My first visit since September 1985. My brother and I finally set a date for a long-promised day out with no Wives or Children! Back in the 80's summers were always warm but yesterday was just cold and damp. They had an airshow over the weekend so I was hopeful that a few visiting warbirds might still be around. In the event only a P38 Lightning moved while we waited and you can see the crosswind in the zoomed crop I've included.

The indoor exhibits were fantastic with aircraft from the dawn of flight through to modern times and plenty of tanks and artillery too. The airfield itself is largely untouched since the USAF and RAF left apart from a few modern buildings housing the exhibits.

I've not included any pics from the tank display - it was just too dark. Some of you may be aware of the accident at Duxford today - We saw the trucks arriving with the F1 car etc yesterday.

Anyway, I hope these shots give a flavour of the place. Virtual beers to anyone who can name the more obscure aircraft.

Very nice . Was there last year and your images reminds me at the great days i had in GB and the Flying Legends event.

Hi Rends, I remember your trip last year. Much better weather in your pics! Still took us nearly 5 hours to see all the indoor stuff.

Fantastic pics Vitesse. Thanks for sharing.

Very good selection. Always some rewarding photographic opportunities at Duxford.

The last time I saw the Gladiator was in 2006 when she was without covering.

Great pictures thanks for sharing. Its a shame you didnt get down for the flying legends airshow. Its the best in the country IMO and fromwhat ive seen this year was as special as normal.

Its such a shame about the accident today. I was really shocked as a straight line aero run that normally is done at duxford tends to be the safer test. Thoughts are with Maria de Villota, hope she pulls through ok.

Heres the F1 crash story from today;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18685789

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the restorations. They have a Spanish He111 and a jungle fresh Zero waiting for attention, too, but I wouldn't hold your breath!

Getting to Flying Legends would have been the best plan - there were a couple of Canadian guys in the queue behind us who'd made a long weekend and were doing the museum.

Maria de Villota was doing better according to the last report I heard. Straight line runs along the runway would have been interesting in the wet conditions, I think.


Cheers!

Great pics! Thanks

Cheers

Did you notice how the Beaufighter restoration there was progressing Vitesse?
Museums I have enjoyed down your way:
Cobbaton Tank Museum (if you can find it!); when I went a number of years ago, vehicles were just chucked in a couple of Nissen huts in a jumble, my eldest son who was 4 at the time arrived back at our hotel covered from head to foot in black grease and oil!

The Bakelite Museum; a great example of English collecting eccentricty, and a suprisingly enjoyable and interesting few hours.

Well from what I've seen online, the Beaufighter hasn't made much visible progress over the last few years. Still has no engines and some of the fittings such as light lenses look to be temporarily fixed.

The Blenheim looked ready for paint, although it didn't have it's engines fitted either.

I read elsewhere (in an old thread) that there were problems finding the correct Beaufighter engines.


I've visited Cobbaton too. As I recall we nearly had a map-reading domestic on the way there! I remember it as crammed full of military equipment. I can understand your lad getting covered in oil. Great place. I got the impression it funded the owner's hobby of driving green vehicles to military shows.