Dunsfold Wings and Wheels Review 2019

Some of the best memories I have had at airshows, are at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Its friendly atmosphere, and nicely positioned display line, as well as its ability to attract some nice flying displays and rare military static, has made it something of a gem on the airshow circuit. So, it was met with sadness that 2019 was to be the swan song for Dunsfold Wings and Wheels, with the show lowering the curtains on 15 years of fantastic airshows at this historically important airfield. 2019 did see some new displays however, as well as some old favourites from the past 15 years, and so, it was set up to be a special finale. 

The show weekend was moved from late August, to mid-June - this was solely to allow for a final display appearance by The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, who are off to North America on their 3-month tour in July. The Reds were very much the headline act, and indeed put on a fantastic and typically polished display. On the Saturday, they flew an 8 ship, due to Red 4 going tech, meaning some unique formations appeared with the missing aircraft. Nonetheless, it still proved to be an excellent display by the Reds. With the team missing half the UK airshow season, every chance to see them is a bonus as they will soon be wowing the crowds across America and Canada! 

The weather on the Saturday wasn’t the best, with some heavy downpours at times, but the entire schedule flew as planned, bar the Sea Fury which unfortunately went tech, but was quickly replaced by another warbird which as been one of the most popular warbirds in recent times; that of the Ultimate Warbirds/Air Leasing LTD Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “NellieB”. On the Saturday it was flown as the show’s finale with one of the two Hawker Hurricanes in attendance (This one too operated by Air Leasing LTD) – which was penned to be a Hawker celebration and a significant nod to Dunsfold’s own history. On the Sunday, the Hurricanes (The second brought over by Hawker Hurricane Restorations) flew as a pair to close the flying display; in leu of the absent Air Leasing LTD Hawker Sea Fury FB.11. 

Although on the Saturday, the show didn’t end with the Hurricane and P-47 as planned, but with a rare closing show display by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with their Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX “PS915”, which had waited out the storms at nearby RAF Brize Norton all day. The display was originally meant to be a two ship, but just seeing one of the iconic Spitfires sweep in to close the show through the murk and the cloud was a pleasure with its aggressive Rolls Royce Griffon engine up front – and it certainly did haul the aircraft across the Dunsfold skies with some great topsides and aerobatic manoeuvres in the hands of Andy Preece. The Photo Reconnaissance blue contrasting nicely against the cloudy skies behind. 

Warbirds were certainly not in short supply at Dunsfold, as there was also two North American P-51D Mustangs on the Saturday at least, with both the Norwegian Spitfire Foundations “The Shark” and a now rare airshow appearance by Peter Teichman in his Mustang “Tall-In-The-Saddle” from his Hangar 11 collection. Whilst the latter didn’t partake in the flying programme, it was still a nice treat to see this aircraft again both in the air and land down at Dunsfold. Meanwhile the other Mustang had a slightly hairy landing following the display, performing a Mustang wheelie before safely touching down – testament to the skill of its pilot! 

Boeing B-17G “Sally B” graced the skies once again at Dunsfold with a marvellous display of this most famous of American Bombers. The flying memorial to all the USAAF crews who died in the Second World War, she displayed both days, and indeed flew a special D-Day tribute with Dunsfold’s own Douglas C-47 Skytrain, owned by Aces High – “Mayfly” joined “Sally B” in the air as a mark of respect in this important 75th anniversary year of the Normandy landings. “Sally B” needs some important overhaul work on her engines, so to see her continue flying, she needs donations and support! 

The highlight of the warbirds, though, was the newly restored debutant from the Aircraft Restoration Company, that of the Westland Lysander - an aircraft with a historical connection with Dunsfold, outside the Hawker company. The Lysander was one of the aircraft used as a special operations aircraft during the Second World War, and thus used southern airfields to launch from, to penetrate deep into Nazi occupied Europe to move various secret agents and spies from improvised runways in forests and clearings. Some of these such missions would have seen Lysanders depart from, and land onto Dunsfold. The type also acted as a costal patrol aircraft, again using southern airfields as the launch site for such flights. So, this aircraft was very much recreating a small piece of Dunsfold history when it flew a spirited display over Dunsfold and touched down with its STOL capabilities. The details of the secret operations are still kept under wraps , even to this day.

Moving to more modern vintage types, and one of the only jet powered aircraft at the show came from the BAe Strikemaster pair, owned and flown by Mark Petrie, along with Ollie Suckling, the pair of MK.82s were put through an explosive display with pyros in a simulated ground attack demonstration. The aircraft were also shown off with some dramatic breaks and crossovers which were a joy to watch. Seeing aerobatics in classic jets is something which was missed greatly and is fantastic to see once again.

Other classic types came in the form of The Gazelle Squadron with their pair of Aerospatiale Gazelles which performed a lovely pairs display of formations and crossovers to the crowds at Dunsfold. The team owns their stable of Gazelles down at their base at Hurstbourne Tarrant in Hampshire, and are slowly growing their fleet to make a nostalgic display team, which those of us old enough to remember will have not seen since the long defunct Blue Eagles display team from the Army Air Corps. They currently fly a two-ship display in 2019 with plans to grow that in the coming years. Classic helicopters are becoming a more common, and popular appearance on the show circuit, and as a huge fan of rotary aircraft, I for one am excited to see more of them in the future!

Aerobatics have always been an important addition at Dunsfold, and this year was no different with firstly the Turbulent Team and their four colourful D31 Turbulents who performed their unique barnstorming routine of balloon popping, flour bombing and aerobatic version of limbo as they flew under poles! (Accompanied with some equally as spirited commentary from Brendan O’brien) This whole display is as entertaining as it is nostalgic, in typical barnstorming fashion. The display is always a favourite with the crowds.

Further aerobatics came in the form of The Blades, with their four Extra 300 aircraft. Flying their typical routine of tight formations, breaks and clean manoeuvres, the ex-Red Arrow pilots; Andy Evans, Mike Ling and Kirsty Murphey, as well as aerobatic champion Gerald Cooper, showed off what has made The Blades as popular as they indeed are. Gerald Cooper in his solo slot was especially enjoyable as he threw his slightly more powerful Extra about the skies. The Blades have a full calendar of events this year, both on the UK and European airshow scene, and as part of the Red Bull Air Race, seeing them bring their high energy display to millions. 

Another two Extras were in the flying programme, another Extra 300, as well as a pint-sized RC model which together formed the “Little and Large” duo. The pair were flown by Chris Burkett in the full size, while Mike Williams flew the 40% scale. It really has to be seen to be believed, as the pair fly a tight routine no different to that of a full-sized pairs display. On Saturday, even in pouring rain, the aircraft both went up and displayed in full, with a mix of stall turns, inverted passes, crossovers, synchronised knife edges and breaks. 

The Fireflies, a pair of Vans RV-4s, a team which have become well known for their colourful pyrotechnic displays, gave a smooth and elegant display of the type. Piloted by Jon Gowdy and Andy Durston, the pair showed off the small but effective RV4 aircraft immaculately in close formation. Jon and Andy also flew the P-47 and Hurricane later in the show, so worked both the aerobatics and warbirds in one day – both of which were most enjoyable to see.

Higher energy aerobatics came in the form of Rich Goodwin in his Muscle Pitts. Beginning his display with his now trademark knife edge pass, he pulled up into a climb before going through a series of high energy manoeuvres, such as stall turns, rolls, his “Tower of Power”, as well fast passes, inverted passes, and climbs. It really is a breath-taking display of full-on aerobatics. One of the most popular and thrilling displays currently on the UK airshow circuit, Rich certainly knows how to show off what the Pitts can do – we all await the debut of his Jet Pitts!

The Army Tigers Parachute Display Team of The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, dropped in from above with their smoke trails, flags and insightful commentary. The team perform a series of formations in freefall and also once under the canopies of their parachutes. A popular display team around the family airshows, due to being an easier way to get up in the air and try it for yourself.

The Royal Air Force brought most of their 2019 display teams to the final show at Dunsfold, as well as some static to show off. Beginning on the ground, they flew over two Hawk T.2s from RAF Valley – which of course is apt for Dunsfold where the earlier Hawk T.1 was flown. The RAF Tucano Display Team is in its final year and brought both a flying example and one for the static area for people to see up close. The flying display of the Tucano is back for its own swan song, much like Dunsfold, and the display was elegant and well-polished. The Shorts Tucano T.Mk 1 will soon be replaced by the Texan II in the fast jet training role, moving that role from RAF Linton-On-Ouse to RAF Valley with the Hawk trainers. Regardless it was great to see the aircraft once more in the skies over Dunsfold with its powerful Honeywell turboprop engine.

Basic aircraft training was shown off as well in the form of the RAF Tutor Display. The Grob 115E Tutor is the basic entry level training platform for all new pilots in the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps, but this display is performed by the RAF from Cranwell. Whilst it isn’t as exciting a display as the Hawk, Typhoon or even the Tucano, it is the aircraft which all pilots must learn on before moving to those types and thus is an important part of the RAF’s hope to encourage and inspire people to join the Air Force. 

The heavy lifting “Wokka” of the RAF Chinook Display Team came from nearby RAF Odiham in Hampshire, and the aircraft was thrown about the skies with the two huge rotor blades up top working to both move this giant and create that distinctive blade-slap. The display isn’t as dynamic as it once was, but the crew work hard to show off what the Chinook can do – and it is always a very popular display to see at an Airshow in the UK. 

The entire contingent of the RAF put on a great show, in their own nod to the history of Dunsfold, which of course was crowned off by one of the best aircraft to fly out of Dunsfold – the Hawk T.1, in the hands of the Red Arrows. Due to restrictions, the team could only perform a rolling display but nonetheless they gave the crowds a typically well-rehearsed and professional display of the Red jets. It is a shame they will miss the second half of the year, but I’m sure the crowds in North America will enjoy their display as much we do here.

The day was dampened by the weather, but that didn’t detract from what a good show was put on at Dunsfold- as usual. The display line, the lighting, the atmosphere, it all creates such an enjoyable show venue and its very sad that it won’t be enjoyed there anymore. With the looming prospect of houses being built on the land, coupled with rising costs that come with hosting an airshow, Dunsfold Wings and Wheels, and indeed, Dunsfold Aerodrome has come to its untimely end. 

I have very fond memories of this show, as I said at the start of this review, and I am sure many others do as well. Not only the airshow, of course, but also its historical relevance to British Aviation. Many of these icons having flown at the shows, in the last 15 years, like the Harrier, born at Dunsfold in many respects and flown and tested from the tarmac on the site. The Hawk trainer, which is still used by the best aerobatic team in the world, as well as an exporting success across the globe. Not forgetting the Hunter, Hurricane and Sea Fury to name but a few, with connections to Dunsfold – from the mind of Sidney Camm and that famous Hawker name. Not forgetting the wartime connection of 320sqn, which was a Dutch squadron which flew B-25 Mitchell bombers – one of which was often a visitor at the shows, only missing recently due to maintenance back in Holland. 

We live in a time when airshows as a whole have taken a hit, with pressures on several fronts and rising costs, and we have lost both Dunsfold and Abingdon so far this year, with Farnborough also calling time on its weekend airshow for the general public. Its sad to see, and a shame that while paradoxically our aviation scene, with rare warbirds, historic helicopters, classic jets and aerobatic teams are still fairly abundant relatively and growing in numbers, the shows which they can be shown off, and where people can touch them and talk with their owners and pilots are diminishing at an alarming rate. I very much hope an equilibrium can be found, where, if there are people who want to continue showing off these wonderful aircraft, that there are venues willing and able to support that - and people will turn up and support both! 

Written and photos by Matt Silvaire.