Deck's trip to Duxford...
Oh my god!
It was awesome. Firts they ran up a late model Spit, it had a five bladed prop so a MkX or above? That was cool, then they started up a P-51, taxied around for a bit, then when I was looking at two Yak3s (both in the early stages of complete rebuild) I heard a boody HUUUUUGE roar.
They were only running up ALL FOUR engines on the B17! WHat a stunning sight... this huge plane coughing black smoke as the engines stuttered until they caught properly then watching the whole airframe judder as the engine catches a roars into life... bloody brilliant.
Just when I was thinking that it couldn't get better on a non-flying day... another cough and a aroar and there's a Hurricane MkII running up his engine. So I stroll up for a look and he starts taxiing, I get a bit excited... then he closses the cockpit cover and I get very excited... then he turns into wind, opens the throttles to the stops and roars off down the runway!
Huge cloud of dust behind him envelopes a PA-28 waiting to take off, and he's climbing full chat... awesome, utterly awesome!
To top this the top guy then has a little fly around the aerodrome, does a fantastic fly by TWICE showing off the top and bottom of the plane in a fairly high bank, then a low pass with his under carriage down. He then flies way off and I think its over, but I keep an eye out.
Good thing too as he's gone off to gain height and speed and comes back in full chat and does a superb victory roll right over the tower. One more circuit and he's back on the ground. Obviously he was having a practice for the weekend.
TOTALLY BLOODY BRILLIANT!
And speaking of the weekend, I spoke to a couple of chaps about the flying on Sunday. The Red Arrows are there at 12pm, then there's a break of about 45 mins before the other types go up. They've even got an SA Airlines 747 doing a landing approach! Deffo one to have the earmuffs on for, especially when he puts the power back on for the climbout.
For those of you that have never been to Duxford, the barriers are about 200 yards from the runway... PLENTY close enough!
