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Along with TFC the Imperial War Museum (IWM) and American Air Museum (AAM), plus several warbird restoration companies are also to be found at Duxford, including; the Old Flying Machine Company (OFMC), the Historic Aircraft Collection (HAC) and Historic Flying Limited (HFL). Duxford is truly Britain's premier home for warbirds. Both the non-flying museum aircraft and the priceless flyable ones are available for close inspection throughout the year, including other air show days run by IWM. Other guest restoration groups regularly attend Flying Legends, notably the Real Aeroplane Company (RAC) who are based at
Breighton in Yorkshire. Also there are the individual warbird owners who by invitation join the warbird party and each year there is always something new.
Jane Larcombe of TFC in 2008 said, "Each year, we endeavour to make Flying Legends even better than the year before. The air show takes over twelve months in the planning to bring over three hours of non-stop flying on both days". Each year amazingly they manage to entice aircraft to attend the show for the first time whether they are recent restorations or acquisitions, adding to the expanding list of old favourites. Always looking for a 'first' or something unique, TFC will encourage owners to attend from right across the world, perhaps to make a first appearance of an actual aircraft type since it ceased military service. In 2004
for example, the P-39Q Airacobra 'Brooklyn Bum 2nd' flew in the UK for the first time in 60 years. Warbirds by their nature are very rare often with only a few examples still flying in the world, some are even unique. Appearing in 2005 was the only Saab B17A dive-bomber from Sweden and in 2007 the only airworthy Morane-Saulnier MS.406 arriving from its Swiss home.
At Flying Legends great effort is made to fly unusual or unique formations of aircraft. The TFC team will also gather as many of an aircraft type together that can be found, whether it is a dozen Supermarine Spitfires or half dozen or more Mustangs. Its all about providing a wonderful experience for the ticket buying public, who provide vital funds required to keep this flying history in the air.
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