WIX Archives

Warbirds at Le Bourget

Posted by Gregory on Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:49:46 AM

Amidst the not so many contemporary aircraft in attendance, the Paris Salon sported several warbirds and vintage aircraft.

The Breitling area included at least five - Spit IX MH434, Corsair, P-47 and Hellcat (both TFC), and the La-9. The formation is scheduled to fly back to Duxford on Monday, so get your cameras ready. The La-9 was flown in by Keith Skilling, who said it flew a dozen hours in NZ plus about an hour and a half since reassembly at Duxford. Ray Hanna was also there, kind and available as always.

The French B-17 Pink Lady was also there, conveniently next to the 777-300.

Other aircraft scattered around included a Lockheed 12, Flamand, Caudron 760 repro, Breguet XIV repro, Wright model B repro, Bleriot XI (original?), Morane N (repro) and possibly othyers.

The Mus?e de l'Air WW2 hangar was inaccessible, but a large temporary hangar contained HA 1112 Buchon, P-47D, Marauder (BIG), P-51D, Spit XVI, Dewoitine D520, FW 190 (Nord built), Henschel 162.

A small Ailes Anciennes display included the fuselage of a DFS 230 glider under restoration (Mikael - I have photos if you want them) and the cockpit section of an A?ronavale lancaster, plus an engine. Those were superb.

All in all, valuable relief from all those big grey jets. And I might have missed something, but then I was there to cover spam-cans, not real aeroplanes ...

Gregory

Follow Ups: