Flying Legends 2023 - 15-16 July - Chuch Fenton/Leeds East

[jasonT1981]

https://www.acc.af.mil/Home/Aerial-Even ... -schedule/

Now confirmed for Chuch Fenton/Leeds East

Flying list
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Aircraft TBA
Douglas DC-3C Dakota - Classic Formation
Beech 18 x 3 - Classic Formation
Gloster Gladiator II - Fighter Collection
Grumman FM2 Wildcat - Fighter Collection
Supermarine Spitfire Vb - Fighter Collection
Grumman F8F Bearcat - Fighter Collection
Curtiss Hawk 75A-1 - Fighter Collection
Curtiss P-36C - Fighter Collection
Curtiss P-40C Warhawk - Fighter Collection
Curtiss P-40F Warhawk - Fighter Collection
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair - Fighter Collection
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt - Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd
North American TF-51D Mustang - Anglia Aircraft Restrorations
Hawker Fury FB11 - Anglia Aircraft Restorations
Hawker Hurricane I - Anglia Aircraft Restorations
Supermarine Spitfire IXT - Air Leasing Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire Vc - Anglia Aircraft Restorations
North American P-51D Mustang - Comanche Fighters LLC
North American P-51B Mustang - Comanche Fighters LLC
Supermarine Spitfire Ia - Comanche Fighters LLC
Supermarine Spitfire Ia - Comanche Fighters LLC
Supermarine Spitfire Ia - Imperial War Museums/ARCo
Supermarine Spitfire Vc - Comanche Fighters LLC
Supermarine Spitfire IX - Old Flying Machine Company
Supermarine Spitfire IX - Air Leasing Ltd
Supermarine Spitfire PRXI - Aircraft Restoration Company
Supermarine Spitfire XIV - Anglia Aircraft Restorations
Supermarine Spitfire VIII - Aircraft Restoration Company
Hispano HA-1112M1L Buchon - Aircraft Restoration Company
Hispano HA-1112M4L Buchon - Air Leasing Ltd
Hawker Hurricane I - Hurricane Heritage
Hawker Hurricane IIb - Hurricane Heritage
Supermarine Spitfire FRXIV - W Aircollection
Chance-Vought F4U-5NL Corsair - Les Casques de Cuir collection
Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair - The Flying Bulls
Lockheed P-38 Lightning - The Flying Bulls
North American B-25J Mitchell - The Flying Bulls

[jasonT1981]

The schedule was updated.

It is now Flying Legends UK - Before it was just Flying Legends.

https://www.acc.af.mil/Home/Aerial-Even ... -schedule/

[jamyt123]

Location revealed as Leeds East Church Fenton

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... sn=scwspmo

[Gary]

Participation list now online https://www.flyinglegends.com/2021-airc ... fJ366-SSrs

[Supra]

Well, this is building nicely into a premier event to rival RIAT....NOT!

[davski]

Well, this is building nicely into a premier event to rival RIAT....NOT!

Bit of a ridiculous statement, two completely different shows with their own USP.

[Supra]

If they are holding shows on the same date they are potentially vying for a portion of the punters who have a cross-over appetite for the dwindling number of events held in the UK. It's entirely possible you may not have noticed how RIAT now rely on some older civilian acts & warbirds these days. Likewise, the current offering for the regenerated 'Flying Legends' is laughable. Offering no more at this stage than you could see at a flying day at Duxford last year. NOW... that is ridiculous!

[davski]

Dont forget FL only needs to attract a fraction of the 200,000+ that RIAT does (around 15k per day) - are you really suggesting that there are only 200k aviation fans in the UK? Frankly laughable. Even more laughable is this incessant football terrace mentality - the need to slag the event off, for whatever reason: be it too far north, same date as RIAT (unavoidable btw, not that anyone cares) and line-up (so far). There is no competition for an audience as far as I'm concerned, unbelievable as it may seem there's a warbird community for whom grey pointy paraffin burners holds ZERO appeal, there are also thousands of aviation enthusiasts in the north who simply wouldn't consider the trek to Fairford. As for line-up - you know what you're going to get with Legends: a sizeable chunk of Europe's airworthy warbird population, and maybe a surprise or two from across the pond. I'm sure RIAT will be wonderful and tick all the boxes for those attending, likewise I'm sure Legends' return will be everything to those who make the pilgrimage to this much missed event.

[Mark]

Very well said davski!!

[ridgmeister]

Couldn't have put it better myself, Davski!!

[stevep22]

Spot on Dave. We also need to allow for a sizeable attendance from people both locally and beyond who are not aviation enthusiasts per se but like to see an airshow with their families. The 2015 show at Leeds East had a lot of people who were there for 'a day out' and really enjoyed it. The north has been pretty much starved of top class airshows for some years so I expect it to be well received.

Steve

[jasonT1981]

If they are holding shows on the same date they are potentially vying for a portion of the punters who have a cross-over appetite for the dwindling number of events held in the UK. It's entirely possible you may not have noticed how RIAT now rely on some older civilian acts & warbirds these days. Likewise, the current offering for the regenerated 'Flying Legends' is laughable. Offering no more at this stage than you could see at a flying day at Duxford last year. NOW... that is ridiculous!

There are still 3 and a half months until Flying Legends, plenty of time to add aircraft.

As for the weekend of RIAT, are you forgetting Legends has been held on RIAT weekend quite a few times in the past. The reason it is the weekend of RIAT this year is due to Leeds East hosting already booked events either side of Legends.

[Graham]

From a Newcastle enthusiasts point of view however, one who has never missed a RIAT ( including all the Greenham Common ones) the 2 dates clashing are a big disappointment,obviously not be attending the Leeds East show.Thankfully there are several excellent airshows to attend abroad this year to keep me going, can't believe it has come to this....2 UK shows I would have gone to all year and both the same weekend!

[davski]

From a Newcastle enthusiasts point of view however, one who has never missed a RIAT ( including all the Greenham Common ones) the 2 dates clashing are a big disappointment,obviously not be attending the Leeds East show.Thankfully there are several excellent airshows to attend abroad this year to keep me going, can't believe it has come to this....2 UK shows I would have gone to all year and both the same weekend!

It's unfortunate but the venue was secured late in the year when there were already events booked in either side (including an aviation event the weekend before). As you know Flying Legends has traditionally been held in July to take advantage of the UK summer holidays. I would expect the line-up to be announced with mere weeks to go, as has been the case in previous years.

[stevep22]

As Dave mentioned the available dates in the Leeds East calendar have dictated when the show will happen this year. Unfortunate for some people I appreciate, but I believe FL and RIAT have been on the same dates previously. When it comes to the 2024 calendar I'm sure that the dates of the two events will differ.

[Supra]

Fair comment from all. I'm clearly out of touch with the reality of the situation. Maybe I was blinded by my assumption that the organisers of this event would incur such additional expenses operating away from their main-base, that the cost of entry would be detrimental to the 'family audience' attending? On the international participation issue, I perceive there's little difference in 'Crow-fly' distance, but a South Coast short over-water Channel crossing in a single-engine warbird has to be preferable to the longer North Sea crossing?
With regard to late FL announcements of participation, I'm seeing several potential acts review their operating viability in the 2023 Season. From their perspective a committed booking would/could be the key to curtailed operating. Maybe it's quietly happening, but I'd shout it out to promote sales of tickets.
I have also done the two events previously, but the late FL confirmation this year has meant a non-refundable accommodation & earlybird ticket commitment to RIAT for the whole period. Clearly for me, going down to Fairford, up to Duxford for the day & return to Fairford in the evening was easily doable! In fact, it's not so much further from RIAT to Leeds East at 3,5 hours & 200 miles each way, as opposed to RIAT-Duxford at 2.5 hours & 135 miles each way.
I applaud any & all effort to hold an Airshow in the current climate & hope the return of FL will be successful enough to repeat it in 2024 when I would attend. Meanwhile, fingers crossed you guys are correct in your predictions?

[davski]

The additional distance from DX to LEA, by fighter, would be around 30/40 mins I should think. In 2005 I flew to Roudnice Nad Labem (Czech Republic) in P-51 'Susy' with the Breighton based Hurricane in tow, we opted for the channel crossing and refuelled in Leige. The trip was all part of the adventure. It's not a journey anyone would want to make on a weekly basis for sure, but overall the craic was superb, as I imagine Flying Legends would be for anyone travelling to it by warbird from elsewhere.

[lynothehammer]

Great to see it back on the calendar, i've already booked my tickets for RIAT and cannot afford the expense of a trip that far up north this year. But next year i'll definitely look to attend, always likes Flying Legends at Duxford, lets hope it can become a big success.

[jasonT1981]

Very surprised to see Sally B doesn't have Legends on her 2023 scheudle.

[davski]

Very surprised to see Sally B doesn't have Legends on her 2023 scheudle.

Every other date listed on Sally B's itinerary has been revealed on the events own socials so don't read too much into that - there's certainly a B-17 size hole in the list for July!