An event commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I took place in the grounds of Knebworth House as part of the Sonisphere rock festival. As a prelude to Iron Maiden's set, and involving the band's lead singer Bruce Dickinson piloting his Fokker Triplane, 9 reproduction British and German First World War fighters displayed in a dogfight over the estate. Planes
THE GREAT WAR DISPLAY TEAM The Team started out in 1988 and was originally called The Wombats. It was an ad hoc collection of aircraft including 5 SE5as, 2 Fokker Dr1s and a Fokker D7, many of them flown by their builders, and appeared that year at the Biggin Hill Air Show. Last year was the 25th anniversary of the Team's formation and two of the original members, Des Biggs and Doug Gregory, were still flying with the Team until the previous year and Doug flew his SE5a in January 2013 to celebrate his 90th Birthday! Over the years the aircraft and pilots changed frequently. Robin Bowes flew his red Fokker Dr1 for several years until his untimely death, Nick O'Brien flew the black Fokker Dr1 for many years, famously looping it at VERY low level at every display! Ernie Hoblyn joined in 1997 with the Sopwith Triplane he had built, which flies now in the ownership of Gordon Brander. The following year John Day and Bob Gauld-Galliers joined, flying the Nieuport 17 they had built and also the Junkers CL1 they had converted. John extended the types in 2006 when he finished building his Fokker Dr1 and that joined the Team as well. Following John's untimely death his Dr1 was bought by Bruce Dickinson and still flies with the Team, and now we also have Peter Bond's Dr1 as well; there aren't many places you can see three triplanes flying together. The SE5as and their pilots changed frequently, with Dave Linney and Vic Lockwood, the current pilots, joining in 2007 and this year we also have Mike Waldron's SE5a as well. Matthew Boddington's BE2c joined in 2013 adding to the spectacle. Seen at many large and small airshows in the UK and abroad, at Duxford, Biggin Hill, Waddington, Farnborough and Fairford and as far afield as Portrush in Ireland and La Ferté-Alais in France. The Team currently has 5 different types of aircraft available to fly, with 9 aircraft in total.
Size: 3299px × 2187px
Location: Knebworth, Herts, UK
Photo credit: © Avpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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