]
The Utterly Utterly Wing walkers were performing some tight barrel rolls with Wing Walkers strapped to the top side of the Boeing Stearman Bi-Planes that they operate. Air Atlantiques Douglas DC-3 Dakota's came and flew. The Great War Display Team, that consists of a Sopwith Triplane replica, a Nieuport 17 Scout, a SEsA and a Junkers CLs, performed a impressive display to highlight the 100 Years of Powered Flight.
Also on offer at the centenary of flight airshow was a Lockheed T-33. There was a competition that gave you the chance to fly in a T-33. I entered but sadly, as with all competitions I enter, didn't win! The North American F-86 Sabre was also performing a show at Duxford. Apart from the very dirty jet engines. It is a far cry from the super clean Panavia Tornado fighter fet, which was also a highlight of the show.
Another highlight of the day was the unique "Duxford 100", a collection of 4 Supermarine Spitfires, a Hawker Hurricane, a North American P-51-D Mustang (Ferocious Frankie), Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Grumman Bearcat, Grumman Wildcat, Grumman Hellcat and a Chance-Vought Corsair.
The Hawker Hunter which appeared was a ex-Swiss owned aircraft and is now based at RAF Scampton after being built in 1959 and serving in the Patrouille Suisse display team of the Swiss Airforce.
The star of the show was right at the end. A South African Boeing 747-400 flew into Duxford for the first appearance of it's kind. Never before had a aeroplane so large as this jet made it's appearance at a UK airshow before. The plane banked sharply to the right and left at a height of about 500 feet, then flew across the airfield at around 200 feet to say farewell to thousands of spectators.
Overall the airshow was quite enjoyable. I was extremley interested to see the 747-400 attend a UK airshow, as I knew this had never happened before. That made my day for sure :)
- Full List of Aircraft at the Show.
- Wright Flyer Replica
- English Electric Camberra
- Panavia Tornado
- The Great War Display Team
- BAE SYSTEMS Harrier GR-7
- Gloster Gladiator
- Lockheed T-33
- North American F-86 Sabre
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas DC-6
- Red Arrows
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sally B"
- South African Boeing 747-400
- Hawker Hunter
- Microlight With Cranes
- Utterly Buttery Wing Walkers
- de Havilland Venom
- Gloster Meteor
- Duxford 100
- P-40-M Kittyhawk
- P-51-D Mustang
- Grumman 'Cats' - Hellcat, Wildcat, Bearcat and Tigercat
Any offer of photos? Well, most of the photos that I took were taken with a standard 35mm film camera. I'll see if I have time one day to scan a few in and put them up here :)
