Flying Legends 2004
As with every Duxford Flying Legends show, a huge number of warbirds turn out for the two day show. The reason is not surprising, as Flying Legends is the warbirds event in Europe.
This Year's Legends airshow started off with a bang. 10 Supermarine Spitfires (3 Griffon and 7 Merlin engined), some rare, some still in high number, took to the skies and swooped over Duxford's historic airfield - which was indeed worth the wait in queue of traffic and the entry fee. Apart from the regulars we see at Duxford flying legends, there were quite a few new aircraft which hadn't made an appearance before. Some I had seen before, and some I hadn't even heard of - here goes. The Super Constellation Flyers Associations SCFA C-121 Super Constellation (N73544) was a 1950's airliner. Now based in Switzerland, it flew into Duxford early on Saturday morning. She took to the skies on Saturday afternoon, and we were presented with her unique style which made this already beautiful aircraft show her real colours once more. The C-121 was the successor to the C-69, which was built around the start of WWII (1939). This particular model (photo below) was rescued from the scrap heap in America in 1984 and restored to full flying condition over a 10 year period ending 1994. She is now based in Switzerland and sponsored by Breitling.
As well as the Grumman Cats turning out, the star of the show was a Bell P-39Q Airacobra [42-19993]. This was a recent rebuild, as it had been laying abandoned and in ruins since 1974. The P-39, with the P-63, was the only frontline fighters of the generation to have the cockpit sited ahead of the wing. This gave the pilot excellent downwards viability. It's rebuild, by the Fighter Collection and Steve Hinton's Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California, took over 30 years. It made it's debut on 17th June 2004, at Steve Hinton's Plane's of Fame Airshow at Chino.
The P-39Q, - Brooklyn Bum 2nd, has a wing span of 34 Feet, a length of 30ft, height of 11 feet and a maximum speed of 335 MPH. This was about average at the time that the P-39Q made it's first flight in April 1938. Powered by a Rolls Royce Allison V-1710-85 1200HP engine, it was a powerful fighter during World War two and was a successful fighter during this period.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Sally B, and the Flying Fortress "Pink Lady", grouped together in a rare appearance to perform a duo display. This was rare, as Pink Lady lives in France and was staying there for a while.
The Grumman Cats - Hellcat, Tigercat, Bearcat and Wildcat, were participants at Flying Legends. They are present at every Legends and are a all round favorite .I managed to get some good photos of them, although I have a crappy 5MP Kodak point and shoot!
5 North American P-51 Mustangs appeared at Legends and took to the skies in several tight formations, before breaking and performing a solo piece each. These are the Mustangs that performed: P-51C-10 Mustang 43-25147 P-51D-20 Mustang 44-63864 P-51D Mustang 44-72216 P-51D-20 Mustang 44-73149 P-51D-25 Mustang 44-72917. With the 13 Spitfires and the 5 P-51 Mustangs, the Legends show was a special airshow but, Lockheed made a special feature at the show this year. The C-121C Super Constellation and 12A Electra Junior 1287 took took to the skies and performed a excellent display. The Westland Lysander Spy Taxi, which took part in Reconnaissance Missions dropping Spies over Northern France, took to the skies on both days of the show to demonstrate it's short field performance. It flew in from the Shuttleworth's collection at Old Warden in Bedfordshire It had the number V9552 printed on the back.
The North American B-25 Mitchell turned up in full force, with two examples. I took some cool photos of the Mitchell, as it was the first time I had seen one for real. Also the Lysander was a newbie to me, as I had not seen one in the flesh before. I had only seen the Lysander in Duxford's Flying Legends 2002 Video before.
To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the start of production of the de Havilland Dragon and Dragon Rapide, 7 of them took to the skies to show us their capabilities. In the 30's and 40's, they were a versatile and very comfortable executive travel aircraft. Legends saw the biggest ever collection of flyable Dragon Rapides. One Rapide, G-AGJG, flew for the first time after being under restoration for the last 29 years.
The Last Nimrod S1581, a 1930's Bi-plane, also flew during the two day event. Made by Hawker in 1931, it was one of just 41 Nimrod's made for the Fleet Air Arm. It was the replacement aircraft of the Fairey Flycatcher. This must have been the star of the show!
The traditional "balbo" came together to close Legends. This traditional scene at Flying legends is where 31 historic WWII take to the skies and form a beautiful formation of nostalgic aircraft. Overall, apart from the weather not being the best, Duxford's Flying Legends 2004 was a extraordinary event.
