IWM Duxford.

[nick crisp]

Headed there today. It might've been an idea if I'd checked their website first, as the American Hangar is closed for refurb until spring 2016! But don't know when I'll get another chance, and entry was a fiver less than usual. Now, it's not a particularly cheap day out; usual adult entry is £22.50 (£17.50 today), the on-site catering is a rip-off and poor quality with little choice, so I'd recommend having a bite elsewhere before your visit if you go. But having said that, I still think it's well worth it, especially on an air show day. The Flying Legends show in particular is an event not to be missed! Another reason I think it's worth it is because there's not another place quite like it in Britain, maybe the whole of Europe. If Warbirds are your thing, Duxford is the modern home for them. From static displays, to restoration work, to full flying originals, you could easily while away a whole day here, especially when the American hangar and military vehicle shows are up and running.

Thought some might enjoy a bit of a taster:

Avro Lancaster and DeHavilland Mosquito:



English Electric Lightning (the last of the fast - someone told me most of them are now living at the bottom of the North Sea  :lol ):



Grumman Bearcat in full flying fettle:



Another flyer, Gloster Gladiator:



There were two P-51D Mustangs there today:



I say today, cos you never quite know what might be visiting from time to time. Flying Legends tends to have anywhere between 5 and 10 attending, all flying in the show.

One of a number of restoration projects, Hawker Sea Fury:



And a Bristol Beaufighter; all I know about this one is that it was built under license by the Aussies:



The world famous Sally B:



aka Memphis Belle:



A rare beasty, Me109. Best shot I could get, don't know if this one's a flyer, not many around:



Much in demand are flights in this two-seater Spitfire:



This is what I love about Duxford. It's almost like you've been taken back to 1940. Clipped wings on Spitfires was to increase the roll rate, making them more manoeuvrable for tight dog-fights:



My favourite, serial no. MH434, a Mk IXB:



Not just WWII stuff at Duxford either; a Buccaneer:



Very rare. Cockpit from a Mitsubishi Zero fighter:



In the Battle of Britain hangar:



Cold War enemy, MiG 21:



Hiding away, an on-going Heinkel 111 restoration:



Bloodhound SAM. I remember there being line upon line of these when I was based at RAF Wyton:



This really is just a small sample of what they have there. Flying today was a Catalina and the two-seat Spitfire, and I've been there before when Spitfires have been on air test, 'beating up' the airfield at low level. The American Museum (when open) is almost worth a visit in it's own right. Marvellous place!

[fazersharp]

Interesting have you ever thought of going on this http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/what...announced/

[pilgo]

Looks like a good, though slightly expensive day out, and not to far for me to get to and back in a day. Your 1st picture has my all time Favourite WW2 plane, the Mosquito ( would love to see one flying, that and a Typhoon )

I went to the tank museum at Bovington in Dorset last week, another great day out if your into you military hardwear.
£13 50 to get in but that gets you back in as many times as you can get there for the year, except on the exhibition days.
if you've seen the film 'Fury' you would of seen the museum's Tiger Tank, its an impressive bit of kit, they are putting it through
Its paces on saturday may 2nd on their off road arena so im off back down there for that. Spent 3 hours going round just the main hall so need to look at the restoration hanger next time

[crickleymal]

I second Cosford as a good day out especially as it's free apart from parking. There's also the Coventry air museum at the East Midlands airport which is small but inexpensive and you get to climb into a Vulcan and an Argosy.

I remember Bloodhound missiles from when I went on ATC camp somewhere in East Anglia.

[unfazed]

Greats pics Nick, have to go there next I'm in the UK. 

[darrsi]

I'm only about 2 miles from Hendon RAF Museum, not been there since i was a teenager though i think.

[ChristoT]

I'm only about 2 miles from Hendon RAF Museum, not been there since i was a teenager though i think.

I was there 2 weeks ago with friends from Preston. Our impressions? Too many bleeding Spitfires!

That said, some lovely aircraft there.

[darrsi]

[quote author=darrsi link=topic=16691.msg192526#msg192526 date=1429766792]
I'm only about 2 miles from Hendon RAF Museum, not been there since i was a teenager though i think.

I was there 2 weeks ago with friends from Preston. Our impressions? Too many bleeding Spitfires!

That said, some lovely aircraft there.
[/quote]

You can never have TOO many Spitfires. 

[ChristoT]

[quote author=ChristoT link=topic=16691.msg192545#msg192545 date=1429779562]
[quote author=darrsi link=topic=16691.msg192526#msg192526 date=1429766792]
I'm only about 2 miles from Hendon RAF Museum, not been there since i was a teenager though i think.

I was there 2 weeks ago with friends from Preston. Our impressions? Too many bleeding Spitfires!

That said, some lovely aircraft there.
[/quote]

You can never have TOO many Spitfires. 
[/quote]

You can! Go there and see!

The Spitfire annoys me intensely. The Hurricane did most of the work during the Battle of Britain, and has more confirmed kills than the Spitfire. Better survivability too - as it had a doped skin, cannon fire when through the airframe harmlessly - whereas the aluminium Spitfire got shredded. Being aluminium made repair times much longer too - with the Hurricane, you could sew on a patch, dope it up, and off she went! A bit like the American P-51 Mustang: incredible aircraft, but glamorised far beyond its actual success.

The Mozzie is an amazing plane. One of the first all-composite airframes!

[Grahamm]

Too many bleeding Spitfires!

There's no such thing :thumbup

16 Spitfires Flying Together The Sound of Victory " Goosebumps "

[fazersharp]

A-feckin-maze-ing
Come on, anyone who dose not get goosebumps with that mass flyover is not an Englishman - are you Christo

[Dead Eye]

Christo is French. He denies it, but it explains a lot...

[YamFazFan]

Duxford Air Show yesterday...

[esetest]

Looks cool , will have to check it out .

[YamFazFan]

Looks cool , will have to check it out .

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

[YamFazFan]

Flying Legends air show today & tomorrow.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford...s-air-show

[nick crisp]

Flying Legends air show today & tomorrow.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford...s-air-show

Anyone thinking of going - do it! A bit expensive, but a brilliant day out and well worth it. Biggest gathering of Warbirds this side of the pond. Very impressive. Come to think of it, what am I doing tomorrow?........ :think

[YamFazFan]

Going today un. The forecast don't look too great down this way for tomorrow.

[nick crisp]

Going today un. The forecast don't look too great down this way for tomorrow.

Ah, that's a shame, be too late for me today by the time I get going now. Enjoy!

[YamFazFan]

Thanks Nick. Sure will .