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You can still get some good shots on ordinary digital SR , just blow them up a bit on your computer, there wont be as much clarity, but still good souvenires

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Anybody been to Duxford air show before? Me and hubby are going on 6th september on a skills coach trip and staying overnight in a hotel and calling in at some museum or other on the way home on sunday. we are going with 2 friends of ours from arnold. x

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Been a couple of times luv - a great day out!!

Don't forget to visit the American museum and take a close up look at the piece of 'Gun' that was siezed by Customs before it was deliverd to Saddam.

Here's a picture of yours truely just before I flew this little 2 seat beauty.

Duxford.jpg

Did you know that the scenes from the Battle of Britain were shot over Duxford? The Red Baron v ??.

Apparently, it was the only place they could find that did not have ground based items (telegraph poles, modern day phone boxes etc.) that would spoil the ariel shots.

Enjoy your day out - and don't forget to sign your name in Morse Code :biggrin:

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Bloody hell . it's Biggles

Your trip will possibly include a visit to the American Museum or the American war graves, all nearby . There is also the Shuttleworth collection (Aircraft again) at Old Warden , (Not a million miles away either.) They have flying days there too.

Also did you know that in "The Battle Of Britain" they actually blew up an old Aircraft hanger as part of the film!! Also they only had 9 Spitfires in total ranging from the Mark 2 (Too early) to the Mark 19 (Too late)!!! The Mark 19s were kept in the back ground!

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Don't forget to visit the American museum and take a close up look at the piece of 'Gun' that was siezed by Customs before it was deliverd to Saddam.

...that was made in Sheffield! We actually got called about that by the Tax specialists for the manufacturer. They wanted an engineer to look at it and tell if it really was a gun or not! Turns out, the IRS beat us to it and decided it was not!

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Bloody hell . it's Biggles

Your trip will possibly include a visit to the American Museum or the American war graves, all nearby . There is also the Shuttleworth collection (Aircraft again) at Old Warden , (Not a million miles away either.) They have flying days there too.

Also did you know that in "The Battle Of Britain" they actually blew up an old Aircraft hanger as part of the film!! Also they only had 9 Spitfires in total ranging from the Mark 2 (Too early) to the Mark 19 (Too late)!!! The Mark 19s were kept in the back ground!

Not so, I'm afraid.

26 real spitfires were used in the film, 12 flying, 7 taxying, 7 static plus full scale models that were blown up.

Most of the spitfires in the actual Battle were Mk1's. One Mk1a was used in the film, though in real life it never flew in the actual battle. The Mk2 now flown by the BBMF flight took part in film and battle, it still has it's battle damage to prove it.

3 Hurricanes flew in the film, I'm not sure how many were used for statics/taxying, not many, I think they were mainly models.

The German aircraft were all licenced built Spanish versions of the original German types, made by a company called CASA and featuring Rolls Royce engines.

Ju 52 x 3, He111 x 32, Bf109 x 17.

DX was used for filming due to not only it's relatively untouched wartime appearance, but it was closing down, it was also not far from London and the film studios.

The problem they had was the fact that the A505, Royston Road runs through the middle of it, how they avoided white van man during filming is beyond me, though you can see him at the end of 'A Piece of Cake'.

DX Museum today has more flying spitfires than any other place in the world, most of which took part in the film. There are also 2 Spanish Bf109's used in the film, one flies, the other has just arrived from the USA and is being reassembled to fly shortly. There is also a Spanish He111 that was used in the film.

There is also an original Bf109 that was shot down over Kent and has survived in it's more or less original state.

If you want to know more let me know.

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The director and producers must be mistaken then

Because the information I recieved was from them !! (In their comentary on the DVD of the film)

And here is the "Star of the show"

Iansbigdayout086.jpg

And at the time of filming ,the Spanish airforce were still actually flying the German aircraft!!

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The director and producers must be mistaken then

Because the information I recieved was from them !! (In their comentary on the DVD of the film)

And here is the "Star of the show"

Iansbigdayout086.jpg

And at the time of filming ,the Spanish airforce were still actually flying the German aircraft!!

My information is from someone I'm in contact with, Peter Arnold, the worlds foremost authority on Spitfires, he actually has a list of the registration numbers of every aircraft that took part in the film.

While the Spanish 'Heinkels' were still in use as bomber trainers, well some of them, the '109's' were found in a big heap at an airbase in Spain, all 17 used in the film were put together from parts found on the heap.

After filming, a large number were shipped off to the States, including the unique 2 seater Buchon, and there they remain, still in their film colours but rotting away in a hangar.

If you purchase a copy of this months Flypast Magazine, there is an aerial photograph showing 13 Spitfires, 16 Buchons and 2 'Heinkels', formed up on the ramp at DX during the making of the film.

The only Spitfires used for distant shots tended to be the low back MkXIV's, a few were 2 seater Mk IX's which were invaluable for use as camera ships during the action, 2 of these are still based at DX including the one owned and flown by Caroline Grace, the worlds only woman Spitfire pilot.

Comparitively few '109's' remain flying, they are notoriously difficult to land, the fitting of Merlin engines didn't help either, some have been re-engined with original DB engines, but you might be interested to know that more Bf 109's were lost in landing accidents during the war than were shot down in combat.

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Thanx for all your info on air stuff! Not sure which museum we are stopping at on the way home,it will be in the itinery! My friend booked it for us all so she has got the paperwork and tickets from skills. I will enjoy it anyway. I love watching the old planes and hearing the noise of the jets,but i wouldnt like to be up in one! x

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It was one of those weird coincidences that happens to me regarding films and T.V. on a regular basis.

"The Battle of Britain" is still my favourite film ,and , as Rog (Plantfit) will vouch we both know it nearly word for word!! anyway all I had was a tatty copy of it off of the telly ,and I was very lucky to get a copy on DVD at Morrisons for a couple of quid, now for that price you don't expect any extras but it has commentaries by director Guy Hamilton and other crew members (Where I got my info from)

At the same time I purchased copies of "The Longest Day" and "A Bridge Too Far" and blow me if they aren't on the telly over the next three weeks !! WEIRD OR WHAT

Wave to the Lancaster of the BBMF as she goes over and Remember Beefsteak and Plantfit have touched her , eh Rog?

I'll be at Southport on Sunday 7th and we are getting 2 Spits and the Dakota as part of our display (I also touched all the Spits that were in touching distance just so we could say "I've touched that")

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Thanx for all your info on air stuff! Not sure which museum we are stopping at on the way home,it will be in the itinery! My friend booked it for us all so she has got the paperwork and tickets from skills. I will enjoy it anyway. I love watching the old planes and hearing the noise of the jets,but i wouldnt like to be up in one! x

I warn you, lets hope Skills are setting off early as I reckon it will be a massive attendance if the Vulcan is going to be there.

Being small, DX gets very crowded, you will find it a bit of a pain trying to get round the restoration hangars in particular.

My advice is for you to watch the flying from what us regulars call the Tank Bank, thats an elevated area of ground next to the Land Warfare Hall, you not only get good views of landings and take offs, but overflights as well, and tanks doing their stuff.

Good luck, you'll need it.

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Only ever been lucky enough to visit the Museum once ,and that was about 18 years ago , (We were treated to a quick fly by and short display by a Mustang and a P 38 lightning that sadly crashed there a few years ago , not neccessarily the same one)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhbmvEoNMOc

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Ayup Beefsteak and all,

Been over to Coningsby today and saw the Spits and Lanc, memories of a great day out eh Beefsteak?

Chrissy, enjoy the day I know Beefy and myself wish we were going

Rog

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Funny enough , SWMBO and I were looking at a trip to London (to visit her sister) planning to 'Do the sights' SWMBO wants to go to Hampton Court so I said she could take Charlotte there and Adam and I will go to RAF Hendon museum. The return journey would be via the M11 to visit Duxford and then on to Nott'm to see my mum.

School summer holidays next year, any body up for it.??

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Not so enthusiastic about the plane spotting trip beef mate but the offer of a meet up sounds ok that’s if I’m around then.

Bip.

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Plenty of time for all to plan and make notes in diaries etc

Sometime in July / August 2009 then

You don't have to come plane spotting Bip honest

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I have just had a look at the on target aviation forums page and there are some fantastic pictures on there (Thanks Rog)

http://on-target-aviation.com/

You have to join to view but it's well worth it.

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