The RAF Red Arrows and a Typhoon wowed crowds at Duxford over the weekend as the IWM site successfully hosted its first air show in almost two years.
Having been unable to stage full-scale displays since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Duxford Summer Air Show welcomed visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
Fortunately, the weather held and spectators were able to enjoy both days of flying at the historic Cambridgeshire airfield.
Among the many attractions at the Imperial War Museum site was an awesome opening display by the Typhoon, the Royal Air Force’s current front line fighter jet, decorated in a new livery.
Eight Hawk jets from the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatics team closed the air show.
The pilots performed precision manoeuvres over Duxford, leaving their familiar red, white and blue coloured smoke trails across the sky.
As well as the incredible Red Arrows and the RAF Typhoon, families were also able to see the Blades aerobatic team in action and wingwalkers from AeroSuperBatics.
A pair of BAC 167 Strikemaster jets also took to the air, and the huge white Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina graced the skies over Duxford.
There was also plenty of Supermarine Spitfire nostalgia for aviation enthusiasts to enjoy, the 'Thank You NHS' Spitfire being among the iconic World War Two aircraft taking to the skies.
American warbirds in the flying programme included a P-47D Thunderbolt and a couple of P-51 Mustangs, while there was a flying display from Tiger 9, a collection of nine de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft.
Flying Fortress 'Sally B' – the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe – also flew over Duxford's historic airfield.
Displays and activities also took place throughout the showground with living history groups and re-enactors and static vehicle and aircraft displays.
An IWM Duxford spokesperson said: "We are looking forward to welcoming more visitors back to our Battle of Britain Air Show on September 18-19, tickets to which will be on sale very soon."
Before the Battle of Britain Air Show, IWM Duxford hosts Flying Days: Squadron 19 Heroes on Wednesday, August 4.
Extra tickets have now gone on sale for this event which had previously sold out.
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