Blenheim engine run

Slightly higher quality version of the engine run today… And true to form, once I'd returned north side, she went out for a trundle up and down the taxiway!

Duxford :: 19.XI.14 :: Rolled out for lunch

Hangar additions...

With Christmas fast approaching I was asked the question I dread, "What do you want for Christmas?".  Not needing two front teeth yet, I racked the old grey matter and after some pondering hit upon the idea of adding to the Mustang III I got earlier in the year. 

So back onto the pooter and after some thought I opted for two more HobbyMaster products. The Spitfire is a MkIXb, MK320 VL-F, of RAF No 322 (Dutch) Squadron (a squadron that John Niven flew with in his wartime career) and the P-51D Mustang “Petie 2nd” was the mount of John C Meyer, C.O 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group and a 24 victory US 8th Air Force ‘Ace’ (a USAF pilot friend spent a lot of his time flying in the 325nd SOG/7th SOS and they had a close affinity with the Blue Nosed Bastards Of Bodney).

So, all I need now is a "Terence Tug" to drag them out, when I need to sweep the hangar floor...

Duxford :: 9.XI.14 :: Remembrance Sunday

Part of the short display from Spitfire Mk IX TD314 for the many visitors at DX today…

Brokeback Mustang…

Several visitors were overheard asking why on earth are they going to sling it from the ceiling…

I nearly replied "Cos it Must 'ang"...

From the poppy fields of Flanders to Afghanistan...

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Duxford :: 5.XI.14 :: get those slings ready...

Duxford :: 1.XI.14 :: "Etta Jeanne II"...

With the unveiling last Thursday of the former Lambeth Road P-51D, "Big Beautiful Doll", in it's new scheme as P-51K 44-11631 (as flown from Duxford by the 82nd FG, 78th FG in 1944-45), it now carries the name "Etta Jeanne II", which was the mount of Lt Col Huie Lamb of the 82nd FS. Lamb, an Ace with 61 missions, was the guest of honour at the unveiling.

Now rolled back into H5, and awaiting preparation for stringing up from the inside of the AAM, I popped down to catch it in some form of normal setting before it was too late!  

Seems that the paint finish meets with the approval of a lot of people….

"Photo-report" of the event and photos of the aircraft outside can be found here…

And how it may look soon?….

Nice to see the recently repainted B-17 "Mary Alice" looking like it never had a respray…

…How long has it been back in AAM?