In celebration of the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concours d’elegance at the Goodwood Revival, Goodwood release this film about the history of aviation at Goodwood…

Goodwood’s links to aviation stretch back to Freddie March, the Ninth Duke of Richmond, a keen pilot, who used to fly aircraft of his own design and manufacture from the grounds of Goodwood House. Upon the outbreak of WWII, he made land on the Goodwood Estate available to the military to aid the war effort.

Known as RAF Westhampnett during hostilities, Goodwood was home to 43, 129, 145, 602 and 610 squadrons, operating Spitfires, Hurricanes and North American P-51 Mustangs as a relief base for nearby RAF Tangmere.

The first operational sorties by fighter groups of the US Eighth Air Force were flown from Goodwood, while ace fighter Tony Gaze was stationed here, winning three medals for gallantry.

After the war, Tony Gaze persuaded Freddie March to convert the airfield perimeter road into a race circuit. Opened in September 1948, Britain’s first post-war motor race at a permanent venue was held here at Goodwood. Later, a civilian airfield was opened on the site, which continues to operate to this day.

The Freddie March Spirit of Aviation, now in its tenth year at the Revival, celebrates Goodwood’s indelible links with aviation. It is firmly established as a world-leading concours d’elegance for aircraft built up to 1966, celebrating the very finest in aviation design. It is one of the highlights of the Goodwood Revival, which is the world’s largest annual historic motor racing and vintage culture event.

This year over 30 aircraft have been invited to the event, representing a wide range of pre-1966 aircraft never before seen at the Goodwood Revival. These include…

A de Havilland Chipmunk which was first flown in 1947 and is the oldest still flying of its type in the world.  It is a previous winner of the King’s Cup Air Race and is being shipped to UK from Canada to celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of the Chipmunk appointed as Aviation Ambassador Aircraft for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

A Ryan SCW145 which is being shipped from Australia.  This aircraft is the only one of its type outside the USA still flying in the world.

An Albatros DV was the last in the line of Albatros fighters and remained in service until the end of the First World War. This aircraft is a replica DVa and was built in 2015 by the Vintage Aviator Ltd in New Zealand and is finished in the colours of Leutnant Baumer and is most noticeable for its distinctive Edelweiss painted on the fuselage.

A Blackburn B-2 is the type’s sole survivor, and is operated by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden.

Tickets are selling out fast for this unique event, to find out more please visit www.goodwood.com/tickets or call 01243 755055. 

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Editor’s Notes

Run every September since 1998, the Goodwood Revival is the world’s largest historic motor racing and vintage culture event, with a sell-out crowd of nearly 150,000 attending in period clothing each year. Held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the only motor sport venue on the planet to remain preserved in its original form, the Revival attracts visitors, racers and celebrities from all over the world. Highlights of the 2015 event, which took place on September 11-13, included 15 races for racing cars and bikes built up to 1966, a special tribute to motor sport legend Bruce McLaren, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Shelby’s world title with a special Sebring pit area, the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concours d’elegance, numerous air displays, Best-Dressed, the Revival Car Show presented by Stewart Miller and Peter James Insurance, an authentic Revival High Street, and the Over the Road entertainment area.

To access the Goodwood Media Centre for rights free images please click here:

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To view and share our Revival Film please use the following link:

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For all Media enquiries, please contact Laura Gilbert-Burke or Gema Bernaldo de Quiros at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755000

E-mail: laura.gilbert-burke@goodwood.com or gema.bernaldo@goodwood.com

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