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Duxford's Jubilee Airshow 2012

On a gloriously hot and sunny Sunday over 17,000 people attended The Jubilee Air Show at IWM Duxford.

With her Majesty The Queen celebrating 60 years on the throne this year several of today's display items included a royal connection, from the beautifully restored Chipmunk aircraft that Prince Charles learnt to fly in to the current type that Prince William flies as a search and rescue pilot the Sea King.

IWM Duxford once again proved they can attract a wide variety of aircraft types of all ages and put together a well thought out and polished airshow for the crowds to enjoy.

So on with the photographs of the aircraft both display items and those on static display along the flight lines.....

RAF 6 Sqn Typhoon FGR.4

Opening the Jubilee show with a lot of style, power and noise was the Royal Air Forces Typhoon Display, newly restored to the airshow calendar for 2012. This years display pilot is Squadron Leader Scott Loughran from 6 Sqn based at RAF Leuchars, Scotland.

The aircraft was operating from Southend Airport for the weekend displaying both days at Southend Air Festival and also on the Sunday here at Duxford.

The display showed off the aircraft well however I felt the display was shorter than previous years and lacked the high speed passes I seem to remember.

B-17 'Sally B' & The Harvard Duo

Duxford is not Duxford for me unless 'Sally B' takes to the skies, today flown by Peter Kuypers and his crew.

Taking to the skies next where a pair of Harvard aircraft operated by The Fighter Collection & Aircraft Restoration Company both of which are based at Duxford. The royal connection here was that Prince Philip once flew Harvards.

815 Naval Air Squadron Lynx Mk.8 & Batlle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)

I was at Duxford in an official capacity as well as simply reporting on the air show and its displays.

Following on from the success of supporting the Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team "The Black Cats" This year Macks Aviation Photography has been invited by 815 Naval Air Squadron to provide photographic services at several events in order that the squadron can provide its own publicity material for the general public.

So watch this space and grab yourself some stunning handouts at future events that 815 Naval Air Squadron display at.

Due to these official duties only a couple of images are displayed here of both the Lynx and BBMF and unfortunately none of the Grob Tutor as a rapid redeployment within the airfield was required between these displays.

Hawker Hinds & Hurricane

The chance to get up close and personal with the two Hawker Hinds and Hurricane in the morning Flight Line walk enabled me to capture these images showing some great detail of these beautiful machines.

RAF 45(R) Sqn King Air

The RAF support for the Jubilee show continued with the display of the King Air flown by Flight Lieutenant Ian Birchall as aircraft Captain and Flight Lieutenant Marcus Eyers as co-pilot.

The Beechcraft King Air is a twin-engine turboprop which entered RAF service in 2004. The fleet comprises seven King Air B200s and three B200GTs, the latter type featuring a fully electronic 'glass cockpit'. The King Air is used as a multi-engine advanced pilot trainer by 45(Reserve) Squadron, which is part of 3 Flying Training School based at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

Shorts Tucano from CFS Flight

The Shorts Tucano from CFS Flight, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, performed a stunning display in its new 2012 Diamond Jubilee red, white and blue colour scheme, which looked glorious against the pure blue skies over IWM Duxford. The Shorts Tucano is an aircraft type that has been flown by Prince William.

This years display pilot is Flight Lieutenant Jon Bond "Bondy", 27, who grew up in Epping, Essex

F-16 from 360 Squadron Florennes, Belgian Air Force

Some more frontline noise and power was bought to Duxford in the form of this years Belgian Air Force Display F-16. Always welcome at any airshow the Belgian F-16 this year has a new colour scheme and once again popped flares during the display and against the pure blue skies made for some impressive action

The aircraft was operating out of RAF Mildenhall this year and Kennet Aviation once again provided the air and ground crew transpotation between Mildenhall and Duxford in the wonderful Wasp HAS1 helicopter

Red Bull Matadors flying the Sbach 300

This pair of pilots Steve Jones and Paul Bonhomme use all of this aircraft's manoeuvrability and speed to great effect and once again the clear blue skies enabled the crowds to appreciate the awesome capabilities of these tiny machines

Sea King HAR10 from B Flight, RAF Wattisham

The Westland Sea King from B Flight, 22 Squadron, Wattisham Airfield performed a search and rescue demonstration.

The Sea King is the type of aircraft that has been flown by Prince Andrew and that Prince William is currently flying as a fully-operational Search and Rescue co-pilot with 22 Squadron, RAF Valley, Anglesey.

During the day this aircraft was on standby for any operational callouts in its area of operations and could have been called away from the display at a moments notice

Gloster Meteor T7

I make no apology for the quantity of shots of this beautiful aircraft.

Since it first flew last year after a very long restoration project I feel this is now the best historic jet aircraft that graces the skies at airshows in the UK.

The people at Air Atlantique Classic Aircraft Trust have done a wonderful job and knowing this is the oldest jet aircraft currently flying in the world makes it even more special.

What better way to display this aircraft than in beautiful clear blue skies, the high speed passes with plenty of bank show the aircraft in a fantastic way and more display pilots should take note !

de Havilland & Avro & Bucker Jungmeister

Carte Douche

The Other

Thanks for taking the time to view the images and read my ramblings.