Sunday, August 18, 2013

IWM Duxford

On my way to KatFest, I took the family to the International War Museum at Duxford. We had taken mou youngest there when she was 10 days old (as part of a UK Empeg meet) but no-one had really had a chance to look around.

This time we spent nearly 6 hours there, and could still have spent more time (tip - start at the furthest hangar, the one with tanks, the Somme and the Land Warfare exhibits, and work back down - that way you won't queue to see anything, even at busy times) Getting there around 9:30 for an opening time of 10am helped as well.

Of particular interest to me are the hangars with the Navy exhibits (as my father and brother both served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm) and the USAF hangar (as it has the Lokheed SR-71 Blackbird)

We saw a Spitfire being wheeled out of the 'flying aircraft' hangar so thought we'd see one of them flying around, but it was just to let out another aircraft. There were biplanes and world war two aircraft flying all day.

Anyway - a few pictures of my favourites:

The Blackburn Buccaneer


The SR-71 Blackbird from a couple of angles


Some suspended aircraft - can you identify all 9 in this picture?

De Havilland Sea Vixen

 One of 4 Spitfires at Duxford

De Havilland Twin Otter belonging to BAS, and stationed at Duxford when in the UK

The De Havilland Dragon Rapide - would have been nice to go for a flight

A Panavia Tornado

An Avro CF 100 MK4 Canuck of the Royal Canadian Air Force 

Hawker Siddeley Harrier

A De Havilland DH9 bomber in beautiful condition

My middle daughter took photos of every jet engine she could find - think she plans an art project

An F16 undergoing extensive work

Some instantly recognisable jets in a famous wing