Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Events
  • /
  • IWM Duxford celebrates 50 years of flying displays

Events

IWM Duxford celebrates 50 years of flying displays

The iconic Battle of Britain Air Show returns to IWM Duxford this year for two-days of aerial displays on 16th and 17th September, with a mass flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes and the first formation of an Avro Lancaster flying with a B-17 in over 20 years.



Above: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 124485 DF-A Memphis Belle Sally B (G-BEDF) displays alongside North American P-51D Mustang at Duxford during Flying Legends (11.07.15).
Image by Kev Gregory / copyright Shutterstock

The standout event is the second major air show of Duxford’s 50th anniversary Flying Season and to mark this special occasion, children aged 15 years and under can attend for free. Visitors will be treated to unmissable displays from over 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including a mass flypast of 12 Spitfires and four Hurricanes, to commemorate the brave service men and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.      

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

In a must-see moment for aviation fans, the last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ - will be brought together with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster for a rare formation of the two most recognisable allied heavy bombers of the Second World War.

The formation will be the first time the two bombers have flown together for over two decades and the first time ever at Duxford.

The packed aerial line-up includes the only airworthy two-seater Hawker Hurricane in the world, a Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft replicating a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt fighter, the legendary North American P51-D Mustang and the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which will feature the Avro Lancaster, flanked by the Spitfire and Hurricane in a moving tribute to those who served.  

The world-famous Red Arrows will take to the skies of Duxford on both days of the weekend event with a thrilling display of daring aerobatics.

On the ground, crowds will be transported back in time to the sights and sounds that kept spirits up in the summer of 1940 and meet a cast of wartime characters recreating the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station. Visitors can dress up in vintage attire, swing dance to wartime music, get their hair done in the style of the era and hear stories of those who lived and served at the historic base.  

Tickets include access to IWM Duxford’s exhibitions and hangars throughout the day, packed full of aircraft, vehicles, collection items and personal stories of war and conflict.

Phil Hood, Air Show Event Manager, said: “The Battle of Britain Air Show is a highlight of IWM Duxford’s annual Flying Season as visitors get to experience what life would have been like for those who lived and served at RAF Duxford during the war.

“This is a very special year for IWM as we celebrate fifty years of entertaining crowds through aerial displays. This year’s air show is no exception, with appearances from an array of fan favourites, including the return of Duxford’s famous Spitfire flypast, and an historic formation when the Sally B and Avro Lancaster fly together for the first time in decades. We’re looking forward to greeting visitors, both old and new, to the show this year and hope to be entertaining crowds at Duxford for another 50 years to come.”  

 

Advertisement
Teledyne

 

 

 

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
UK Moonlight team expands

Space Events

UK Moonlight team expands

18 July 2025

Viasat, SSTL and MDA Space have announced they are working together to develop designs and proposals for a lunar orbiting communications satellite system around the Moon, called Moonlight.

Captec to showcase next-gen computing at DSEI

Defence Events

Captec to showcase next-gen computing at DSEI

16 July 2025

As the defence landscape continues to evolve at pace, with technological advances reshaping mission requirements and placing increasing demands on deployed computing systems, computing specialist Captec will be showcasing next-generation computing platforms at DSEI 2025 (9th–12th September 2025, Excel London).

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

Defence Security Events

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

15 July 2025

Franchised distributor of electrical, electronic and optical connectors, Lane Electronics, will be exhibiting at DSEI 2025 (9th–12th September 2025, Excel London) will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest connector technologies and its UK-based assembly and services.

Celestia UK starts building world’s first Ka-band multi-beam gateway

Space Events

Celestia UK starts building world’s first Ka-band multi-beam gateway

15 July 2025

Celestia UK is announcing at the UK Space Conference 2025 (Manchester, 16th-17th July 2025) that it has commenced the preproduction stage of a new generation of ground station gateway.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

Aerospace Defence Events

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

11 July 2025

Lane Electronics, a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s major electrical, electronic and optical connector manufacturers, will be Exhibiting at MSPO 2025 (2nd–5th September 2025, Kielce, Poland), where they will be displaying the latest connector innovations and demonstrating their UK based assembling and value add services.

Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

Aerospace Defence Events

Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

11 July 2025

Amersham based aerospace business Flitetec, has confirmed two major deals that it shook on at the recent Paris Air Show.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025