Duxford 11th July

Yesterday was a trip to the Duxford Flying Legends Airshow, a show featuring classic American and European aircraft such as the Hurricane, Mustang and Spitfire. A visit prompted by my family as a 70th birthday treat for my father, who is an avid lover of aeroplanes.
As a child I accompanied him to many airshows, at first loving the stalls selling bits and bobs, and home made cake in air hangers (very different to what you get today) then as a teenager my interest being taken more by the handsome Danish pilots.

And somehow that influence seeps into the pores. It became obvious yesterday as the excitement mounted setting eyes on the camp buildings, Nissan huts, little wooden offices, the officers mess and even the lovely old proper canvas tents. The more my eyes lit up at the textures, materials, graphics and structures which express beautifully a functional approach, but at the same time a very hands on and highly crafted execution in the days long before computers, it became obvious where my influences (and colour palette) have come from. Why I love the colours I do, and the buildings I do.

The aeroplanes lined up against the backdrop of the Cambridgeshire countryside looked at home in the landscape, the colour and camouflage working with the environment, very similar to the Lincolnshire landscape I grew up with it’s aviation history and many airfields and bunkers where we used to play as children.

I’ve been meaning to visit the Norman Foster hanger that houses the American collection for some time, this little beauty was my favourite:

I loved Duxford and I shall definitely be back for more inspiration, now if only I could have one of their buildings for a studio, the pre-fab perhaps?……….

And for more expert photo’s of the beautiful planes in the air have a look here.