Revival’s Freddie March Spirit of Aviation celebrates the Motor Circuit’s heritage in style

Aviation is central to the history of the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The track that has hosted some of the greatest names in motorsport has its origins as the perimeter road of RAF Westhampnett, an operational airfield during World War II. Here, pilots were trained in Hurricanes and Spitfires, and it served as a key strategic location during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

The ninth Duke of Richmond, Freddie March, was happy to lend the land to the RAF during the war, but on the advice of his good friend Tony Gaze he decided to convert the perimeter road into a race track. The Motor Circuit opened in September 1948 and hosted Britain’s very first post-war motor race, three years after the end of World War II.

It is in recognition of Freddie March and the Motor Circuit’s past life that this concours d’elegance is held. Each year at the Goodwood Revival, the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation gathers some of the finest and rarest historic aircraft to be showcased to visitors and judged by an expert panel.

Judges for the 2026 concours include Bruce Compton, military history expert and TV star, former RAF Tornado fast jet pilot Mandy Hickson, Chairman of the British Air Display Association Matthew Wilkins, and Amelia Richardson, one of the youngest flying instructors in the country. They’ll be joined by Squadron Leader and a regular at the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation, Alan Jones, alongside Jeremy Warren and Juliet Sierra.

In 2026, there are three themes being celebrated: the 90^th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire, 80 years since the first De Havilland Chipmunk was flown and 55 years since the first display of Spitfire MH434 at Goodwood, as well as the anticipated presence of the EE Lightning, a jet-fighter which made history as the first aircraft to reach Mach 2, in November 1958.

Three Spitfires will fly dawn patrol each morning of the Revival, a moving display in recognition of the first Spitfire flight in 1936. The rare, American-marked Suffolk Spitfire MK9 and the Normandy Spitfire MK9 painted with D-Day stripes will be present.

Chipmunks on display are set to include a 1951 DH Chipmunk WD390 and the1953 DHC-1 Chipmunk WZ884 — the last Chipmunk to be delivered to the RAF, while there will be two Beech Staggerwings on show, N18V and N192H, the latter a striking silver model from 1944.

De Haviland Moths are represented with a 1944 DH89A Tiger Moth, G-AHIZ, and the 1930 DH60 Gypsy Moth, G-AAZG, and they will be joined by three Miles Aeroplanes: the Miles Magister G-AHUJ, the rare Miles Whitney Straight G-AERV, and the Miles Gemini G-AKKB which is one of only two airworthy examples in the world. The Gemini represents a piece of Goodwood history as the first aircraft to land at the newly reopened Aerodrome in September 1958, flown by Freddie March himself.

Two Cessnas will be attending the Revival (195B Business liner N999MH and 170A N2726D), both arriving from France, joined by iconic racing aircraft including the only airworthy example of a Cosmic Wind, G-ARUL, and the 1934 Caudron Rafale C460. Presented by Renault, the Caudron has a Renault engine and has undergone a restoration so it can take to the skies once again.

A rarity for the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation, a car will star on the lawn alongside the aircraft. The Buick Super 8 Convertible, however, has close ties with the Cosmic Wind as the car that towed it across America to compete in races. The story of that aircraft would be incomplete without the presence of this special car.

Finally, individual entries include a uniquely designed Rockwell OV10 used in Vietnam, P51 Mustang ‘Little Rebel’ arriving from Belgium, Boeing PT13D Stearman HB-RBG that’s making a special outdoor appearance, and the DH89a Dragon Rapide 6, freshly restored in civil colours.  

The traditions of the Goodwood Motor Circuit and the passion of Freddie March are celebrated in the best way at the Revival. We can’t wait to see this impressive display at the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation this September, which as always kicks off the Revival weekend with the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation launch party, exclusively for Members, on the Thursday. Be sure to head over to the Aerodrome and explore this magnificent display for yourself, whichever day you’re attending the Revival.

Saturday tickets and 3-Day passes for the Goodwood Revival have now sold out, and Friday and Sunday tickets are limited. 

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up to the Fellowship today and save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoying a whole host of other on-event perks.  

Main image photography by Tom Baigent.