News UK – Page 133 – Airscene News

final flying displays announced for the Autumn Air Show

Sunday 14 October 2012

The Autumn Air Show this coming Sunday closes the 2012 flying season with a fantastic finale.

The flying display offers excitement for all ages and tastes, with contemporary fast jets, exciting helicopter displays, fun aerobatics and an array of historic warbirds.

Amazingly agile helicopter displays come from The Black Cats Lynx Pair from 702 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton and the Apache helicopter from the Army Air Corps, RAF Wattisham. The Sea King helicopter from B Flight, 22 Squadron, RAF Wattisham will present a thrilling Search and Rescue display.

Rip-roaring contemporary RAF displays will be provided by BAe Systems Hawk from 208 (R) Squadron, RAF Valley and the Shorts Tucano from the Central Flying School Flight, RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

An array of historic aircraft will be flying, including many warbirds which call IWM Duxford home. These include B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B from B-17 Preservation; Spitfire IXT from Air Leasing; FG-1D Corsair, P-40B Warhawk and P-40F Warhawk from The Fighter Collection and Hispano Buchon (Messerschmitt Bf-109) from Aircraft Restoration Company/ Historic Flying Limited.

We’ll be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Merlin-engined Mustang with displays by P-51 Mustang Ferocious Frankie from the Old Flying Machine Company and North American TF-51 Mustang Miss Velma from The Fighter Collection.

There will also be a display by a Piper L-4 Cub, Boeing Stearman and North American Harvard, representing the aircraft that United States Army Air Force pilots would have flown in when completing their training, prior to flying the mighty Mustang.

Additional thrilling displays include the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota from RAF Coningsby; Douglas A-1 Skyraider from Kennet Aviation; the supremely colourful Hawker Hunter from Heritage Aviation Developments; the aerobatically nimble CAP 232; the elegant Fournier RF-4 Pair glider duo and the dynamic Trigg Aerobatic Team.

There is plenty to entertain you on the ground too, with the whole museum open to explore. Take tours of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B and the famous Catalina flying boat.*

Enjoy children’s rides or a ride in a tank*. Find out more about historic objects from RAF Bomber Command next to the Lancaster in AirSpace and have the chance to sit in an ejection seat. Make and paint your own Airfix model in the Conservation Hall in AirSpace and take it home as a souvenir of your air show day.

In the American Air Museum, discover United States Army Air Force historic objects next to the B-24 Liberator and the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Join us for the Autumn Air Show as we close the 2012 flying season in style!

Advance ticket sales have now closed, but you can purchase your ticket as you arrive at the Autumn Air Show.

www.iwm.org.uk

Saturday to kick start Wings & Wheels 2013

It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s back! Wings & Wheels is delighted to announce its return to Dunsfold Park in Surrey for a spectacular weekend of aerobatic and motoring thrills which will entertain thousands over the August bank holiday weekend. Sticking to the two day format the Show’s confirmed dates for 2013 are Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August.

No sooner had the last jet departed from Wings & Wheels 2012 than the team were already hard at work planning for the 2013 Show. Taking pride in the event’s development as a result of visitor feedback, next year’s airshow will once again strive to make positive changes which ensure that visitors continue to experience the very best entertainment since the show’s inception eight years ago.

Securing its calendar slot on the August bank holiday weekend, the more noticeable change to the 2013 show will be its move from Sunday and Monday to the *NEW* format of Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August.

Jamie McAllister, Wings & Wheels Event Director, comments; “Wings & Wheels has evolved enormously over the last eight years and key to this has been our willingness to listen to our visitors and in turn adapt and improve the event’s format. Our decision to move the show to Saturday and Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend has been based on visitor feedback and we are confident this will enable more families to attend the event.”

Watch this space for the official line-up announcement in March. Updated show information will be available via the Wings & Wheels website www.wingsandwheels.net.

Tales of RAF Bomber Command at IWM Duxford this October half term

This October half term, find out more about the dangerous and thrilling missions of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.

Every day, from Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4 November, hear amazing true tales of aerial warfare told by our enthralling storyteller. From 11am to 3pm, we’ll be telling a range of stories, showing the Lancaster bomber from the perspective of people who all had very different experiences of this legendary aircraft.

Our storyteller will be portraying a number of different characters, including:

Flight Lieutenant Amos of RAF Bomber Command, who will show you around his beloved Lancaster. Find out about the bomber crew who flew in the aircraft on perilous missions and the importance of their individual roles to the solidarity of the crew. Learn what life was like for the bomber crew, both in the air and on the ground.

Aircraftman Harding, who ferries bombs out to the Lancaster. Hear about the life of the ground crew, including the long hours they worked in all weathers to keep the mighty Lancaster in the air.

Rear Gunner Sergeant Reg Kemble, a ‘tail-end Charlie’ who you’ll meet as he gets kitted up for the night’s mission and checks his four .303 Browning machine guns in his rear turret. Hear about his lonely vigil, night after night, in the cramped and claustrophobic rear turret, where, at any moment, a German night fighter aircraft could appear out of the darkness.

Grenadier Dieter Grebb, a lowly foot soldier in the German Army, who is on leave, visiting his family in Cologne. A bombing raid hit overnight and Dieter is trying to make sense of the death and destruction that it has left in its wake.

You’ll also find out about the legendary Dambusters mission, including the brilliance of Barnes Wallis, the creation of the bouncing bomb and the courageous leadership of Guy Gibson.

Try on RAF uniforms and handle equipment actually used by 1940s airmen.

Activities run daily from Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4 November between 11am and 3pm, in front of the Lancaster in AirSpace.

Storytelling sessions run approximately every 45 minutes from 11am to 3pm, with a different story told in each session.

Half term activities are included in standard admission to the museum and, as usual, visitors aged 15 or under enjoy free admission to the museum. For further information go to www.iwm.org.uk or call 01223 835 000.

Nimrod R1 unveiling at Cosford RAF Museum

I was fortunate enough to be invited to represent Airscene, at RAF Cosford, to see the Nimrod R1 XV249 officially handed over to the museum by Air Chief Marshall Sir Brian Burridge. I say fortunate; because the other invited guests, at the “by invitation only” ceremony, also included Air Marshall Sir Kevin Leeson and personnel, past and present, from 51 Squadron – the only squadron to have flown the Nimrod R1 during its 40 years service with the RAF.

I arrived at Cosford early, in an effort to shoot some images of XV249 before the area became too crowded and I managed to get some “people free” images of the Nimrod. The R1 is parked immediately beyond the main entrance doors to the static area and the aircraft provides a new and impressive welcome for visitors to the museum.

Getting the R1 to RAF Cosford has been a long and difficult journey. And, XV249 is not just any old Nimrod – having flown in both the Maritime Patrol and Electronic Intelligence Roles and clocked up over 18,000 hours during her service. She is one of only 4 R1 models from a total production of 46 aircraft delivered to the RAF.

Delivery of the fuselage was taken in early March 2012, after it was transported from Kemble. The wings and other parts duly followed and she was re-assembled at Cosford during the summer.

Having just about exhausted most of the camera angles I could, I joined with the other guests for refreshments and had the chance to chat to members of 51 Squadron – both past and present. They hold the Nimrod in fond esteem and like us all, they had showed concern when following a Strategic Review, the Nimrod program had been cancelled.

How ironic then, that the Sentinel R1, which is the RAF’s current electronic intelligence gathering aircraft, failed to perform the planned flypast to mark the Nimrod Ceremony. No official mention was made of the “no show” or, indeed, the aircraft’s display slot in the program, but, it could be that the Sentinel R1 had developed a technical fault which could not be rectified in time for the ceremony.

Built as a Nimrod MR. Mk 1, XV249 made its first flight in 1970 with delivery to the RAF in early 1971. In 1976 she was involved in the ‘Cod War’ and also participated in Operation Tapestry which involved Fishery Protection and Gas Platform Surveillance. In March 1985, XV249 was delivered to RAF Kinloss having been converted to MR Mk 2 standard, being fitted with a new avionics and equipment suite and having the Shackleton-era radar replaced with the EMI Searchwater System.

In October 1995, XV249 went to BAe Woodford and was stripped of all ASW equipment and converted to R1 standard with the installation of additional atenna fittings. From 1997 she was flown as a fully equipped R Mk1 aircraft and in May 2011, after operations in Libya, she was withdrawn from normal service. In 2012, dismantling began at Kemble.

Guests and Museum staff gathered around the aircraft and were addressed by Peter Dye, the RAF Museum Director General, who expressed his thanks to all those involved in getting the aircraft to Cosford and undertaking the complicated task of re-assembling this unique Nimrod.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge, an ex Nimrod Pilot himself, gave an interesting address about the aircraft and recounted some of his own Nimrod stories. His speech offered a great insight into operational flying of the type and was both informative and entertaining. Finally, Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson formally handed over the aircraft’s log book and, in return, was presented with a ‘mounted’ bolt taken from the Nimrod’s wing structure. I can only hope that the bolt does not play an important part in maintaining airframe integrity!

So now I know much more about what I thought was just a converted DH Comet – and I was impressed, both with the aircraft and the crews that flew her – the plane may be consigned to history now, but if you want to discover more, like I did, take a trip to Cosford and marvel at another fine example of British aviation design and technical innovation – the Nimrod R1.

(Report and photos by Dave Briers)

Royal Air Force Museum Appeals to Airfix Fans

The Royal Air Force Museum London will be launching in Summer 2013 a signature exhibition commemorating and celebrating the national institution that is Airfix. This exhibition will chart the history of this Great British Institution by displaying original Box Art as well as Airfix’s most popular models from the 50s, 60s and 70s in the Museum’s Art Gallery.

An important part of the exhibition will be the examination of how Airfix has permeated the social fabric of the United Kingdom and how it has influenced the leisure activities of generations of young men and women since the company’s foundation. Accordingly, the Royal Air Force Museum is today launching an appeal to ask members of the public who have any original paintings which were produced as artwork for packaging to contact the Museum. The Museum would also be interested in hearing about models from 1950s, 60s and 70s with their original packaging.

Andrew Cormack Keeper of Visual Arts, Medals and Uniforms at the Royal Air Force Museum and Curator of the Airfix Exhibition states:

‘Over the last 9 months I have had the pleasure of working closely with the team at Airfix, whilst curating this exhibition. Although the Museum does have a plethora of materials to draw upon, it was common practice when staff retired from Airfix for them to be awarded original artwork as a thank you from the team.

This means that in terms of the proposed exhibition there are a couple of minor gaps in the artwork we would like to hang. These include artwork from the Historical Personalities series, the Sailing Ships series and Airfix’s military vehicles series during the 1950s and 60s including the work of Roy Cross and Michael Turner. And although we will doubtless show some superb models, it would be interesting, if possible, to find any models that still survive that were made by young children also from this period. After all, the pleasure of making a kit experienced by an eight year old – the majority of purchasers in the 1960s – was more about imagination and inspiration, perhaps even emulation, than it was accuracy.

If any members of the public have in their possession any original Airfix paintings or models from the 1950s, 60s and 70s and would like to offer to lend their items to be displayed in this exhibition please contact me by calling 020 8205 2266 or by emailing me at fine-arts@rafmuseum.org ‘

This Airfix exhibition is scheduled to commence June 2013 after the exhibition that is currently on show in the Museum’s Art Gallery ‘Fresh Air: a new perspective in aviation art’ finishes. This exhibition is a retrospective on the work of Artist in Residence to the Red Arrows, David Bent.

Entry to Fresh Air is free of charge to visitors; as is entry to the Museum. The exhibition will be shown daily from 10am to 6pm. For further details please visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson or dial 020 8205 2266.

Autumn Air Show celebrates the 70th anniversary of the mighty Mustang

The Autumn Air Show on Sunday 14 October closes the air show season in relaxed style.

One of the highlights of the Autumn Air Show will be a display by P-51Mustang Ferocious Frankie alongside Spitfire IX from the Old Flying Machine Company, presenting the might of the Merlin engine in these legendary American and British fighter aircraft.

Also flying will be North American TF-51 Mustang Miss Velma from The Fighter Collection.

These thrilling displays commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Merlin-engine Mustang, a pivotal moment in aviation history which was initiated by events at RAF Duxford.

During the Second World War, the Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) was based at RAF Duxford. The AFDU provided technical intelligence to the RAF, developing operational tactics and testing captured enemy aircraft.

It was a phone call from Wing Commander Ian Campbell-Orde, Commanding Officer of the AFDU at RAF Duxford, to Ronnie Harker, Rolls-Royce service-liaison pilot, which started the sequence of events which would result in the matchless combination of the Mustang aircraft and the Rolls-Royce engine.

Harker was offered the opportunity to fly one of the new Allison-engine Mustangs that had recently arrived at RAF Duxford. He flew the aircraft on 30 April 1942 and was clearly impressed with its manoeuvrability, speed and agility. In his report, he commented “The point that strikes me is that with a powerful and good engine like the Merlin 61, its performance should be outstanding, as it is 35mph faster than a Spitfire V at roughly the same power.”

A subsequent visit to RAF Duxford by Willoughby Lappin, Personal Assistant to E W Hives, Director and General Works Manager at Rolls-Royce, ensured that the proposal was taken seriously and soon thereafter a meeting about the Mustang took place between Rolls-Royce and the Air Ministry.

After much backroom research, performance investigation testing and correspondence between Rolls- Royce, the American Embassy, North American Aviation (the aircraft manufacturer responsible for the Mustang) and the Air Ministry, the first aircraft was assigned for conversion. This, together with subsequent developments in the aircraft’s propeller and fuel injection, resulted in the definitive American long-range single-seat fighter and an enduringly iconic aircraft that continues to amaze spectators with its aerial dexterity.

IWM Duxford air show favourites displaying at the Autumn Air Show include the Black Cats Lynx Pair from 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton; the Apache helicopter from the Army Air Corps at RAF Wattisham; BAE Systems Hawk from 208 Squadron at RAF Valley; Shorts Tucano from the Central Flying School Flight at RAF Linton-on-Ouse; Beechcraft King Air from 45 Squadron at RAF Cranwell and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Douglas DC-3 Dakota.

Showcasing historic aircraft based at IWM Duxford, there will be displays by B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B; North American F-86 Sabre; two Spitfires; two Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and a Goodyear Corsair.

Join us for the Autumn Air Show as we commemorate the innovation that led to the formidable Mustang fighter aircraft and celebrate another fantastic air show season at IWM Duxford.

There is still time to purchase your tickets in advance to save 10% and get a free child ticket, which is available with every adult or senior ticket purchased.

This offer is on advance ticket purchases only; it cannot be used on the day of the event.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.iwm.org.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01223 499 353. The Box Office is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

There is no booking fee but a postage and packing fee applies per transaction.

Advance tickets will be available until:

5pm on Friday 28 September for overseas postal delivery

5pm on Wednesday 3 October for UK postal delivery

Airbourne Marks 20 Year Anniversary With a New High

Airbourne celebrated its 20 year anniversary in style with its busiest day ever on Saturday 11 August.

With record crowds flocking to the seafront to see the first ever Vulcan bomber display in Eastbourne, by 2pm car parks at Beachy Head and Five Acre Field became completely full for the first time in the show’s 20 year history.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “I have never seen so many people on the seafront, we certainly had our best turn out ever for the Vulcan. It was wonderful to see this huge gleaming hulk of a jet appear from around the corner at Beachy Head – simply amazing!

Thank you to everyone who supported the event this year, whether by volunteering, donating or purchasing the programmes and radio headsets – its all helping us to keep Airbourne soaring high.”

Thousands continued the celebration on Sunday evening heading to Princes Park for coverage of the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, along with a parachute jump from The Tigers and fireworks from the beaches.

Donation buckets counted so far already amount to the most donations ever collected at Airbourne. Organised by the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, funds are being split with 30% to the RNLI Eastbourne charity and 70% towards the cost of Airbourne. Programme sales have also topped those from last year with just a limited number left to purchase and proceeds supporting the future of Airbourne.

Eastbourne Hospitality Association Vice President, Marco Giorgi said “There was a real feel good factor about the show this year, people really want Airbourne and were more than happy to donate towards the show and the RNLI. The message seemed to get across for the first time this year that if people donate just £1 each then the future of Airbourne is assured. The show costs a huge amount to put on and can never be taken for granted. However well it’s supported financially, that £1 in the bucket gives the organisers a clear message that the people of Eastbourne want the show to continue”.

The Vulcan display proved a real hit bringing in extra crowds, with Southern Railway seeing record numbers of visitors into Eastbourne station.

Eastbourne Station Manager, Graham Thrower said: “Over 36 per cent more people used Eastbourne station to get to and from the airshow compared to Saturday last year. To be fair to everyone, we once again instigated a queuing system which worked extremely well. Everyone was in good spirits, and everyone got home with the minimum amount of delay to their journey.”

EHA Vice President, Marco Giorgi also added “Hotels restaurants and pubs were all packed over the weekend, especially for Saturday’s Vulcan display – superb! Well done to all of the organisers for taking a risk on the Vulcan.”

A low bank of cloud and mist directly over Eastbourne seafront on Thursday did however lead to the cancellation of flying displays that day. The low cloud base of only 300 feet in Eastbourne and 1-200 feet at Shoreham Airport, meant that some aircraft could not get airborne and others could not display safely.

However crowds still enjoyed the ground displays, including the new tri-service exhibition with new exhibits of an inflatable assault course, Army paint balling and an Apache helicopter simulator all proving very popular. Blue skies early on Friday meant visitors enjoyed bonus practice flying displays from many teams in the morning followed by a full display in the afternoon.

For fans who missed the show, exclusive photos and cockpit footage are available to view online, including the Jet Provost display and the Royal Navy Raiders Parachute jump. Fans can also share their own photos and video on the Airbourne Facebook page.

There is still time to donate or buy a special edition 20th anniversary souvenir programme. To buy or donate online visit the Airbourne website or donate at the Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre or Seafront Office.

Airbourne returns in 2013 from Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August.

http://www.eastbourneairshow.com/

Explosive success for Dunsfold Wings & Wheels

The most exciting, explosive Wings & Wheels to date enthralled and delighted over 30,000 visitors on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th August. A fantastic combination of new and old aircraft thrilled crowds as the Red Arrows, Vulcan and Battle of Britain Memorial flight took part in the five hour airshows along with unique formation displays from the Meteor T7 and Hawker Hunter, Spitfire and Mustang, Fokker and Apache.

Hearts were pumping and crowds jumping as the Tornado GR4 roared across the sky through fireballs and explosions in a simulated attack before the soothing aerobatics of the Breitling Wingwalkers took centre stage.

Straight from his jump as the Queen at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, stuntman Gary Connery leapt from his helicopter in his wing suit, leaving crowds gasping as he waited until he was metres from the ground before deploying his parachute.

The Wheels Zone was awash with vintage vehicles in static displays and over 100 participants joined in the motoring demonstration run by Brooklands Museum including legendry Formula One and Grand Prix Motorcycle road racer John Surtees in his Formula One car. The Stunt Zone showcased four and two wheeled daredevil performances from Paul Swift and *NEW* act, Learn 2 Wheelie.

The 70th anniversary of the Aerodrome was celebrated in a popular central arena display which charted the historic sites beginnings to the current thriving business and events hub it has now become.

The 32 acre public arena was also bursting with a huge variety of interactive attractions from the 1940s Zone, Hot Rod Zone and *NEW* interactive display from the famous Boeing 747 and DC3. Visitors enjoyed laser quest, kids driving, paintballing, kit-plane demonstrations, aviation and motoring simulators, military outlets and displays, static aircraft, a Wall of Death, fairground, emergency services demonstration and over 80 retail outlets selling a wide variety of products and gifts.

Jamie McAllister, Events Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “Each year the team work tirelessly to improve and introduce new elements to Wings & Wheels and we are thrilled with the success of this year’s Show. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. There was so much to see and do in the air and on the ground, from old classics to new and exciting demonstrations with something for everyone. I would like to thank all of the staff, volunteers and individuals who worked tirelessly to put on the Show and all those who have supported Wings & Wheels through sponsorship, donations and by purchasing tickets.”

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited to help raise funds for nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust, Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, Help for Heroes and Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

http://www.wingsandwheels.net

On Her Majestys Secret Service

Following his two celebrated showcase events this year, Olympics opening ceremony aerial stuntman GARY CONNERY will make an exclusive appearance at Dunsfold Wings & Wheels on Monday 27th August.

Gary will combine his wing-suit world record achievement with a deployment by canopy in front of a thrilled audience. Arriving in a James Bond-esque pursuit in an AC Cobra, Gary will make good his escape by helicopter, before exiting to make his trademark wing-suit flight, deploying the canopy just in time to make a target landing in front of the audience. He’ll then return to the wheel of the Cobra before joining the crowd for meet and greets and photographs.

Garry Connery comments: “I have always had a passion for flying and cars. To be involved in a show that brings the two together is wonderful and I can’t wait to share my wingsuit flight with so many people in one day at Wings & Wheels. The visual experience will be awesome.”

Over 1 billion people worldwide watched Gary’s last performance as he stood in for the skydiving ‘Queen’s’ dramatic arrival at the Olympics Opening Ceremony with James Bond on Friday 27th July 2012. It was the most talked-about sequence of Danny Boyle’s stunning three hour ceremony.

Gary made his first parachute jump as an Army recruit at the age of 23 and has since become a professional stuntman. The 42-year-old daredevil is a veteran of the skies with over 880 sky dives, 450 base jumps and dozens of film and television roles, as well as having leapt from famous buildings including the top of London’s Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Nelson’s Column and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “We are thrilled to announce that Gary is joining our Wings line-up on Monday 27th August with his unique wing-suit display. He’s renowned for his world record attempts and more recently his stand in role as the Queen at the Olympics Opening Ceremony and is a welcome addition to what is shaping up to be our most exciting Wings & Wheels Show to date.”

http://www.wingsandwheels.net/

Final flying participation announced for The Duxford Air Show

The final flying participation has now been announced for The Duxford Air Show (Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September) and it is an amazing line-up!

Just confirmed is a flypast of United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles on both Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September.

On Sunday 9 September only, a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Royal Norwegian Air Force will fly alongside a pair of de Havilland Vampires from the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron.

This exciting combination has never been seen before in the UK. It brings together the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s first and most contemporary jet fighter aircraft.

Also from the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron is their newly-acquired Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, an American-built jet trainer aircraft, which will be flying on Saturday 8 September only.

The presence of the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron at The Duxford Air Show commemorates the centenary of aviation in Norway, celebrated this year. It also acknowledges the long-standing historical connection between the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.

From New Zealand come two rare replica First World War aircraft, the Albatros DV.a, a German single-seat biplane that sustained aerial combat in the skies over France for longer than all of the more famous Fokker models combined; and the RE.8, a two-seater reconnaissance biplane.

Also representing the bold and brave innovation of the First World War era are replicas of the Fokker DR-1, the type of aircraft in which the Red Baron gained his last 19 victories, and a Nieuport 17, a French biplane fighter aircraft of the era.

The world-famous Red Arrows will perform on Sunday 9 September only, while the Aerostars will be performing stunning aerobatics on both days of The Duxford Air Show.

Flying on Saturday 8 September only is Avro Vulcan XH558, which previously flew at IWM Duxford in September 2008. Vulcan XH558 performs a majestic flying display in the 60th anniversary year of the Vulcan’s maiden flight and the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, in which the Vulcan played a vital role.

XH558 was the first Vulcan B Mark 2 to be delivered to the RAF and the last Vulcan to leave RAF service after a sterling 33 years. It is now the oldest complete Vulcan in the world.

A pair of Tornado GR4s from15 (R) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth will make their debut appearance at IWM Duxford in the 30th anniversary year of the Tornado entering RAF service.

In scenes reminiscent of the Battle of Britain, five Spitfires, including a rare Mark I Spitfire, will fly in a tailchase formation with two Hispano Buchons, representing Messerschmitt Bf109 aircraft, and a Hawker Hurricane.

There’s more superb biplane action with the Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Swordfish, the Antonov An-2, the largest single-engine biplane ever produced and still flying, and the de Havilland Dragon Rapide (flying on Sunday 9 September only).

Following its outstanding performance in striking Jubilee colours at The Jubilee Air Show, the Shorts Tucano fromthe Central Flying School Flight at RAF Linton-on-Ouse makes a welcome return at The Duxford Air Show on Saturday 8 September only.

Making only its second air show appearance is The Fighter Collection’s P-47 Thunderbolt Snafu which was a highlight of this year’s Flying Legends Air Show.

Even more exciting flying includes the BAe Hawk from208 (R) Squadron, RAF Valley; the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota; the Gnat Display TeamPair; B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B; Douglas C-47 Skytrain; Bucker Bu 131 Jungmann; Curtiss Hawk 75; Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat; Consolidated PBY Catalina (flying on Saturday 8 September only) and the North American T-28 Trojan.

This has to be one of the most exciting flying displays seen at IWM Duxford in recent years!

There are plenty of activities to enjoy across IWM Duxford and themuseumis open to explore throughout the day.

Living history groups will be bringing Second World War history to life, with RAF Ops 1939-45 recreating an RAF Fighter Pilots’ dispersal position and giving visitors a glimpse of 1940s Bomber briefings in action.

The Military Equipment Collectors will be recreating the role of the RAF ground crew who kept Spitfires constantly at scramble readiness throughout the Battle of Britain and beyond. They will be displaying an RAF Mobile Mechanic Unit with early Second World War field equipment.

Colonel Richard Grahamwill be hosting his popular talks about the SR-71 Blackbird in the American Air Museum next to the SR-71 Spyplane that he flew. Colonel Graham’s talks will take place at 10amand noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

Children of all ages can enjoymaking and painting an Airfix model in AirSpace between 10.30am and 4pm and can then take their model masterpiece home as a souvenir of The Duxford Air Show.

Duxford Aviation Society’s The British Airliner Collection will be open to explore, including the iconic Concorde. Duxford Radio Society will be presenting radio equipment displays between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

On both days between 10amand 2pm, touch, hold and find out more about RAF Bomber Command historic objects in Air Space next to the iconic Lancaster. Learn about United States Army Air Force historic objects in the American Air Museum from 10am to 2pm.

There is still time to purchase your tickets in advance to save 10% and get a free child ticket, which is available with every adult or senior ticket purchased.

This offer is on advance ticket purchases only; it cannot be used on the day of the event.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.iwm.org.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01223 499 353. The Box Office is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

There is no booking fee but a postage and packing fee applies per transaction.

Advance tickets will be available until:

5pm on Friday 24 August for overseas postal delivery
5pm on Wednesday 29 August for UK postal delivery