Aeroplanes
We will have some amazing air displays over the Heroes weekend including:
The Tiger Nine Formation Team
The Tiger Nine formation team was formed in the summer of 2005 in response to the request for a flypast of nine Tiger Moths at the 25th de Havilland Moth Club rally at Woburn Abbey.
The Tiger Moth is rarely the first choice of machine for a formation display, with its sluggish aileron control, low power, poor visibility, lack of brakes and no electric starter, it requires a mature discipline to minimise the risks involved with operating a large group of Tiger Moths simultaneously. There is, however, something very British about doing it the hard way for the sake of it, and having risen to the occasion the newly formed group had a thirst for more. When questioned why they do it, there were a number of different responses all along the line of it being real flying, fun and flying with a group of people where there is great camaraderie.
The simple flypast evolved into the current display, which has been designed to keep the crowd entertained throughout the display. This is the only display in the world to have 9 Tiger Moths in close formation.
For more information visit http://tiger-9.co.uk/
The Flying Fortress B-17
B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF Sally B is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe. She is based in the UK from where she flies regularly at air shows, memorial flypasts and commemorative events as a memorial to the USAAF in Europe. Since 1982, Sally B has been operated by Elly Sallingboe of B-17 Preservation with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers and the backing of one of the largest supporters clubs of its kind in the world – the Sally B Supporters Club. Sally B is maintained by Chief Engineer Peter Brown and his team of volunteers, and flown by volunteer experienced professional pilots.
Sally B is permanently based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford where she is on static display when not flying. Bearing this in mind, it is incredible to think that this aircraft has now been flying in the UK for 42 years.
For more information visit: http://www.sallyb.org.uk/
The Great War Display Team
The Team started out in 1988 and was originally called The Wombats. Obviously this means that not only will 2018 be the centenary of the end of the Great War but it will also be the 30th anniversary of the Team’s formation. The Team currently has 5 different types of aircraft available to fly, with 9 aircraft in total. For a large show with a long crowd line the full Team, with all 9 aircraft dog-fighting together, presents a spectacle which can be seen nowhere else. As well as the years of experience which the team has accrued, this year’s influx of new aircraft and pilots will bring new blood and fresh ideas which can only result in an even better display.
For more information visit: http://www.greatwardisplayteam.com/