Cranfield Festival of Flight, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
17 September 2016
Now known as Cranfield University, The College of Aeronautics was founded 70 years ago and on Saturday 17 September 2016 an open day was held to celebrate this historic event. With the weather in the week leading up to the day enjoying bright sunshine and an unusual heatwave for the time of year was it going to be too much to ask for it to hold out until the Saturday?? Sadly the weather turned and we were treated to a rather cool and very overcast day, however in true British fashion it didn't stop the spectators arriving!
Guest were treated to some rather unusual exhibits in the static line up, one of the highlights for the spotters among us was the Cranfield A1 Eagle, a single seat aerobatic aircraft that was designed at Cranfield in 1968, having been completed by 1976 it remains the only example of this unique aircraft in the world. The author was told that it hadn't flown since 2000 and it is now used for training by the students at the university. Recently it has had a new tail fin, fuel tanks in the wings and an extra seat. Maybe one day we will see the Eagle in flight again?
Other static aircraft included a former Ghana Air Force S.A. Bulldog, now in the Cranfield colours and registered G-BCUO it is still airworthy and flies regularly. Russell Carpenter was around with his team who look after E.E. Lighting T.5 (XS458) and was full of enthusiasm as always. XS458 is now used by the museum for training too but it is maintained in a live condition and is regularly to be seen performing fast taxi runs down the runway, it is the only live T.5 in the world. The former British Airways B737 (G-DOCB) was parked on the disused runway 08/26 and despite steps outside it was not open for the public to have a look at inside. 'CB was delivered to Cranfield University in October 2014 and now performs essential research and training for university students.
As the day drew on it was clear the weather was not going to improve and inevitably a number of the aircraft due to display cancelled due to weather en-route to Cranfield or bad weather preventing them from departing their home airfield. After a delayed start, the first aircraft (and a half) took to the air in the shape of Little and Large! Chris Burkett piloting his Extra 300 and Mike Williams with his feet on the ground flying a 41% scale model of the Extra 300. For those that have not seen this display, it really is one of the highlights of the airshow season, precision aerobatics in formation with a real aircraft and a model - you have to see it to truly understand how impressive this is, especially in the challenging conditions at this show.
Next up was John Romain with the Bristol Blenheim I (G-BPIV / L6739), it was originally built under licence in Canada as a Bristol Bolingbroke IV. The aircraft suffered a landing accident in August 2003. Since then a slow restoration took place and the Blenheim was been rebuilt with a Mk.1 nose. The Mk.1 nose was found in use rather unusually as a car! Since the post rebuild flight in November 2014 John has been displaying the Blenheim up and down the country, not only has the aircraft got an interesting history it is the only airworthy example in the world and it also represents one of the types that was based at Cranfield during World War Two.
The last display was by Peter Teichman and his superbly restored North American P-51 Mustang "Tall in the Saddle". Based at North Weald with the Hangar 11 collection of aircraft, this is the first year that his Mustang has been out with the original Tuskagee scheme, it was previously known as "Jumping' Jacques". Peter is very much a crowd pleaser and his display didn't disappoint, he believes that these aircraft should be flown and not left to gather dust in a museum!
Ken Ellis, author of Wrecks & Relics and formerly of Flypast Magazine was the commentator for the day keeping the crowds entertained with anecdotes and stories. On the ground there were fairground rides, an activities tent and a selection of new Nissan cars. Despite the weather the day was a very enjoyable day with a very nice atmosphere. I hope Cranfield University will hold another event in the future.
Guest were treated to some rather unusual exhibits in the static line up, one of the highlights for the spotters among us was the Cranfield A1 Eagle, a single seat aerobatic aircraft that was designed at Cranfield in 1968, having been completed by 1976 it remains the only example of this unique aircraft in the world. The author was told that it hadn't flown since 2000 and it is now used for training by the students at the university. Recently it has had a new tail fin, fuel tanks in the wings and an extra seat. Maybe one day we will see the Eagle in flight again?
Other static aircraft included a former Ghana Air Force S.A. Bulldog, now in the Cranfield colours and registered G-BCUO it is still airworthy and flies regularly. Russell Carpenter was around with his team who look after E.E. Lighting T.5 (XS458) and was full of enthusiasm as always. XS458 is now used by the museum for training too but it is maintained in a live condition and is regularly to be seen performing fast taxi runs down the runway, it is the only live T.5 in the world. The former British Airways B737 (G-DOCB) was parked on the disused runway 08/26 and despite steps outside it was not open for the public to have a look at inside. 'CB was delivered to Cranfield University in October 2014 and now performs essential research and training for university students.
As the day drew on it was clear the weather was not going to improve and inevitably a number of the aircraft due to display cancelled due to weather en-route to Cranfield or bad weather preventing them from departing their home airfield. After a delayed start, the first aircraft (and a half) took to the air in the shape of Little and Large! Chris Burkett piloting his Extra 300 and Mike Williams with his feet on the ground flying a 41% scale model of the Extra 300. For those that have not seen this display, it really is one of the highlights of the airshow season, precision aerobatics in formation with a real aircraft and a model - you have to see it to truly understand how impressive this is, especially in the challenging conditions at this show.
Next up was John Romain with the Bristol Blenheim I (G-BPIV / L6739), it was originally built under licence in Canada as a Bristol Bolingbroke IV. The aircraft suffered a landing accident in August 2003. Since then a slow restoration took place and the Blenheim was been rebuilt with a Mk.1 nose. The Mk.1 nose was found in use rather unusually as a car! Since the post rebuild flight in November 2014 John has been displaying the Blenheim up and down the country, not only has the aircraft got an interesting history it is the only airworthy example in the world and it also represents one of the types that was based at Cranfield during World War Two.
The last display was by Peter Teichman and his superbly restored North American P-51 Mustang "Tall in the Saddle". Based at North Weald with the Hangar 11 collection of aircraft, this is the first year that his Mustang has been out with the original Tuskagee scheme, it was previously known as "Jumping' Jacques". Peter is very much a crowd pleaser and his display didn't disappoint, he believes that these aircraft should be flown and not left to gather dust in a museum!
Ken Ellis, author of Wrecks & Relics and formerly of Flypast Magazine was the commentator for the day keeping the crowds entertained with anecdotes and stories. On the ground there were fairground rides, an activities tent and a selection of new Nissan cars. Despite the weather the day was a very enjoyable day with a very nice atmosphere. I hope Cranfield University will hold another event in the future.
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Type
Beagle B-121 Pup Series 1
Boeing 737-436 Bristol 149 Bolingbroke MK.1 British Aerospace Avro 146-RJ85 British Aerospace BAe-3102 Jetstream 31 British Aerospace BAe-3201 Jetstream 32EP British Aerospace BAe.146-300 British Aerospace BAe.146-301 British Aerospace Jetstream 31 Cessna 152 Cessna 340 Cessna A152 Aerobat CFM Shadow Series CD Cranfield A.1 Electroflight P1e English Electric Lightning T.5 Extra EA-300S Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah Handley Page HP-137 Jetstream 200 Hawker Siddeley HS.125 Series 3B/RA North American P-51D Mustang Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk Reims F150G Reims F150J Reims F406 Caravan II Reims FA152 Aerobat Schweizer 269C-1 Scottish Aviation Bulldog Series 120 Model 122 Slingsby T-67B Firefly Slingsby T-67M-260 Firefly Thorp T-211 Thorpedo |
Reg
G-AXIA
G-DOCB G-BPIV / L6739 G-CHDT G-NFLA SP-KWN 9G-SBC G-LUXE ES-PJA G-BOZR N340SC G-BOYB G-MTHT G-COAI n/a XS458 G-EXIL G-BFZO G-RAVL G-OHEA G-SIJJ / 44-72035 G-RIZZ G-BMUT G-BKAS G-AVGU G-BFSR G-MAFA G-BLAC G-DCBI G-BCUO G-BLLS G-BWXT G-TZII |
Con No
B121-078
25304 10201 E.2292 637 856 E3183 E3001 749 152-84614 340-0363 A152-0928 58 1 n/a 95018 1036 AA5A-0697 208 25144 122-31894 28-7816494 34-7570320 38-79A1075 199 504 F406-0036 370 295 BH.120/371 2013 2254 PFA 305-13285 |
Owner / Operator
Cranfield University
Cranfield University Blenheim (Duxford) Limited Private Cranfield University Private Starbow Airlines Private Avies Private Private Private Private Cranfield University Private Private Private Private Cranfield University Private Hangar 11 Collection Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Cranfield University Private |