Historic aircraft stand proud at the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation
A step away from the thrills and spills on the track is the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation presented by Bonhams|Cars, a concours d’elegance for pre-1966 aircraft. Machines which played a pivotal role in World War II took up residence on the same airfield where countless flew from during the conflict.
The concours is named after the Duke of Richmond’s grandfather, Freddie, who flew his own aircraft while serving with the RAF during the war, a time when the Goodwood Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett. A red carpet awaits visitors, albeit slightly sodden from the bouts of rain the 2024 Revival has been afflicted by. The grass may now be incredibly wet and muddy, but none of this has deterred the crowds from getting a look up close.
If anything, the squelch of wellies rather adds to the atmosphere, where a jovial band, the warm glow of string lights and a host of young air cadets eagerly interacting with interested onlookers make up a charming scene for the concours. Moreover, the whirling engine noises of distant helicopters coming and going seems a fitting accompaniment, embracing the spirit of an active airfield.
Seeing the aircraft up close reveals just how spectacular, as well as varied they are, the difference in sizes reflecting the variance of the roles they were designed to play. 18 machines were entered into the competition in total, and it was the Westland Lysander G-CCOM – an aircraft that first flew in 1938 as a prototype before achieving legendary status after being used in clandestine operations during the war – which was crowned the winner.
In second place came the 1941 de Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth G-ASPV, used in its day to train RAF recruits, with the 1944 Supermarine Spitfire MkIX IXC – an aircraft which was active on D-Day and retains 80 per cent of its original airframe, in third.
The final award was the Rob Wildeboer Trophy for the best restoration, named in memory of a man who was instrumental in establishing the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation. The winner was the 1940 Hawker Hurricane MK X, which, after being damaged in a mid-air collision in 1942, was restored in 1994 and proudly wears the colours of Peter Malam Brothers of 32 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain.
Photography by Joe Harding.
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Freddie March Spirit of Aviation
