ENGLAND 2017
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On monday July 3rd I visited Duxford for the hangars at the museum and see if some action was going on in preparation for the air show, the following weekend. I knew full well that I wouldn't have time to visit the hangars during the air show and the crowds were likely to be considerable. |
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_War_Museum_Duxford en.wikipedia.org:_List_of_aircraft_at_the_Imperial_War_Museum_Duxford |
We move to the British Airliner Collection
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A glimpse into the hangar of The Fighter Collection, one of IWM's flying partners.
Skilled engineers maintain and restore these remarkable aircraft. Alas for me, the hangar was barred for visitors and I have only photos from both ends of the hangar.
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en.wikipedia.org:_List_of_aircraft_at_the_Imperial_War_Museum_Duxford
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A few of the participants of next weekend's Flying Legends air show were already outside, due for
some engine run ups and flying. The Lancaster PA474 was one of them (but did not fly this monday).
![]() There is another 'Memphis Belle', in the US, being restored: warbirdregistry.org/b17registry/b17-4483546.html
And more photos (flying!) on my Duxford's Flying Legends 2017 air show page |
DUXFORD'S IMPERIAL AIR MUSEUM / AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM
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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt '226413 / UN-Z' (really 45-49192) c/n 399-55731. Actual US military serial 45-49192. Saw post-war service with the Peruvian Air Force as '545' and later as '119'. Rescued and returned to the US in 1969, she flew again in 1973 registered as N47DD. Sadly, she later crashed on a delivery flight to a new owner, in February 1980. The wreck came to Duxford in 1985, as part of a deal arranged by the Fighter Collection. A complex static restoration took place, also involving parts of other airframes. Completed to a high standard, she is now painted to represent the personal aircraft of Col. Hubert Zemke, Commander of the 56th Fighter Group at Boxted. From: www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/... |
The American Air Museum: Literally filled to the rafters: the sleek Blackbird spyplane, the fastest air breathing
jet
aircraft ever built and also, inspite of its size, the massive Boeing B-52. And many others so let me take you on a tour!
Boeing B-52D-40-BW, 60689 (c/n 464060).
Ordered in the 1956 Fiscal Year batch (56-) and built by Boeing at Seattle for the USAF, del'd with serial 56-0689
56-0689 Delivered 11Oct1957 to 28th Bomb Wing. Retired from 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB,TX and flown to Brize Norton, UK, and on Oct 8, 1983 to Duxford for the Imperial War Museum. Later to the American Air Museum Sep 1996. (From Joe Baugher's USAF Serials).
McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom, BuNo. 155529 - AJ / VF-74, USS America, US Navy
Boeing B-50, 461748/Y USAF
Mitchell B-25, 34064/8U 'Lil Critter from the Moon'
Douglas C-47, 311559 / W7
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 44-83735 - ex/ F-BDRS, see Ron Mak's photos on my website
North American P-51 Mustang, 411631 / V-MX
Consolidated B-24M Liberator, 44-50493 'Dugan'.
Liberator 44-51228 was the last B-24 in USAF service, being used for ice research before being retired in 1953.
It was placed on display at Lackland AFB. Built by Ford at Willow Run, it was donated to the museum by the
Ford Motor Company, arriving in 1999. It is painted as '44-50493' of the 392nd Bombardment Group/578th Bombardment Sqdn., United States Army Air Force, based at RAF Wendling in Norfolk, England, and named Dugan.
I know of a C-119: The Legend of Dead Dugan!
The Spad XIII – a fast, ferocious fighter, and one of the best aircraft of World War One!
The United States took a long time to be come involved in ‘the Great War’, World War One. The Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés, was the name of a company founded by the French entrepreneur Armand Deperdussin. The Spad XIII was derived from the earlier Spad VII, which had a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza V-8 engine and a single Vickers .303″ machinegun.
Eddie Rickenbacker (born to American/Swiss parents as Edward Reichenbacher), was a famous race driver before the war, and ended up as General John. J Pershing’s personal chauffeur in France. He pestered the General, and got his wish, a posting to the U.S. Army Air Service. By May, he was with the 94th ‘Hat in the Ring’ Squadron, of the 1st Pursuit Group, which were equipped with the rather fragile Nieuport 28. Shortly afterwards he was on leave in Paris, and rather than go back with his comrades, went to the American Air Depot at Orly Aerodrome. There he found 3 brand new Spad XIII being being readied for dispatch to the 94th, and flew one of these back. By the time the Armistice rolled around -the fighting stopping at 11am on 11Nov1918 – the United States had accepted delivery of no less than 893 Spad XIII, which equipped 15 out of 16 American fighter squadrons. The eventual final production total came to 8,472 of the type.
The aircraft you can see here is on display in the American Air Museum is, of course, a replica, as are several others displayed around the world. The original Spad XIIIs on display in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and the National Museum of the Air Force in the United States, despite being painted as Rickenbacker’s aircraft, are not his. This particular example was built in Germany by Williams Flugzeugbau in 1978, reg'd D-GOWM, and powered by a 200 hp Lycoming AIO-360-A2I3 engine. From : shortfinals.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/spad-xiii-duxford/ |
You might like to explore this Daily Mail online article on the recent reopening of the American Air Museum www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3495651/....
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FLYING LEGENDS AIR SHOW - JULY 8th
These images are a teaser for the July 8th air show: SEE MY PAGE FLYING LEGENDS 2017
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Flying Legends 2017 goes airborne!
SEE MY FULL PAGE ON DUXFORD'S FLYING LEGENDS 2017 AIR SHOW!
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ENGLAND 2017 CHECK OUT MY 'D-DAY 75' - 'DAKS OVER DUXFORD' |
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