Legends wasn't broken - please don't fix it

[Screechy]

Interesting. Why do you say that? Tail draggers are infinitely more photogenic parked in that fashion. When they're parked facing the crowd, all you get is a photo full of propellor blades; the cockit, markings etc are all masked from view.

Well to me, and it's a personal thing i guess, I prefer seeing an aircraft's face also due to the parking you could get the classic shot of all the props lined up, well not unless you had special special special access.

Had they have been parked at 90 degree counter clockwise to how they were however it would have been a lot better due to the sun position then we could have had side on shots with the sun playing ball, instead any side on shots were into the sun somewhat.

But hey that's just my opinion and it seems that most were happy with the layout so fair enough. Actually i got some of my nicest shots when the hangers were being emptied at the start of the day so swings and roundabouts

[Screechy]

You must be able to hear the commentary at all points along the crowdline. If not, that is a breach of airshow regulations.

Nope, you most certainly could not hear it down at the far M11 end. Occasionally caught small unintelligible snatches but other than that it was certainly not audible.

[Screechy]

Out of interest - does anyone know the gate attendance for the two days?

Was told that Saturday was about 13000, not sure on sunday but it certainly felt pretty empty for a Legends show. I just walking into the flightline walk at 9.30ish for example and that in previous years would have been impossible and a long queue involved.

[Ryan.]

I went on Saturday and was in Duxford. Legends has never disappointed me and so it was this year. I do think Legends has problems, as most airshows do, take the Spitfire section, the two Griffin powered examples stayed close to the crowd and put on a great display. However the rest of Spitfires' using the further away axis were lost, as I think they always are or any aircraft that uses that axis. The camo Yak being a very good example, they might as well have displayed only two aircraft because the third, on me, was lost. The only other issue is that this years star items', didn't really get there full showing, either rather distant or rather quick. Legends knows what aircraft are the 'stars' for that year and I just wish they took more of a centre stage.

[DanO1978]

You must be able to hear the commentary at all points along the crowdline. If not, that is a breach of airshow regulations.

Nope, you most certainly could not hear it down at the far M11 end. Occasionally caught small unintelligible snatches but other than that it was certainly not audible.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP403.PDF

Chapter 4, Sections 2.3.1 & 2.3.2

[LN Strike Eagle]

You must be able to hear the commentary at all points along the crowdline. If not, that is a breach of airshow regulations.

Nope, you most certainly could not hear it down at the far M11 end. Occasionally caught small unintelligible snatches but other than that it was certainly not audible.

Couldn't hear it at the M11 end last year either, but that was mostly due to the fact there was an almost constant noise of warbirds taxiing and holding short.

If we get anything from IWM in a press release this week, I'll post the official attendance figures.

[Dragon Rapide]

I wasn't aware that Bernard Chabbert was being pilloried on 'another' forum. However, if UKARians who allegedly 'know a thing or two' are content to listen to his dull, humdrum tones then all I can say is good for them!

He certainly used to get a bit of a pasting on Key around Legends time but perhaps not this year - I rarely go there, so haven't looked.

[Dragon Rapide]

Out of interest - does anyone know the gate attendance for the two days?

Was told that Saturday was about 13000, not sure on sunday but it certainly felt pretty empty for a Legends show. I just walking into the flightline walk at 9.30ish for example and that in previous years would have been impossible and a long queue involved.

Sounds about right - The FoD enclosure was much quieter on Saturday than at the Jubilee show, but I was told it was likely to be much busier on the Sunday.

[bowler]

I was lucky and got a pass for Friday through to Sunday and enjoyed going into the show on all three days....and I would happily spend another day watching those warbirds flying. The only downside for me is the weekend is over too fast.

The show felt a little quiter than normal but the weather forecasts must put some people off - there were certainly less people in the FOD enclosure yesterday than when I went for the May airshow. Add in the competition from Waddington and this will impact on the show numbers.

I am glad the only decision I make using the weather forecast is whether or not to pack the waterproofs. While the weather was windy and at times chilly it was mainly dry and the sun shone enough for me to be sporting a rather red face!

As for the warbird parking, I thought they were parked this way because of the strong wind. I did like the way the team switched the spitfires and navy warbirds around on Sunday for something different to see on the flightline walk.

My thanks to everyone involved at TFC, IWM and the other operators who work hard to put on such a great show for us.

[SI20NINE]

hey guys i missed duxfords airshow this weekend. but a few colleagues and i saw a
Dakota style aircraft plying over our work friday and today. im guessing it was headed to and from duxford. im sure it wasnt a dekota as it seemed older and less powerful. has anybody got any info on it? thanks

[Screechy]

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP403.PDF

Chapter 4, Sections 2.3.1 & 2.3.2

Certainly it is NOT clearly audible down at the M11 end, it maybe at a time when there is nothing going on but certainly not during the show. If there had been any announcements at all during the show then there is no way we'd have heard them. In fact the last time I heard the PA clearly was prior to the show when we were informed the approx start time of the flying display.

[Dragon Rapide]

hey guys i missed duxfords airshow this weekend. but a few colleagues and i saw a
Dakota style aircraft plying over our work friday and today. im guessing it was headed to and from duxford. im sure it wasnt a dekota as it seemed older and less powerful. has anybody got any info on it? thanks

Could it have been the JU-52? Where is your work?

[Firefly Fred]

Now being in my Seventys,and attended Legends,every year,for along while,one thing i noticed was the lack of comunication,between the Stewards at the Land Warfare Entrance,and the those opperating the Car Park,on the otherside of the Road,The one near the walk over Bridge. Traffic coming from Royston where tailed back along way.What caused it where the idiots ,with stop and go boards,giving priority to letting people out of that Car Park,and the Gold Pass,in droves,and only allowing very few Cars that were travelling past Duxford,towards Newmarket.
True they turn everyone left out of the Royston end,but this problem never happened when the Police were involved. I do not want to go round a P Pot to find a handle,living in the Newmarket direction.
I park near the Land Warfare,as i watch,and take Photos, from the Tank Bank,and cannot carry my gear,or walk far. Numbers must have been down on Saturday,as the overflow Car Parks were empty,on leaving.
Legends is a good Show,but it has become sterio typed,with virtualy the same Aircraft performing every year. How many Aircraft did you take Photographs of, that were not at last years Show?,looking at my take,very few.
Comeback Mildenhall,those were the days.

[DamienB]

Wish I hadn't started this thread as it's degenerated into a moan about every possible aspect of what is basically a fantastic show. My only issue was the massive change from overlapping take-offs, displays, landings to the gappy sequence of displays we had this year. The apparently hectic (i.e. brilliantly choreographed and managed) nature of the day was Legends to me.

[Screechy]

Wish I hadn't started this thread as it's degenerated into a moan about every possible aspect of what is basically a fantastic show. My only issue was the massive change from overlapping take-offs, displays, landings to the gappy sequence of displays we had this year. The apparently hectic (i.e. brilliantly choreographed and managed) nature of the day was Legends to me.

I only went on Sunday but it didn't appear gappy to me at all, seemed pretty seamless other than the Staggerwing incident and the overrunning Bearcat

[The Dudster]

just recovered from Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Legends and a 5am start Monday mmmm and quite frankly have mixed opinions about doing it again next year all three days that is.

Friday was a wash out until after lunch when the sun came out and then was almost a mini Legends until the museum staff kicked us out at 6 with aircraft still out !
Saturday went on my own mainly to sus out new viewing area for ageing vets and parents but still managed to take 2000 or so images. Found the Saturday a bit slow and lacklustre with plenty of gaps with apparently nothing happening. I hopefully put this down to the challenging weather conditions and a few tech issues and hoped for more on Sunday. Left Ipswich at 6am and was parked second row back by the tank hall (normal place) its near to toilets both AAM and tank hall for when the expected crowds come. Sundays display started promising and i enjoyed the display by the 3 X Mk1 Spits a fitting tribute, then i felt the Legends i know was back with the tail chase and bigger spits crowd side. Like most people her though found the tail chase to far away to thrill. The lack of if you could call them set peace's was obvious like so many SNAFU on the south side with Sally B was a non event for me, and the missed opportunity for a 3 little friends along side the B17 ??

Did anyone notice the RNHF sea fury run in as the Swordfish was taking of ? it then disappeared high up and over to the south side and one of the P51's flew in over the top of the crowd in between the Tank Hall and AMM. No joker in between balbo passes seemed to end the show in low key way.

The overall line up wasn't as good as previous years but then if warbird owners don't want to come its not the TFC's fault they did a fantastic job with what they had parking the aircraft as they did was better for photographic opportunities but think it was more to do with the weather than anything else. Having said all that thanks to Mr Gray and the entire TFC team for allowing us to see such aircraft and i WILL be back next year but probably not 3 day's worth.

Now a question. i have two cameras one a Fuji Finpix full automatic which takes good shots of static flightline but is not good at flying aircraft so and brought a Olympus E520 with 40 -- 150 lens on tried manual setting on Sunday at 350s on sport mode everything is s entered in the frame but blurred, Saturday used it on fully automatic and got some sharp but most blurred. I have a very limited budget which camera is it best to bye please (will post some pictures from both and hope for constructive Criticism over the next few days)

Chris ( a devoted petrol head)

[Dragon Rapide]

"....with virtualy the same Aircraft performing every year." Not surer what you expect. The show is the TFC show so their aircraft will predominate year after year anyway. Others will join the show depending on availability. Comparing it to Mildenhall is completely irrelevant. Legends is the show you go to to enjoy all the old favourites plus a few surprises, and they will all be vintage flyers. If you want 50s, 60s and later aircraft Legends is not the show to go to.

[Firefly Fred]

..with virtualy the same Aircraft performing every year." Not surer what you expect. The show is the TFC show so their aircraft will predominate year after year anyway. Others will join the show depending on availability. Comparing it to Mildenhall is completely irrelevant. Legends is the show you go to to enjoy all the old favourites plus a few surprises, and they will all be vintage flyers. If you want 50s, 60s and later aircraft Legends is not the show to go to.

As you riightly state this is a TFC Show, however you are not going to tell me Legends has not deteriated of late and has now been overtaken by the September Show as favourite Duxford Show.

The thing i dont get is there are available local vintage Aircraft never get a look in, why i dont know, but its Mr Grays decission in the end. We shall never know why certain owners and Aircraft do not get an invite, but this years Show did not live up too past Legends, in my view. Still i enjoyed some parts of it.

Comparing Legends with Mildenhall, there is no contest. Mildenhall wins for me hands down, and it did include many Duxford Legend residents.

[pbeardmore]

Comparing Mildenhall with Legends is like comparing a Thin Lizzy gig to a Carpenters concert - utterly pointless.

[Kieran]

Why on Earth are you comparing Flying Legends to the old Mildenhall Air Fetes?! Christ, it seems
some people will do anything to get a gripe in about Legends, even making ridiculous comparisons.

[Dragon Rapide]

Sadly true but inevitable!

[SI20NINE]

thanks Dragon Rapide just checked out a picture of it and you was spot on. it was flying nice and low over southend on sea. that was the 1st i had seen of it

[Orion]

Comparing Mildenhall with Legends is like comparing a Thin Lizzy gig to a Carpenters concert - utterly pointless.

I agree that 'Comparing Mildenhall with Legends' is pretty futile but I haven't the beginnings of a clue who Thin Lizzy and Carpenters are. Never mind.

Regards

[Dragon Rapide]

thanks Dragon Rapide just checked out a picture of it and you was spot on. it was flying nice and low over southend on sea. that was the 1st i had seen of it

And it flies nice and slow so you get plenty of time to enjoy it!! And next time you'll spot the third engine in the nose....

[AlexC]

[quote="DamienB"]My only issue was the massive change from overlapping take-offs, displays, landings to the gappy sequence of displays we had this year.

That seems like plenty to be going on with to me!

One other thing that seemed very different this year compared to previous years that I've attended was that very few aircraft taxied past those of us massed at the tank bank end. Of the fighters perhaps just the P-38, P-47 and Bearcat did so if I remember rightly. Most of them turned off way before they reached us. Whether or not this was because there was a strong wind down the runway and therefore they didn't need such a long landing run I don't know?

One further thing and a test for those of you who know a thing or two. What was the registration of the yellow T-6 Texan or Harvard that was parked opposite the American Museum marked ANG etc? I don't think I've ever seen that one before.