Sywell Airshow 2024

Aviation PhotographyCurrent MilitaryFast JetEx-MilitaryJetsAirshowsWarbirds
Written By Jack Goward

Saturday 22nd June 2024, little did we know at the time that this day would become famous for re-igniting elements of the UK airshow circuit, bringing with it a huge sense of nostalgia for many, who like me have been travelling all around the country for the best part of 25 years chasing aeroplanes!

The anticipated line-up of aircraft and the confined venue of Sywell Aerodrome were two key reasons as to why this particular airshow was so highly anticipated. For those who have attended airshows for a while, Sywell managed to create the feel of Duxford shows from the late 90s/early 00s – which is quite something. Its important here to acknowledge the late Richard Grace, the brainchild of this show – what a fantastic job Richard and the team did here, thank you!

Now for a bit of a break down on some of the highlights from the 2024 Sywell Airshow. A plethora of warbirds from both the UK and overseas were present at the show. There were firm UK favourites, some newer UK additions plus some wonderful support from across the Channel.

The flightline walk was well worth the time and provided some great opportunities to get up close to the amazing machines that would be taking to the air later in the day. I’ve always been a fan of these flightline walks and particularly like photographing some of the more intricate details on the older aircraft.

One of the main attractions at the show was the return of the Flying Bulls to the UK airshow circuit. The B-25J Mitchell, P-38 Lightning, P-51D Mustang and F4U-4 Corsair were all in attendance – great to get up close to these in the well thought out static area.

Close by was also the unmissable and much loved B-17 Flying Fortress ‘Sally B’, along with a rather special appearance in the form of the Tunison Foundation’s 1943 C-47 Skytrain ‘Placid Lassie’. The aircraft came over from the States for the D-Day 80th Anniversary celebrations and made a special appearance at the show in the static park. Truly remarkable to see this in the flesh!

Onto the flying display which in short, had it all. The display kicked off with a ‘Heritage’ formation consisting of Ultimate Warbird Flight’s P-51D Mustang ‘Jersey Jerk’ and P-47D Thunderbolt ‘Nellie B’ with a visiting F-35A Lightning II from the 495th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath. Following this, B-17 Flying Fortress ‘Sally B’ performed an elegant as ever display and two Buchons with another two Mustangs got airborne to ‘dogfight’ before the P-51s put on an excellent 3-ship display.

Later in the afternoon we were treated to a real spectacle of wing-walking from 46Aviation and their Boeing Stearman and an impressive flypast from the Oil Spill Response Boeing 727 before we got into some more warbirds!

It was at this point in the day where the feeling of the show started to remind me of being in my youth, waiting for the ‘Big Cats’ at Duxford to get airborne before a highly anticipated Spitfire tail-chase. Sywell boasted an impressive three Vought Corsairs at the show, with the most notable being Korean War veteran Chance Vought F4U-5NL Corsair BuNo 124724/F-AZEG, owned by the Salis family’s Casques de Cuir (Leather Helmets) collection. The formation of three Corsairs, Grumman Wildcat and Grumman Bearcat was quite something. Shortly after these displays, renowned commercial and aerobatic pilot Paul Bonhomme took the Ultimate Warbird Flight’s Hawker Fury FB.11 up before the beautiful Lockheed 12A Electra performed its display.

Now to the closing acts. Firstly the magnificent Flying Bulls putting on a glossy display of airmanship with their four different types and a variety of formation and solo displays. The personal highlight of the whole show for me was finally getting to photograph the W Air Collection’s Supermarine Spitfire FRXIVe ‘RM927’. In 2022 after being restored to flying condition by Richard Grace’s Air Leasing Company, Richard himself took RM927 to the skies for the first time since 1952 on 6th July 2022, before it was acquired by the Paris-based W Air Collection. A truly awesome Spitfire and to make things even more unique, the D-Day invasion stripes you can see applied to the airframe were hand painted as they would have been in WWII to celebrate the 80thAnniversary in 2024.

Playing the ‘Joker’ role, known to many familiar with UK airshows, RM927 kept the crowds entertained as a formation of 7 Spitfires took to the skies for the finale – Sywell 2024 will be long remembered in the aviation community as one of the greats.

Richard Grace, Duxford Flying Legends 2017 after display the Fury FB.11

A final comment – sadly towards the end of 2024, Richard Grace lost his battle with illness. The news came as a shock to the aviation world. On a personal level, the Grace family name is one that I have always been acutely aware of. As a child I used to marvel at the late Caroline Grace as she flew the much loved twin seat ‘Grace Spitfire’ at airshows around the UK. Naturally it wasn’t long before I started hearing Richard’s name over the Tannoy systems at airshows, flying a variety of different aircraft with remarkable skill. As a lifetime enthusiast and aspiring pilot, I’d just like to say thank you Richard, for inspiring me and countless others. I hope in some little way the above account on this show that you and the team put together pays testament to what an amazing talent you were. Blue Skies Sir.

As always here’s some useful links relating to this post if you’d like to find out more information on some of the participants.

 Until next time…

Jack

Jack Goward
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