Goodwood is not just about cars. The circuit is on the site of RAF Westhampnett which was built in 1938 to provide emergency landing for fighter aircraft during the war. Built on land owned by the Duke of Richmond, Frederick Gordon-Lennox. It closed in 1946 and is now the Goodwood Race circuit. It is also still an airfield and all weekend, planes and helicopters constantly land and take off.
Lockheed P-38L Lightning Built in 1944 and used in all war zones and was decommissioned in 1949. It was later raced and is the fastest Lightning at 440mph. It looks awesome.
We get to see some fantastic historical aircraft, all of which are air worthy.
The Spitfires.
A Spitfire is easy to recognise
*This is a Curtiss P-40F Warhawk * Built in Canada in 1942 and went to war in the Pacific but was decommissioned in 1943 and left on an island. It was recovered and restored 68 years later and now flys over West Sussex.
*Goodyear FG-1D Corsair *
The Harvard IIb trainer from 1942. This is powered by a 22ltr 9 cylinder 600bhp Pratt & Whitney engine.
The P51 Mustang is one of two
All photos by me.
Flying shots using a Canon 350d with 200mm zoom lens.
Ground shots using a little Casio Exilim.