With The Shuttleworth Collection demonstrating the 'Drive-in' airshow concept to the world in July (see October's FlyPast), it was the turn of the Imperial War Museum at Duxford on August 4 to prove the next step - the first event where the public were able to explore the site. Despite the challenges of social distancing, a sizeable crowd gathered at the Cambridgeshire museum, which had been adapted to meet government guidelines - including several one-way systems, countless information points and several hand sanitiser stations. Although not strictly an airshow, IWM's Showcase Days have become a mainstay of the UK calendar, with the chance to enjoy an afternoon of flying in a far more intimate and relaxed manner. With several of Duxford's resident aircraft on static - including the Historic Aircraft Collection's unique de Havilland DH.9 and Plane Sailing's venerable PBY-5 Catalina Miss Pick Up - the display line-up boasted a dozen participants. Split across two one-hour slots, aerial highlights included an energetic solo display from Pete Kynsey in the LeVier Cosmic Wind Ballerina, a pairs display from a Spitfire and Hurricane in the hands of Dave 'Rats' Ratcliffe and John Romain, a North American trainer duo comprising Harvard Wacky Wabbit and Europe's sole NA-64 Yale, as well as a trio of de Havilland types - DHC-1 Chipmunk, DH.89 Dragon Rapide and DHC-2 Beaver - to celebrate the manufacturer's centenary.
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