Nostalgic excitement enjoyed by thousands at the weekend at the Flying Legends Air Show

On Saturday, over 15,000 visitors from across the world experienced the nostalgia of the Flying Legends Air Show at IWM Duxford in the airfield’s centenary year.

Across the museum visitors indulged in fun and enthralling activities. The Vintage Village offered a step back in time to the 1940s with musical entertainment from The Manhattan Dolls, direct from New York, and the Umbrella Big Band.

Visitors also met ‘Laurel and Hardy’, enjoyed 1940s hair and make-up transformations and had the opportunity to sit in a replica Spitfire.

In a very special occasion, visitors had the chance to meet Eric Brunotte, a veteran Second World War German veteran fighter pilot who flew over 560 duties on many aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Me-109 and the Focke Wulfe FW 190.

IWM Duxford’s centenary sound sculpture, DX17, was wowing visitors throughout the day. Experiencing this dramatic large-scale sculpture, similar in size to a Spitfire but futuristic and aerodynamic in form, visitors magically transform points of light into sound to hear up to 100 voices, memories and sounds from Duxford’s remarkable 100 year history.

Visitors also met Second World War characters as they explored the museum site, including Ops 39-45, representing Battle of Britain-era RAF pilots and ground crew; the 42nd Field Hospital, portraying US Army medical personnel from the Second World War and the Screaming Eagles living history group representing the 101st US Airborne Division.

The flying programme commenced with a stunning display by nine Supermarine Spitfires. Flying display highlights included:

• A Second World War Navy flying display of Vought F4U Corsair, Grumman F8F Bearcat and North American Fury.
• B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, the only airworthy B-17 in Europe, accompanied by three P-51 Mustangs.
• The glorious Classic Formation trio of Douglas DC-3 Dakota and two Beech 18 aircraft.
• A Battle of Britain scenario featuring three Spitfires, five Hurricanes and the only flying Bristol Blenheim.
• An Air Racing flying display featuring a de Havilland Comet, Percival Mew Gull, Travel Air Type R Mystery Ship and LeVier Cosmic Wind.
• The flying display concluded with the balbo, a massed flypast of many of the historic aircraft that had taken part in the flying display.

Eric Brunotte, SWW veteran German fighter pilot, next to the Hispano Buchon aircraft

Crowds enjoying the Flying Legends Air Show