The Duxford Flying Finale might have been a battle against the wind, with very limited flying, but a fantastic day nonetheless!

Lovely meeting @ukrailadventure.bsky.social this morning, hope you two have a good day on your travels! My adventure's already gone awry 😅

The Flying Comrades at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. It is a bit of a rarity to see Soviet era types displaying in the UK, with the Flying Comrades being unique on today's air show circuit, flying a trio of Yakovlevs, a pair of Yak-52s, G-BXJB and G-YAKF and Yak-18T G-HAHU.

Yakovlev Yak-18T G-HAHU at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, one of three aircraft of the Flying Comrades. G-HAHU was built by Yakovlev in 1993. The aircraft has been registered in Britain since 2013 as G-HAHU and is named 'Red Rosie'.

Another little impromptu trip up to the East Lancs Railway today for the farewell to Black Five 45212, which is soon to be withdrawn for ten-yearly overhaul. The locomotive has been suitably chalked up for the occasion, as was common at the end of steam.

The 2nd Yak-52 of the Flying Comrades came in the form of G-YAKF 'Медведь' (Bear). This is an example built by Aerostar in 1991, and served with the DOSAAF as Grey 10. It was later registered in Russia as RA-02090 and in South Africa as ZU-IAK. It has been registered in the UK as G-YAKF since 2007.

Yakovlev Yak-52 G-BXJB 'Slybird' at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show flying as part of The Flying Comrades display team. This Yak-52 was built by the Romanian company Aerostar in 1987 and flew with the Soviet DOSAAF. It has been on the British civilian register as G-BXJB since 1997.

Some lovely little festivities up at the East Lancs in celebration of Railway200! The oldest operational steam locomotive in Britain rubbing shoulders on a surprisingly bright day with some of the more modern heritage diesels on the route.

Cavalier F-51D Mustang II LN-BMU at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. This aircraft is displayed as "Miss Rebel" of the 23rd Fighter Group, as flown by Captain Oran S Watts, based in China during the war with Japan.

46115 Scots Guardsman at the Greatest Gathering. Another loco from the West Coast Railway, 46115, was built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company at Springburn, initially numbered 6115. WCR restored the locomotive to its last years of service, in BR lined green livery.

The other Southern Region visitor to the Epping Ongar Railway's Southern Giants Steam Gala was 926 Repton, courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The locomotive has been restored in Southern Railway numbering and livery.

A recent acquisition by the Biggin Hill-based Warbird Experiences Ltd is the North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-12473 / G-MCSW, depicting 44-14237 'Moonbeam McSwine' of the 487th Fighter Squadron, as flown by fighter ace, Captain William T. Whisner

At the controls of 34072 257 Squadron, a Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class. It is certainly quite a rarity to see a big Pacific at the Epping Ongar Railway, seen here repositioning for the next service out of North Weald.

Good morning from Ongar for the Southern Giants Steam Gala at the Epping Ongar Railway. This is the first service into Ongar hauled by Southern Railway Schools Class 926 Repton, from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

37800 Cassiopeia at the Greatest Gathering. The locomotive has been in service with Rail Operations Group since 2016. It was named Cassiopeia in 2018 and painted into Rail Operations Group livery in 2022, as seen here.

The A-26 Invader, flying alongside the Thunderbolt and Fury representing the Invader with aircraft that fought it with in the Second World War and Korean War. The slot was billed with the somewhat cutesy name of 'Invader & Friends', but the roar of four big radials was nothing of the sort!

A regular on the UK air show circuit, especially at Duxford is Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 45-49192 / G-THUN. This aircraft is presented as 'Nellie B' of the 492nd FS, 48th FG, a unit still based in the UK at RAF Lakenheath, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle.

One of the ubiquitous Black Five mixed-traffic locomotives, 44932 was built at Horwich Works in 1945 as 4932. It became 44932 in 1949 following nationalisation, and was retired in 1968. It was sold into preservation and is now based at Carnforth, as part of the West Coast Railways fleet.

Former Iraqi Air Force Hawker Fury ISS, G-CBEL, displaying at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. The aircraft is presented as SR661, a prototype Fury II, and, unlike many other Sea Furys in preservation, still flies with a Bristol Centaurus radial engine.

From the West Coast Railways stable, British Rail Mark 1 Courier Van 80204, lined up with Mark 1 99312 and Stanier Black Five 44932. This coach was built at Wolverton in 1962 as a Mark 1 Brake Second Corridor (BSK) numbered 35297 and later converted to an NNX Courier Van.

Another of Europe's new warbirds making its Duxford debut, was Douglas A-26C Invader NL4313 / 44-34313, preserved in its authentic Korean War markings, as the personal aircraft of Charles H. Howe, the commander of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Wing, named 'Sweet Eloise II' after his wife.

From Southeastern came British Rail Class 465/9 Networker 465908. This unit was built in 1992 by Met-Cam as a Class 465/2. In 2025, the unit was repainted into Network SoutEast livery and named Chris Green, after the former managing director of Network South East, and in celebration of Railway 200.

The darling of the Aircraft Restoration Company, the Bristol Blenheim IF L6739 / G-BPIV, at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. Through heroic efforts over decades, despite major setbacks along the way, this is the sole airworthy Blenheim in the world.

From London Northwestern Railway came one of their Class 350/1s. 350106 was built by Siemens and delivered in 2005. Interestingly, these units were originally ordered as Class 450s for South West Trains, though they were instead completed as AC electric multiple units.

The only modern aircraft in the flying display came from the Belgian Air Force, flying NH-90 NFH RN-03 courtesy of a Search & Rescue demonstration from 40 Squadron. This was in honour of the 29 Belgian pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain.

Pioneer of the Merseyrail PEP fleet, 507001 was built by British Rail Engineering Limited in 1978. The Class 507s were withdrawn with the arrival of the new Class 777s. In March 2024, 507001 was purchased for £1 from Angel Trains for preservation.

Out and about today. At the Royal Victoria Dock were River-class patrol vessel HMS Mersey (P283) and Sachsen-class frigate Sachsen (F219) of the German Navy. In the afternoon at Southend Airport was another excellent taxi run of Avro Vulcan B.2 XL426.

455868 at the Greatest Gathering, representing a class at the end of its service. 455868 was repainted in 2024, into BR Blue livery, commemorating the long service and reliability of the type. This unit is now off-lease from South Western Railway, with an uncertain future.

Another highlight of the flying display at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show was CAC CA-13 Boomerang NX32CS / A46-139. This replica was built from a T-6 Texan, utilizing parts from the original A46-139, and took to the air in 1991 before heading to Europe in 2013.

"The car dealer assured me Reliant Scimitars were a 'future classic' and 'only going up in value'" @sniffpetrol.com

One of the stand-out efforts at the Greatest Gathering came from Rail Engineering Solutions, who not only brought their locomotives, 47715, which shares the same name as its operator, but even repainted the locomotive into Virgin Trains livery on-site.

The ever-endearing Chippy puts a smile on my face at any air show, and this is no exception. WB585 was built by de Havilland in 1950 but only saw service with the Royal Air Force until 1956. Since then, the aircraft has been registered G-AOSY and is operated by the AOSY Group.

One of two preserved Class 313s. 313201 was built in 1976 as the first of its class. In 2017, the unit returned to BR Blue, in recognition of its significance as the first production model BREL 1972 'PEP' design to be built. Southern retired the class in 2023, and 313201 passed into preservation.

Something truly special for Duxford's second act on the Sunday of the Battle of Britain Air Show, Avro Anson I OO-ANS / MH120 from the RAF Station Czechoslovakia. Recently acquired from New Zealand, this is the last remaining airworthy Anson I and represents K6183 of 206 Sqn, RAF Coastal Command.

Truly terrible photos, but I wasn't to bump into the Midland Pullman this morning

323221 in Regional Railways Centro Trains livery at the Greatest Gathering. Since withdrawal from West Midlands Railway in 2024, following the introduction of the Class 730, 323221 has been stored at Porterbrook's Long Marston facility.

There is perhaps no more fitting an act to open Duxford's big annual warbird show than Boeing B-17G-105-VE Flying Fortress 44-85784 Sally B. This year marks 50 years of Sally B flying in preservation in the UK and remains one of the most iconic warbirds in the UK and Europe.

British Rail Mk1 BSK 35465 at the Greatest Gathering. Built in 1963 at Wolverton Works as a British Rail Mark 1 Brake Second Corridor, this coach is owned by Locomotive Services Ltd and primarily served as the support coach for 70000 Britannia. It carries BR Crimson Lake and Cream livery.

RIAT always sees some striking liveries, and the Pakistan Air Force certainly delivered with their C-130H Hercules. This aircraft was first delivered to the Belgian Air Force, and then in 2022, it was delivered to Pakistan, numbered 4479. It was the winner of the 2025 Concours d'Elegance at RIAT.

Showcasing a handful of the visiting aircraft yesterday at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. With military aircraft from start to finish, and plenty of international visitors, Duxford put on what must be considered the warbird show of the year in the UK.

A rare fighter contribution from the Pakistan Air Force who brought a pair for Block III JF-17Cs for the static display at RIAT, both from 8 Sqn 'Haiders'. The type was developed jointly by CAC) and PAC and first delivered to Pakistan in 2007. The Block III model entered service in 2023.

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley at the Greatest Gathering. The locomotive, named after its designer, is the 100th Gresley Pacific locomotive to be built. 60007 saw service from 1937 to 1966. Today, the locomotive is operated by LSL on behalf of the owners, the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust.

Bréguet Atlantique 2 No.5 of Aéronavale at RIAT 2025. The type is expected to operate until 2035, with the Aéronavale opting for a maritime patrol variant of the Airbus A321neo as its replacement.

Though initially not expected to stay on site for the air show, the Pakistan Air Force Midas stayed close to the static exhibit area. Pakistan operates four Il-78MPs, which were procured from Ukraine. This aircraft, R11-003 was the third aircraft to be delivered, in March 2011.

37501 Teesside Steelmaster at the Greatest Gathering The locomotive is leased from Europhoenix by Rail Operations Group, who, at the beginning of the year, returned the locomotive to its British Steel appearance, complete with its former number and name.

The Red Arrows on the flight line at RIAT. Eleven jets were in attendance, with ten aircraft flying on the Saturday of the show. Nine of the jets took part in a flypast with the E-7 Wedgetail and the display, while another joined them for the flypast as a photoship.

BR Standard Class 5MT 73129 at the Greatest Gathering, courtesy of the Midland Railway, Butterley. The locomotive was built at Derby in 1956 and was withdrawn in 1967. 73129's restoration to steam was completed in 2005.

Spanish Air Force Typhoons on the flight line at RIAT. The two Eurofighter C.16 Tifón are C.16-36 and C.16-62, the latter of which flew the display on the Saturday. Both aircraft are from Ala 14, based at Los Llanos Air Base.

From the Merchant Navy Locomotive Society came their locomotive, 35028 Clan Line. Clan Line was built in 1948 at Eastleigh and so never served with Southern Railway. Clan Line's British Railways service lasted until 1967, when acquired by the Society.

Piper L-18C Super Cub MM51-15302, one of 65 operated by the Italian Army from 1951-1979. This example has been registered in the UK as G-BJTP since 1981.