Air to Air with the Charities Swordfish and Seafire
Soon after I had returned from Athens Flying Week I received an email from Rich Cooper and COAP about an opportunity to fly with Navy Wings before the Duxford Battle of Britain Show.
I’m going to be honest, I really wasn’t up to picking up my camera again after the previous weekends events. Sat at my desk I mentioned the email and opportunity to my wife and she told me to do it, ‘it’ll do you good’ were her words. I’d also mentioned it to my good mate Wayne Kenward, he also told me I needed to get back on the horse so to say.
I replied and, low and behold, a few hours later it was confirmed. We would be flying on the Friday afternoon.
We met at Fowlmere Airfield, literally a stone’s throw from Duxford. Up until then I really did not know it existed. Again we would be flying on G-EELS, meeting up over Bassingbourne Barracks and keeping within the unrestricted airspace surrounding London.
Three of us were to fly with Steve Comber, Andy Donovan and the crew. Myself, Wayne and Tom Carlill. Positions were assigned. This time I sat on the bench seat at the back.
After take off we made our way to the back of the Cessna, strapped ourselves into position and removed the netting covering the open doorway. First to join us was the venerable Fairey Swordfish, it’s difficult to appreciate how noisy it is flying these missions but the faithful chug of the Swordfish’s Bristol Pegasus engine could be heard above the roar of the passing air. After we’d landed I was told that the Stringbag’s pilot could hear the sound of his engine coming back to him over the comms.
Once again I was wearing the Meta Glasses, so was able to capture some great images of both of our targets.
The Seafire then hooked up with both us and the Swordfish. SX336 has recently returned to the air after a major service carried out at Old Warden by Kennet Aviation. A Mk XVII Griffon Engined with 4 blades, it has to be one of my favourite aircraft, so a real privilege to be near to her in the air.
After several circuits it was time to return to Fowlmere and land, an all too brief encounter with two classic British warbirds.
For me, it did me the world of good to get back out there and behind the lens.