The Goodwood Revival will take off with a dawn Spitfire flypast at 0800hrs this Friday morning, followed by air displays by a BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane at 1300hrs and a Blenheim, Spitfire and Mustang at 1312hrs.
It will be the first time a Blenheim has flown in a display at Goodwood.
Designed as a small airliner in the early 1930’s by Frank Barnwell, Chief Designer of the Bristol Aircraft Company, it was funded by Lord Rothermere who named it ‘Britain First’. It proved much faster than the latest biplane fighters, with a speed of over 300mph and Rothermere promptly donated it to the nation.
Barnwell then redesigned the aircraft as a bomber and it became the first stressed skin aircraft with hydraulic actuated undercarriage, flaps and turret to be accepted by the Royal Air Force. It was the fastest bomber of the day and it became the backbone of the RAFs light bomber force. At the start of WWII, the RAF had 1089 Blenheim’s in service; more than any other type. Churchill paid homage to the bravery of Blenheim crews, who bore the brunt of daylight operations, comparing them to the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’.
The displays will be repeated on Saturday at 0830, 1300 and 1312hrs respectively and 0845hrs on Sunday followed by 2 BBMF Spitfires, a Hurricane, a Blenheim and a Spitfire and Mustang at 1320hrs on Sunday afternoon.
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Editor’s Notes
We work closely with the local council to make relevant updates and amendments to the Goodwood Revival in order to secure our annual event licence. In accordance with the council’s requirements, to keep visitor numbers at comfortable levels, from this year on, all visitors to the Over The Road area will need to show a Revival ticket.
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