Random Visit to Duxford - Photos

[dr_gn]

My pal and I go to Duxford every few years, on a non-airshow day, just to look around in the hangars and take it all in. We had a great day (as usual). Started at the Land Warfare Hall, then walked back to the entrance.

Loads of Spitfires flying; a couple of two seaters (T. IX's) giving rides every hour or so, the NHS Spitfire PRXI, and a Mk1a being put through its paces. It was really being thrown around as well, seemed like a lot more energetic than the average display routine. Later on, a couple of Dakotas turned up, and again they were really being given the beans. Also called in at the small second hand aviation bookshop next to one of the hangars - some great stuff in there, and some old model kits to browse too.

With the recent news about Flying Legends moving venue (dates for 2021 now pencilled in as 10th & 11th July by the way, as yet undisclosed location - I did ask!), it did bring home how much TFC contributes to the Duxford experience. The TFC hangar is an ever changing hive of activity, compared with the somewhat "been there, done that" feel of the rest of the place. Not saying I'll ever find Duxford boring, but it would be a great shame if TFC were to leave.

Anyway, here are some pictures:






Bristol Britannia














Boeing B-52 front fuselage










Bristol Britannia nacelle




Victor restoration

[TRIUMPHBULLET]

Nothing wrong with photo's of old aircraft, especially from ww2.
Thankyou for posting them.

[aeropilot]

dr_gn said:

Loads of Spitfires flying; a couple of two seaters (T. IX's) giving rides every hour or so, the NHS Spitfire PRXI, and a Mk1a being put through its paces. It was really being thrown around as well, seemed like a lot more energetic than the average display routine. Later on, a couple of Dakotas turned up, and again they were really being given the beans.

The IWM Mk.1 and the ARC PR.XI were doing display practices, as the 2 x Aero Legends C-47's were there for display authorisation practice as well.

[Trevor555]

Great pics, thanks for sharing.

[dr_gn]

aeropilot said:

dr_gn said:

Loads of Spitfires flying; a couple of two seaters (T. IX's) giving rides every hour or so, the NHS Spitfire PRXI, and a Mk1a being put through its paces. It was really being thrown around as well, seemed like a lot more energetic than the average display routine. Later on, a couple of Dakotas turned up, and again they were really being given the beans.

The IWM Mk.1 and the ARC PR.XI were doing display practices, as the 2 x Aero Legends C-47's were there for display authorisation practice as well.

For the BoB display at Headcorn? I wonder why Duxford's airshow was cancelled least weekend, yet that one seems to be going ahead? I suppose the numbers expected to attend are much lower.

[Simpo Two]

Don't recall seeing a Victor there - is it relatively new?

Somewhere in some dusty archive is a photo of Cadet Simpo in front of a Victor at Marham.

[Eric Mc]

The Victor has been there since the 70s. It's currently undergoing a complete restoration - which is why it's in bare metal.

It's a Mk1 as well.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

The Victor has been there since the 70s. It's currently undergoing a complete restoration - which is why it's in bare metal.

It's a Mk1 as well.

It's the ONLY Mk.1

[dr_gn]

aeropilot said:

Eric Mc said:

The Victor has been there since the 70s. It's currently undergoing a complete restoration - which is why it's in bare metal.

It's a Mk1 as well.

It's the ONLY Mk.1

It’s actually a B (K) 1A, having been re-engined (giving it the A designation) and then converted to a tanker (adding the K) well before it got to Duxford. But whatever.

[Tony1963]

The Victor, a couple of years ago

[Eric Mc]

I think it looks more impressive in its bare metal. I've chatted a couple of times to the guys who are working on it. It is a very long term project.

[Tony1963]

Eric Mc said:

I think it looks more impressive in its bare metal. I've chatted a couple of times to the guys who are working on it. It is a very long term project.

I agree, it does look great in bare metal, but I thought I’d resist posting those photos

And yes, it’s a long term, very expensive project. But once completed, it’ll outlast me.

[aeropilot]

dr_gn said:

aeropilot said:

Eric Mc said:

The Victor has been there since the 70s. It's currently undergoing a complete restoration - which is why it's in bare metal.

It's a Mk1 as well.

It's the ONLY Mk.1

It’s actually a B (K) 1A, having been re-engined (giving it the A designation) and then converted to a tanker (adding the K) well before it got to Duxford. But whatever.

It's actually a B.1A (K.2P)........ But whatever.

[Simpo Two]

Anoraks at dawn chaps.

He who gets the most characters and brackets in, wins

[aeropilot]

Simpo Two said:

Anoraks at dawn chaps.

He who gets the most characters and brackets in, wins

I was content with just pointing out it was the only Mk.1 left..............

[dr_gn]

aeropilot said:

dr_gn said:

aeropilot said:

Eric Mc said:

The Victor has been there since the 70s. It's currently undergoing a complete restoration - which is why it's in bare metal.

It's a Mk1 as well.

It's the ONLY Mk.1

It’s actually a B (K) 1A, having been re-engined (giving it the A designation) and then converted to a tanker (adding the K) well before it got to Duxford. But whatever.

It's actually a B.1A (K.2P)........ But whatever.

Better tell the IWM then (even though the two designations refer to the same specification of aircraft):

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/700...

Still never designated a "Mk.1"

[yellowjack]

Simpo Two said:

Don't recall seeing a Victor there - is it relatively new?

Somewhere in some dusty archive is a photo of Cadet Simpo in front of a Victor at Marham.

I remember when it was just stood outside in 'airliner row'. Which probably contributed significantly to the seemingly never-ending work they need to do now to restore it just for static display. Best thing they ever did, dragging it inside out of the great British weather...

https://rwnash.blog/2013/03/13/iwm-duxfordgate-and...

Edited by yellowjack on Monday 28th September 12:37

[Eric Mc]

Yes - it stood outside for decades. I saw it on my first ever visit to Duxford, which was in 1978.

[Halmyre]

This is how the Victor looked in 2011:



First time I went to Duxford I was in the Fens for a weekend break. I turned up at 10:00 am expecting to spend a couple of hours. At chucking-out time I was still there.

[heisthegaffer]

The Victor looked very tatty and forlorn outside when I was last there but I'm pleased it's being worked on. Beautiful aircraft.