When planning for our overseas holiday, which would be in the latter part of 2018, my wife discovered that we'd be in England in the week prior to the 'Battle of Britain', Duxford Air Show and asked me if it was something that I'd really like to attend? Without hesitation I said, 'YES', whereupon she duly purchased our two, two-day tickets and we were locked in.
As the weekend would be very busy, we decided to visit the Museum on the Thursday prior to the Air Show and during a lunch break got talking to one of the local amateur photographers, who advised us to come back on the Friday - 'practice day' - which we subsequently did and which proved to be a very rewarding experience.
On the Saturday we arose early and boarded the Shuttle Bus in Cambridge for the short journey to Duxford. Once the gates were opened I took the opportunity to do the 'flight-line walk', which was worth every penny of the 5 pound fee, browse the souvenir stands and indulge myself in a 20 minute joy ride of the local area, in a De Havilland Dragon Rapide.
However, as the day progressed into late morning the fickle English weather had its own ideas and the heavens opened up with a light drizzling rain, which became progressively worse with every passing hour. After enduring this for several hours and being cold and wet, as well as not being able to get near the fence line, I eventually called it quits by mid-afternoon and caught the shuttle bus back to Cambridge and our warm dry hotel.
Unfortunately, as the weather was unlikely to improve until late Sunday afternoon the decision was made to forfeit our second day tickets and to confine ourselves to some indoor attractions of the local area. Despite this I would definitely recommend a visit to Duxford, which is just amazing, and attendance at one of their Air Show's, which is a must for any aviation enthusiast.
As the weekend would be very busy, we decided to visit the Museum on the Thursday prior to the Air Show and during a lunch break got talking to one of the local amateur photographers, who advised us to come back on the Friday - 'practice day' - which we subsequently did and which proved to be a very rewarding experience.
On the Saturday we arose early and boarded the Shuttle Bus in Cambridge for the short journey to Duxford. Once the gates were opened I took the opportunity to do the 'flight-line walk', which was worth every penny of the 5 pound fee, browse the souvenir stands and indulge myself in a 20 minute joy ride of the local area, in a De Havilland Dragon Rapide.
However, as the day progressed into late morning the fickle English weather had its own ideas and the heavens opened up with a light drizzling rain, which became progressively worse with every passing hour. After enduring this for several hours and being cold and wet, as well as not being able to get near the fence line, I eventually called it quits by mid-afternoon and caught the shuttle bus back to Cambridge and our warm dry hotel.
Unfortunately, as the weather was unlikely to improve until late Sunday afternoon the decision was made to forfeit our second day tickets and to confine ourselves to some indoor attractions of the local area. Despite this I would definitely recommend a visit to Duxford, which is just amazing, and attendance at one of their Air Show's, which is a must for any aviation enthusiast.
