BluBear

Some fabulous aerial footage of this year's RIAT here:

Marvellous. It'll be great to see you old bean! Shame you can't make it Crash. Going for the whole weekend was a last minute decision this time, but some of us have been going on and off to this one several years running now for day visits. I think with Flying Legends and Sywell now sadly events of the past, perhaps this could be the candidate to replace it next year for a properly planned Dogz weekend. RIAT is expensive and doesn't offer the level of warbird fix, Duxford is also more centrally located.

Attention UK dogz! Fenrir, Jabo and yours truly will be attending Duxford's flagship warbird show next weekend (6/7th September). https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows/duxford-battle-of-britain-airshow/flying-list?utm_source=email&utm_medium=enews_weekly_tuesday_28_august_2025&utm_campaign=mktg_IWM_Commercial_Events_BOBAS_Awareness_uk_prospecting_Q3_Events_enews_Book Now_Battle_of_Britain 80_Subscribers&mc_cid=a182a339fd&mc_eid=f5e0a71bfd The flying list looks fabulous, with some special rare guests such as a Sabre and an A-26 along with the usual double digit Sptifire offering. Check it out. If anyone fancies joining us, we'll be there both days.

It certainly doesn't read well at all. I've long been an admirer of TFC as a warbird collector, operator, airshow organiser and Nick Grey as a fine airshow pilot etc. But, the more you read about the dealings of ED, the more it sounds like he's a bit of an asshole businessman!

I was sad to read of the departure of The Fighter Collection's Corsair from Duxford this year after 30+ years in the UK, now heading to a new owner in the US. However, the warbird industry benefits from the back and forth of assets and a small consolation was the welcome addition of a Lysander project, that'll be three in the UK, a sight not seen for many years. That said, the recent news of TFC also selling their unique and lovely, super shiny P-36 and the continued silence around the future of Flying Legends, made me wonder if there's more going on here. Many are aware that DCS are in legal battles with some of their 3rd party developers, RAZBAM reportedly haven't been paid by ED for over a year. I didn't realise but apparently other Devs such as Heatblur also report not being paid on time. (For those that didn't know, Nick Grey of The Fighter Collection also owns Eagle Dynamics.) Now, I don't usually get involved in any of the DCS forum madness, but an aviation forum led me down this rabbit hole: Exploring The Dark Sides Of Digital Combat Simulator 🤯 Ultimately, I hope ED and the devs can sort all this out and TFC stop selling off aeroplanes!

Viper Squad: GO!

Welcome to the Viper club Dave('s friend), you won't regret it!

Not to blow one's trumpet, but last night I trapped first time on an Essex carrier. (Wingflyer as my witness) I'm not saying it was pretty and it may have been the last available wire, but I done it, honest. This is going to be a fun module!

Now the 19th apparently, or two weeks perhaps

You da man Col!

We used to be a proper country

Indeed. Trying to spot that damn chopper (that shot me down) against the forest was a real struggle in VR!

I concur! It's a trifle tricky with me goggles without iconage

It really is a beautiful beast isn't it? Stunning restoration. I'd love to see this at a show over here, it's been a good 10 years since we've heard a Daimler Benz in these shores. If you can get your hands on a copy, I'd recommend the inaugural Vintage Aviation Echo (https://www.vaemag.com/preview-volume-i). Not only is it a wonderful publication, but one of the chapters is dedicated to Rote 12's restoration and test flight schedule, written by the pilot you see, renowned moustachioed RAF officer and warbird legend, Flt Lt Charlie Brown. Fun fact: Both Fenrir and I flew with this gentleman in a Boeing Stearman many many years ago as RAF cadets on warm summer's evening as a reward for marshalling at an airshow. Ahhh memories.

Nice one chaps, thank you!