AB910 - finishing line approaches...

BBMF have revealed their Mk VB Spitfire AB910 undergoing it's first engine run since undergoing it's major service which has been ongoing for the last couple of years now.

Image BBMF Facebook Page

AB910 has been repainted to represent the aircraft of F/Lt Tony Cooper of 64 Squadron and named "Peter John I" after Tony's son.

Regular readers may recall I had the pleasure of meeting Tony in Nov 2013. Tony allowed me to look at his Log Books, and as previously mentioned I happened on a photograph of F/Lt Cooper, sat in front of a Spitfire, with several other pilots at 53 OTU Kirton-in-Lindsay in February 1945.
Under the photo were the names of the other pilots and sat next to Tony was a S/Ldr Niven (OC) - turned out to be John Niven DFC*, the father of a close family friend.
John Niven also flew AB910 briefly - from his logbooks -

(Feb 19 1945 Spitfire VB AB910 Weather Test (15 mins) Operating from Hibaldstow)

He also flew ML407 -

(Aug 3 1944 Spitfire IXB ML407 Target Support Cover - 20000' Lille Ostend area covering 300 Halifaxes on Noball at Foret Le Nieppe. Very hazy. Bad for strafing. Little flak from St.Omer & Hesdin.).

"Tony Cooper's 99th birthday is imminent and we can't wait to get him to Duxford to see her!" 

I'm sure he will be impressed with the result!

"Fourth Horseman" has arriveth...

The final addition to the 'hangar' arrived today. Always loved the look of the 190 and thought it would round off the collection nicely…

Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8 Hans Dortenmann Luftwaffe fighter ace

After pilot training Hans Dortenmann was assigned to 2./JG 54 on the Eastern Front where he gained his first victory on February 6, 1944 by ramming an La-5 fighter and belly landed. On June 10, 1944 2./JG 54 was relocated to the Western Front. On June 20, 1944 Dortenmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 54 and on June 26, 1944 his "Red 1" was shot down over Paris and he bailed out. After 150 missions Dortenmann had 16 victories over the Eastern Front and 22 over the Western Front.

Duxford :: 24.I.15 :: Quiet Saturday...

Some shots from a 'weekend' visit today…

A new arrival down in Area 51...

Concorde Cockpit...

Slightly different angle on the TSR2...

Avro York "office"...

Comet cockpit...

Rumour Control, Over….

…rumour is that a P-51 may be added to the options for warbird experience flights.

Duxford :: 21.I.15 :: 1-11

Popped over the road to have a quick wander before heading home - looking better than it did in 2014, the BAC 1-11 is back out on the 'line' with the other airliners.

Chocks away….

…hopefully in June!

Booked a Spitfire flight with Classic Wings at Duxford.

Tally Ho!

On a plinth….

…not suspended from the ceiling...

HobbyMaster 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang “Petie 2nd” mount of John C Meyer,
C.O 487th Fighter Squadron,  352nd Fighter Group and a 24 victory US 8th Air Force ‘Ace’

Duxford :: 2.I.15 :: Hangaramas or Hangoramas?

First visit of 2015. Site quite busy with visitors, with a couple of GA movements but nothing historic, so took a few views with the iPhone 6 using the pano setting…

A trio of "T-tails"?...

Then a wander up to the LWH…

...and back to AAM to take a couple of interior shots lit by the floodlights…