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Spitfires and Hurricanes dominate the skies at IWM Duxford as thousands flock to the Battle of Britain Air Show

Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

Over 33,000 visitors flocked to IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire this weekend (16 and 17 September) for the iconic Battle of Britain Air show, making this year’s event the biggest to take place at Duxford since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The show featured displays from over 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows. For the first time in almost three decades, the last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ – flew in formation with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster treating visitors to a show stopping display from two of the most recognisable allied heavy bombers of the Second World War.

The famous Duxford ‘Big Wing’ featured 14 Spitfires and 4 Hurricanes in a moving tribute to the brave service men and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.
On the ground, crowds soaked up the sights and sounds with the help of living history groups, live performances from vintage musical acts, an historic fairground, and the opportunity to get close to original vintage warbirds on the Flight Line Walk.

Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, says: “We’re thrilled to have welcomed so many visitors to the Battle of Britain Air Show this weekend as we continue to celebrate 50 years of flying displays at Duxford. We’ve had a stand-out line-up this year, with an array of crowd favourites, from original vintage warbirds – including a mass flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes – to the daring aerobatic displays of the world-famous Red Arrows. Seeing the Avro Lancaster and ‘Sally B’ fly together for the first time in almost 30 years was a truly unforgettable moment and we hope to bring more of these unmissable experiences to visitors for many years to come.”

The Battle of Britain Air Show is the second major event of Duxford’s 50th anniversary Flying Season, which concludes with the Flying Finale on 14 October, marking 50 years to the day since the very first air day took place at Duxford in 1973.

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