We are delighted to confirm that Aces High’s Douglas DC3 will not only be open for tours at Wings & Wheels on Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th August, but will also be displaying as part of the five hour airshow.

The Aces High DC3 was constructed in 1942 in Long Beach California and delivered to the RAF at Netheravon as TS423 in 1944 and shortly before the end of the war transferred to 436 Squadron to the RCAF at Down Ampney. It was part of the Heavy Glider Unit and took part in the Arnhem D Day landings and Berlin Airlift.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director comments: “We are very fond of the Aces High DC3. Located on the aerodrome we have the pleasure of seeing her in the air throughout the year and are delighted to be able to bring her to Wings & Wheels for our visitors to watch. They’ll not only be able to see her in the air, but also to pop down to the Military Zone for a tour inside her airframe.”  

The DC3 went to Short Brothers, Scottish Aviation, Marshalls and Ferranti, where at Ferranti, she acquired a non-standard nose that would have been the envy of Jimmy “Schnozzle”

Durante! Inside this nose, which singled her out from her eleven thousand sisters, Ferranti fitted air pass radar for the Lightning fighter and an hydraulically operated gun turret. Underneath she acquired Sonar buoy dropping equipment.

In 1969, with a surprisingly low number of hours on her airframe (around 3000 hours) TS 423 was delivered to the Ministry of Technology at RAE West Freugh, where, nine years later, named “Mayfly” she was still stored. The decision was taken by the MOD to scrap her on the Catterick fire dump.

Mike Woodley of Aces High managed to rescue her from this fate with the aid of the Imperial War Museum and Lord Onslow. On 14th September 1979 TS423 was officially christened G-DAKS and given extensive cosmetic surgery to restore her Douglas nose at Duxford.

G-DAKS made her debut with Yorkshire Television as “Vera Lynn” of Ruskin Air Services in the series AIRLINE in 1979. Her film and television credits have ranged from Poirot to Tenko, Indiana Jones, Dirty Dozen, Memphis Belle, Da Vinci Code, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and many others too numerous to mention.

She remains a young lady of 74 years! With over 3,600 hours total flying time N147DC is probably the lowest houred Dakota flying in the world. Aces High still operates her almost 35 years later and she is still being used in films and, as you can see if you visit the aircraft and take a tour at the show, she still has her unrestored, original WW2 cockpit and interior.

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the full complement from the RAF as they display with the Red Arrows, Eurofighter and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire, Hurricane) as well as the Royal Navy Black Cats, Blades, Sally B and the Tigers Parachute Team.  Supercars, classics and race cars put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a two-hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum. Over in our Wheels Zone is an array of interactive and static displays as well as two and four wheeled shows in the Stunt Zone with Steve ‘Showtime’ Colley and Mission Motorsport and a new Monster Truck arena offering demonstrations and passenger rides.

The show also includes over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, 2 bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.  

The 12^th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 27^th & Sunday 28^th August 2016, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information, visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2016 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

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