Flying Legends Duxford 2008

[seesul]

Hello friends,

wanna go there next year and all I know is the date- July 12-13. Sure if my financial situation allows it and if my boss (my wife) lets me go
Does anyone have a link to their websites?

Many thanks in advance

[Thorlifter]

This may be it......

The Fighter Collection -

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Seesul, make it happen, man!

It's an excellent museum - you'll be able to spend all day there and still not see everything, especially if there any Warbirds flying because you'll be able to bath in the sights and sound of Merlins, Hercules, Twin Wasps, Cyclones.........and the English summer (Bring a raincoat!)

You may find this link useful too IWM Duxford - Europe's premier aviation museum

[seesul]

Originally Posted by Downwind.Maddl-Land

Seesul, make it happen, man!

It's an excellent museum - you'll be able to spend all day there and still not see everything, especially if there any Warbirds flying because you'll be able to bath in the sights and sound of Merlins, Hercules, Twin Wasps, Cyclones.........and the English summer (Bring a raincoat!)

You may find this link useful too IWM Duxford - Europe's premier aviation museum

Thank you for the links guys!
Sure, I´d like to make it happen, will do my best.
Downwind, a question - somewhere in England there´s an Military Cemetery Brockwood (or Broockwood) or something like that. A lot of fallen Czech fighter pilots from WW2 rest there. Where is it or how far away perhabs from London?
And question more for all of you- any suggestions for the cheap accomodation like F1 or B&B in the area between London and Duxford?

Btw I used to work for an JCB dealer in our country few years ago so have visited England several times but all I know is Dover, London, Birmingham, Notingham,Derby, Utoxeter and Rochester . And for sure good beer

Many thanks friends

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Seesul - Don't know of it immediately. I'll try my best to find some information for you and send a PM.

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

This is what you may be after, Seesul:

http://www.cwgc.org/admin/files/Broo...20A5%20qxp.pdf

The Czech section of the cemetry is section 28 (see page 7)

"Among the non-Commonwealth sections are the graves of Czechs who
served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve" (see page 9)

Surrey is the (very nice but very expensive "stockbroker belt") county to the south of London, whereas Duxford is in Cambridgeshire to the North East of London. Hope this helps - if you want anything else, just ask and I'll do what I can.

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Seesul, I have a particularly soft spot for you Czechs (and the Poles). My first posting in the RAF was to RAF Northolt, which has a close connection to the Poles. Later in my career I was SATCO at RAF Honington in Suffolk. I think it was in 1993 that Honington hosted a visit by various aircraft of the Czech Air Force. They were from various Units that were en-route to Farnborough or Fairford for the UK’s annual ‘Big Show’ that year. But they called in at Honington because of the connection between RAF Honington and 311 Sqn.

Tornadoes from Honington met your guys at the UK boundary and escorted them to the airfield. Now here’s where the Story starts! Honington is right next to RAF Lakenheath (then F-111s transitioning to F-15Es) and RAF Mildenhall (various ‘Heavy’ types). The ATC controlling authority was my unit, Honington. Therefore, we arranged for an ‘ex-pat’ former Czech aircrew chap who lived locally to be in the Tower to act as ‘listener’ to tell us what was being said between the Czech aircraft, so that we could be aware of any difficulties that might be developing through misunderstandings, or due to emergencies and as general ‘Interpreter’ for us.

We kitted him out with a headset, selected his frequencies etc for him and asked him to listen in while we talked to the Mission Leader, whose English was quite good. All was going well until the formation arrived in the circuit. The first 2 Tornadoes flew the circuit and landed when Our Man said:

“They are saying that the first 2 fly VERY tight circuits and they can’t follow.”

We told him to tell them that it was all OK, we had anticipated that and that we were holding Lakenheath and Mildenhall traffic on the ground until all the Czech aircraft were down. This was transmitted to the aircraft, who sounded really surprised and not a little relived when perfect Czech was spoken to them! However, (there’s always a However!) they then promptly performed the BIGGEST visual circuits you have EVER seen that seemed to take up most of East Anglia! It is enough to say that the USAF Base Commanders at Lakenheath and Mildenhall were NOT AT ALL impressed at being overflown at low level by a bunch of Floggers, Frogfoots, Fitters and a Cub!!!!! One base, in particular had a real Hissy-Fit!

We noticed that Our Man had gone a bit quiet in all the “excitement”, but as he put his headset down and got up from the Control Position we saw he had tears streaming down his face.

“This is a moment that I though that I would never see" he said “Aircraft from my old country landing at their forefathers old Base. Perhaps the Cold War is really over. Thank God.”

It was a very emotional moment.

We then met the crews on the Apron. There was much toasting of each other (in Coca Cola), hand shaking, big silly grins and shoulder slapping; nobody could speak each other’s languages but the body language and goodwill spoke volumes. After a couple of hours they departed for their destination – overflying Mildenhall at about 1500’ on the way, which starting the ‘phones ringing off the wall again….

A good day though.

[seesul]

Originally Posted by Downwind.Maddl-Land

Seesul, I have a particularly soft spot for you Czechs (and the Poles). My first posting in the RAF was to RAF Northolt, which has a close connection to the Poles. Later in my career I was SATCO at RAF Honington in Suffolk. I think it was in 1993 that Honington hosted a visit by various aircraft of the Czech Air Force. They were from various Units that were en-route to Farnborough or Fairford for the UK’s annual ‘Big Show’ that year. But they called in at Honington because of the connection between RAF Honington and 311 Sqn.

Tornadoes from Honington met your guys at the UK boundary and escorted them to the airfield. Now here’s where the Story starts! Honington is right next to RAF Lakenheath (then F-111s transitioning to F-15Es) and RAF Mildenhall (various ‘Heavy’ types). The ATC controlling authority was my unit, Honington. Therefore, we arranged for an ‘ex-pat’ former Czech aircrew chap who lived locally to be in the Tower to act as ‘listener’ to tell us what was being said between the Czech aircraft, so that we could be aware of any difficulties that might be developing through misunderstandings, or due to emergencies and as general ‘Interpreter’ for us.

We kitted him out with a headset, selected his frequencies etc for him and asked him to listen in while we talked to the Mission Leader, whose English was quite good. All was going well until the formation arrived in the circuit. The first 2 Tornadoes flew the circuit and landed when Our Man said:

“They are saying that the first 2 fly VERY tight circuits and they can’t follow.”

We told him to tell them that it was all OK, we had anticipated that and that we were holding Lakenheath and Mildenhall traffic on the ground until all the Czech aircraft were down. This was transmitted to the aircraft, who sounded really surprised and not a little relived when perfect Czech was spoken to them! However, (there’s always a However!) they then promptly performed the BIGGEST visual circuits you have EVER seen that seemed to take up most of East Anglia! It is enough to say that the USAF Base Commanders at Lakenheath and Mildenhall were NOT AT ALL impressed at being overflown at low level by a bunch of Floggers, Frogfoots, Fitters and a Cub!!!!! One base, in particular had a real Hissy-Fit!

We noticed that Our Man had gone a bit quiet in all the “excitement”, but as he put his headset down and got up from the Control Position we saw he had tears streaming down his face.

“This is a moment that I though that I would never see" he said “Aircraft from my old country landing at their forefathers old Base. Perhaps the Cold War is really over. Thank God.”

It was a very emotional moment.

We then met the crews on the Apron. There was much toasting of each other (in Coca Cola), hand shaking, big silly grins and shoulder slapping; nobody could speak each other’s languages but the body language and goodwill spoke volumes. After a couple of hours they departed for their destination – overflying Mildenhall at about 1500’ on the way, which starting the ‘phones ringing off the wall again….

A good day though.

Thank you downwind for the link and story! I´ll also appreciate each kind of the information about possible accomodation in mentioned area.
Btw, one of the heroes od ''Batle of Britain'', Josef Stehlik, used to live in the town of Slavicin, town where I was born and grew up. Unfortunately he passed away too soon in 1990, a few months after the velvet revolution...He served in 312.Sqdn. More at http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/sto...rces-1603.html (S/Ldr Josef Stehlík - In Four Airforces)

[seesul]

hello guys, especially from behind the channel, does anyone of you any suggestions regarding the accomodation in the area between London and Duxford?

[Erich]

Roman just wrote a couple of friends and hopeful to hear back soon for you and the Famile/friends

[seesul]

Originally Posted by Erich

Roman just wrote a couple of friends and hopeful to hear back soon for you and the Famile/friends

THX Erich- the cheaper, the better- just to avoid my wife yelling at me

[seesul]

Questions for Downwind or other Englishmen:
- is there any railway connection between Luton airport and Duxford?
- how far away it is from Luton to Duxford?

Just to make it more clear- I´m looking for the accomodation for 2 or 3 nights between the Luton airport and Duxford. Some place with the train or bus connection. Any sugestions? The cheaper the better so I can drink out more beers

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Seesul,

My dear chap, i've been out of the country for a while with an unreliable internet connection and have only just picked this up. Do you still need this information or is it too late?

Many apologies for my apparent rudeness - will still help if I can!

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Initial look: No direct services thatI can find - Its Luton to St Pancras stn which is co-joined with Kings Cross and then back out from Kings Cross to Cambridge. There is a bus service from Cambridge stn to duxford nearly direct.
Cambridge railway station is served by regular trains from London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street, with other connections nationwide. Rail passengers can then take the C7 bus service (Monday-Saturday) from outside the station.
See the National Rail website on National Rail Enquiries - Official source for rail information, UK train times and timetables for further details or the First Capital Connect website on First Capital Connect - Home


Cheapest available fare £30.10 ! (Cor!)
This total fare is for 1 Adult.

Will do some more digging for something better if I can

[seesul]

Originally Posted by Downwind.Maddl-Land

Initial look: No direct services thatI can find - Its Luton to St Pancras stn which is co-joined with Kings Cross and then back out from Kings Cross to Cambridge. There is a bus service from Cambridge stn to duxford nearly direct.
Cambridge railway station is served by regular trains from London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street, with other connections nationwide. Rail passengers can then take the C7 bus service (Monday-Saturday) from outside the station.
See the National Rail website on National Rail Enquiries - Official source for rail information, UK train times and timetables for further details or the First Capital Connect website on First Capital Connect - Home


Cheapest available fare £30.10 ! (Cor!)
This total fare is for 1 Adult.

Will do some more digging for something better if I can

thx downwind. Where is it? Think the best for us would be in Cambridge. We need a room for 2 adults and 1 kid (5 years old). 2 nights (11th/12th and 12th/13th). with the pub nearby, if available
Gonna buy flight tickets this week.
thx again friend!