DH Chipmunk 80th anniversary fly-in Duxford, 9 May - picture of the day #10

 

A few views of today's Chipmunk line-up seen at the 'fly-in' at Duxford, part of the IWM VE flying day, courtesy of David Mummery. According to Vintage Aviation news the 'special formation flying display' gathered together at least  18 Chipminks flying together in formation (see below) although of the 40+ aircraft that came to Dx, a number of pilots would not have had a 'display' licence so a little short of the hoped-for 40 machines that were slated to fly at the event..

Video of the event by OscarLKZ - a single click to view here

Tucanos of 72 (R) Sqd Centenary " Grand Flypast "

On Tuesday the 27th June a formation of Tucano aircraft from No 72(R) Squadron flew their ‘Grand Flypast’ to commemorate the Squadron’s Centenary.

The nationwide route was planned to overfly all bar two of the Squadron’s previous bases encompassing locations linked to the Squadron’s surviving WWII veterans. We popped up to the Battle of Britain memorial, Capel at 12:30 this lunch-time to see them fly past.

Starting at RNAS Culdrose, the route took four of the Squadron’s Shorts Tucano T Mark 1 aircraft across the South Coast visiting many former RAF Stations that were operational during the Second World War with stops at RAF Odiham, Imperial War Museum Duxford and RAF Linton-on-Ouse on the way to the final destination at JHFS Aldergrove in Northern Ireland. (stop press ! Legs 3 and 4 apparently cancelled due to weather)

One of the Tucanos was painted in a specially designed commemorative livery, to recognise 72 Squadron’s unique position as the only remaining Squadron in the Royal Air Force to have flown Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. This commemorative Tucano will also be visiting RAF Stations and airshows around the country this summer as a static display aircraft.

Tucanos of 72 (R) Sqd  Centenary flypast at the site of the former RAF Matlaske in North Norfolk by Stuart Thurtle shared via FB here

Chris Bellhouse's T-6/ Harvard G-BGHU, Pent Farm airfield, Postling, Kent, T-6/Harvard walkaround

 T-6/Harvard G-BGHU seen last summer at Postling, Kent, England. The aircraft is painted to represent a T-6 G as flown in Korea by the 64th TCGP in August 1950. All markings, numbers etc are as originally worn during its service with the U.S.A.F. In this guise T-6's were used in the Korean war for forward air control and target marking. They were armed with phosphor rockets and machine guns, although the guns were removed later in the campaign as the pilots spent too much time shooting up targets rather than marking them for others to destroy!

Between 1942/56 this machine served with the U.S.A.A.F. and U.S.A.F before being sold to the Armée de l'Air in 1957. Toting four wing mounted machine guns, two bombs and six rockets it saw service in the Algerian campaign before being sold in 1962 to the Portuguese Air Force seeing service in both Portugal and West Africa. Modified to take under wing multi-racket launching pods and anti SAM flare system fitted. In 1979 it was de-mobbed and moved to the UK, with all armaments and fittings removed. In 1986 this machine was purchased by the current owner, Chris Bellhouse (standing on the wing below) - making it one of the oldest Harvards under continuous ownership on the UK register. The aircraft is now based at Pent Farm airfield, Postling, Kent.

Beute NAA 57 and 64 in Luftwaffe service - ebay photo find #57

French Beute types - NAA 57 and 64 with JG 107 in France in Luftwaffe service

On offer here

on offer here 

Tiger Moth G-ACDC at Pent Farm airfield Postling Kent -walkaround

TG Aviation Boeing Stearman, Pent Farm airfield, Postling, Kent

With the closure of Manston airport, long-standing Manston flying school TG Aviation have moved to a small strip in deepest Kent at Pent Farm, Postling, just a few minutes drive from the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. Former Red Arrows pilot Ted Girdler established his flying school over thirty years ago. Ted sadly died in a airshow crash in 2000 when the Aero Delphin he was piloting failed to come out of a loop and went into the sea off Bournemouth. The Stearman costs around £185 for a thirty minute flight. It is an original US Navy machine, model A75-N25-4 built circa 1942/3. As a primary trainer, it's obviously not a particularly complex piece of kit - "..the aircraft is not overpowered by its 220 or so horsepower, and loops and barrel rolls require diving to pick up enough energy to complete the maneuvers...With no flaps or other complex systems, the landing check list is short: mixture full rich, elevator trimmed slightly tail heavy, keep the engine warm with short bursts of power, as needed, and maintain at least 60 mph on final..". For more on flying the Stearman see "Flying the Army's Primary Trainers" here The military pilot’s handbook includes the paragraph "Avoid cross-wind landings when possible." .Thanks to Ted's daughter-in-law Sue for showing me around and kindly offering to take me for a spin. I sadly had to decline - I'm sure you can see why from the picture above - but I'm also sure that I will be back soon!