Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show 2026: Saturday Review

Saturday 12 September saw the return of one of the UK's great aviation traditions, as IWM Duxford hosted its Battle of Britain Air Show, marking 86 years since the summer of 1940 when RAF pilots scrambled from grass airfields just like this one to defend British skies. With a stacked flying list, live 1940s entertainment, and glorious late-summer weather, this year's Saturday show delivered on every front — though three moments in particular stood out.

A Gathering of Hurricanes

Spitfires tend to steal the headlines at Duxford, so it was a real treat to see the Hawker Hurricane get its moment in the spotlight this year. Several Hurricanes took to the sky together, including the poignant pairing coded P2954/P3935, which honours two pilots of 302 (Polish) Squadron who flew from RAF Duxford during the Battle of Britain — Flt Lt Tadeusz Chłopik represented on one side of the aircraft and Flt Lt (later Wg Cdr) Julian Kowalski on the other. Seeing multiple Hurricanes formed up together, rather than as a single supporting act alongside the Spitfires, was a genuine highlight of the day and a fitting reminder that the "Hurribirds" did just as much heavy lifting in 1940 as their more glamorous stablemates.

The Flying Bulls' Bearcat Makes Its Debut

One of the day's genuine talking points was the UK debut of The Flying Bulls' Grumman F8F Bearcat, flying alongside a second Bearcat in matching US Navy colours. Developed right at the end of the Second World War as a fast, lightweight carrier interceptor, the Bearcat never saw combat in that conflict but went on to a long career, including a stint as the mount of the original Blue Angels display team — a heritage reflected in the aircraft's striking dark blue livery and gold lettering. Watching a pair of Bearcats bank hard together against the Cambridgeshire sky was a real crowd-pleaser, and a welcome addition to a flying list that can sometimes feel Spitfire-heavy.

A Rare Visit from the Alizé

Perhaps the most unusual aircraft on the flying list was a visiting Breguet Alizé, an airworthy French carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft rarely seen on UK soil. With few surviving examples still able to fly, its appearance at Duxford was a genuine rarity even by the standards of a show known for unusual metal, and a nice reminder that Duxford's flying days aren't only about British and American wartime types.

The Rest of the Show

Elsewhere, the countdown to the famous Duxford Big Wing formation flypast continued to build through the afternoon, culminating in Spitfires and Hurricanes joining together in mass formation. Spitfire N3200, IWM's own airworthy Mk Ia and a genuine Dunkirk veteran, was among the standouts, alongside a Supermarine Seafire in Royal Navy colours and a Spitfire finished in Eagle Squadron markings. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, freshly returned from touring the United States as part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence, closed out the flying with their trademark red, white and blue smoke.

On the ground, living history groups, swing dancing from the Duxford Dancers, the Umbrella Big Band and the D-Day Darlings kept the 1940s atmosphere going across the showground throughout the day.

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Final Thoughts

Between a rare Hurricane gathering, the UK debut of the Flying Bulls' Bearcat, and a genuinely unusual Alizé appearance, Saturday's show found room for plenty of surprises alongside its Battle of Britain centrepiece — proof that even a well-established event like this one still has new stories to tell.