27/8/2023 Little Gransden Air and Motor show

This nice little airshow off the beaten track has become an enjoyable yearly ride out into the country now. A much more friendly informal atmosphere compared to the bigger more 'corporate' airshows. There is always an interesting mixture of aircraft - some that you are unlikely to see anywhere else.

Of particular interest is this beautiful Lockheed Electra Junior. Just restored to flight status this year it has a very interesting history dating from shortly before and into WW2.

In civilian guise this actual aircraft made some daring and highly secret covert reconnaissance flights over Germany and elsewhere - gaining information of vital importance just before the start of the war.

The P-51 Mustang is a type often seen at airshows in the UK but always a pleasure to see - especially up close like this. It's long range and high speed made it a game changer in the last half of WW2.

Like the P-51 another later product of the North American Aviation Co was this post-war T-28 trainer. Not seen so often at displays in the UK.

Although the T-28 looks and is much bigger and heavier than the Mustang it actually has a faster rate of climb than the P-51 due to it's massive and hugely powerful engine!

Another even more rarely seen post-war training aircraft is the Russian Yak-11. It's based on the very nimble WW2 fighter the Yak-3.

Like most other vintage Russian aircraft seen at air displays these days it has now had it's Russian red star markings overpainted with Ukrainian markings to show support for that now embattled country. Last time I saw this one it was looking rather bent with it's engine hanging off after a bit of a prang but now seems to be fixed.

Continuing the training aircraft theme is this Stearman from the USA - a pre-war design that saw extensive use teaching new pilots in the USA during WW2 - including many British and Commonwealth trainee pilots.

And continuing the pre-war theme is this Spartan. Two of these are regular performers at this show and have become favourites of mine.

It's a 1930's aircraft from the USA, and looks like an 'Art Deco' aeroplane - if such a thing is even possible? For a pre-war civil aircraft they have a surprising turn of speed.

Oh yes - it's a car (and motorcycle) show too, but I wasn't taking much notice as there was too much going on in the sky!

You can't get this close to live aircraft at most air displays!

A great day out in spite of the less than summery weather. But at least it didn't rain and it wasn't cold so that didn't ruin a nice ride home through the countryside.