The Freddie March Spirit of Aviation presented by Bonhams|Cars celebrates the Ninth Duke of Richmond’s relationship with flight, while acknowledging RAF Westhampnett’s pivotal role during the World War II. A staple of the Revival every year, the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation features a concours of spectacular aircraft from pre-1966, as well as a scattering of spectacular flying displays throughout the weekend.
The static aircraft in the concours are situated within sight of Goodwood’s original WWII scramble hut as well as the active airstrip and helipad. This year’s concours is of course dedicated in a large part to machinery from the war years.
Since 2021, not only have we awarded overall and class winners, but also the Rob Wilderboer Cup. Rob worked with us and our aviation business for three-and-a-half decades, starting as an apprentice and working his way to Managing Director before he sadly passed away. An instrumental curator of our Spirit of Aviation displayers, the award in his honour goes to the best restoration of an aircraft.
In the air over the weekend, as ever, you can expect to see an early morning fly-past to get the event underway each morning. The fly-pasts are set to take place at 08:00 each morning and will feature a Spitfire, a P47 Thunderbolt and a P51 Mustang, which will be the first time these three aircraft have displayed together. Members of the GRRC who are early birds will enjoy the show exclusively when they’re let in at 07:30, an hour earlier than general public attendees.
You can also expect to see fly-pasts on Saturday evening to close the day out, too, where Spitfires are expected to take to the skies at around 19:30.
Photography by Tom Baigent
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Freddie March Spirit of Aviation
Goodwood Revival
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