Duxford May Bimble ~ *UPDATE 13~31May14*

[Pen Pusher]

I wouldn't normally go to Duxford on my motorbike with a weather forecast of cloudy, windy, rainy, coldy, but something in the back of my mind said go. So I went. A bit quiet in the morning with just the BAS Twin Otter going off for a three hour flight to the north. Things picked up in the afternoon with the OFMC Spitfire/MH434 returning from ARCo to it's parking space in hangar 2/west and after that the engineers went around to hanger 2/east and pulled out the two Mk1 Spitfires and took them down to ARCo. Meanwhile a variety of GA aircraft from the flying club at Coventry Airport dropped in for a visit during which the Twin Otter returned and the Avro Anson 19, based at Old Warden, flew a few circuits off the grass runway and after landing and swapping crews returned back to Bedfordshire. Lighting conditions were far from ideal but it did make for some dramatic cloudy conditions.













Brian

[Talldan76]

The low down shot of the 2 spitfires is lovely...

Dan

[tommo999]

Something about your low-angle shots are super impressive - great work.

[Pen Pusher]

A very busy day at Duxford with the Classic Car Show being held around the Land Warfare Hall end of the site and visitors still queuing to get in gone mid-day. The two Mk.1 Spitfires, with a Vans photo ship, took off 15 minutes after the museum had opened and returned about 35 minutes later with a very nice slow and sedate aerobatics routine over the airfield. Early afternoon and Charlie Brown took off in the HAC Spitfire. Despite the sun shining and being quite warm, there were high thin clouds which diffused the light and wasn't at all good for photography.






















Spot The Odd One Out


Brian

[FTS]

That be you?

[Pen Pusher]

That be me

Brian

[Pen Pusher]

A quiet day at Duxford and the forecast rain didn't arrive but the wind did get up and kept the adrenaline flowing on my motorbike ride home. Late morning and the TFC Mk.V Spitfire/EP120 was out on the grass for an engine run and early afternoon EP120 went up for a brief test flight. In hangar 2, the TFC Corsair was jacked up at the rear and with Sally-B out of the way, ARCo now have room to store most fleet. With what looked like work going on to repair the wind damaged roof of AirSpace, the unfortunate Victor is back outside again.













Brian

[Pen Pusher]

Due to the weather forecast for today being somewhat wet and very windy, I had already decided not to go to the Shuttleworth air show at Old Warden which was a good call as the flying side of the show was cancelled. From about mid-morning onwards, refugees from Bedfordshire slowly migrated to Duxford to get their fix of more aeroplanes. First thing and Bulldog T1/XX543 took off for the long journey down to Old Sarum airfield for an event that was taking place there. Spitfire XI/MH434 was also supposed to be flying down to Old Sarum but after a brief appearance outside mid-afternoon, was pushed back into the hangar. The only other action was B-17/Sally-B which had a low power engine run but the pilot training day planned for tomorrow has been cancelled due to the adverse weather and is now set for the reserve day on the 15th May. There were a few showers that passed over Duxford and the wind was gusting to a very blustery 30+ Knots.













Brian

[Pen Pusher]

OFMC Spitfire IX/MH434 was returned from ARCo to its parking space in hangar 3 following the application of black & white D-Day stripes on Friday. As per the originals these were applied free hand with the aid of a piece of string for the straight lines. Having been taken out of hangar 2 on Friday, for a display at the Shuttleworth Collection air show on Sunday which was eventually cancelled due to the adverse weather, the T.28 Fennec was returned to hangar 2 having sat outside all weekend down at ARCo. Flying was a bit sparce today, even though the weather was a vast improvement on the day before, but a Piper Super Cub from Old Warden was doing circuits on the grass strip against the rain threatening grey sky.













Brian

[LN Strike Eagle]

I like that, especially the fact it was done freehand. Top marks.

[Ledhead27]

Have to say MH434 looks great with D-Day stripes, glad to see ARCo have applied them in the authentic manner!

[st24]

434 looks superb, even more superb than usual. Great effort guys, love it.

[Pen Pusher]

TFC were out and about early with the Mk V Spitfire/EP120 having had an engine run before the museum opened. Early afternoon and the TFC Hellcat was outside for an engine run. During the afternoon, the Classic Wings Rapide/HG691 went for a short test flight following its rebuild and after an initial first flight yesterday, the Sabre went up for another flight and after about half an hour to the north, returned with some aerobatics over the airfield. A few helicopters were around as well with a Puma flying through in the morning and another Puma in the afternoon. A Qatar registered Eurocopter EC155B1/A7-HMD was doing some circuit training followed by an S-76C/G-HARA.













Brian

[Tommy]

Sabre shot looks good, Oh Great Bimbler. Has the Hellcat flown yet?

Also I'd like to add to the '434 love. That's how a scheme should be done, right down to the slightly wobbly lines!

[Pen Pusher]

Hellcat has not flown yet but hopefully soon.

Brian

[Pen Pusher]

With my extremities having turned a nice shade of red, it was probably the hottest day of the year so far. It was training day for the crews of the B-17/Sally-B with a couple of flights to Cambridge. The Sabre was airbourne again with another test flight to the north with a display on its return. Having had engine runs yesterday, the TFC Mk.V Spitfire also had a couple of test flights with an aerobatics routine over the airfield on its return from the second flight.













Brian

[docmattc]

Good shots as always Brian

Sally-B looked great thundering over work, and was certainly more interesting than the lecture I was sitting through at the time of one pass!
Didn't get to see the Sabre or Spit unfortunately- now that the weather is better I need more outdoor tea-breaks!

[Weather Watcher]

All lovely shots - makes me want to get to an airshow more than ever.

David

[Pen Pusher]

Although there was high cloud cover, the temperature reach 21C according to Duxford Information when a helicopter took off late morning. After the initial test flying by Mark Linney, the F-86 was flying again but with Cliff Spink in the cockpit. Highlight of the day was the re-emergence of the ARCo T.9 Spitfire in new camouflage and markings. Before being converted to a two-seater, PV202 flew in 1944 with 33 Squadron as part of 135 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, Merville, Northern France. Today PV202 is back carrying the 1944 5R code letters of 33 Squadron.













Brian

[Sundowner]

I have to admit, 2 seat spits just don't do it for me.

[someguy1]

More top class photos and really enjoying the bimble! I like the new camo, prefer it to the old one.

[Blackbird]

More top class photos and really enjoying the bimble! I like the new camo, prefer it to the old one.

Me too

Andy

[Pen Pusher]

The Museum were playing at musical aeroplanes today in hangar 4. The Be.2, that used to hang in IWM Lambeth down in London, was moved into the spot that the Meteor used to be in so the Be.2 and the Bristol Fighter are parked next to each other. The Meteor was moved into the other side of hangar 4 with the rest of the Cold War jets. Meanwhile out on the airfield, the TFC Harvard went up for a flight followed by the Hawk 75 with Pete Kynsey giving a very nice display over the airfield after a shake down flight to the north. The Bearcat had its center line fuel tank fixed and PK took that for a short test flight. There was a rumour that a United States Air Force Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey from Mildenhall had a landing slot booked in the afternoon and sure enough it turned up. It did a touch down on the runway and then came around again for a fast pass before heading off to the south. Stu Goldspink took the Hawk 75 flying twice later in the afternoon.













Brian

[itfcscott]

Nice last shot on the Hawk 75 Brian

[Maisie]

Brian

Love this one!