Europe's Only Airworthy Grumman Wildcats | Duxford Flying Finale 2026

Display by Europe’s two airworthy Grumman Wildcats at the 2026 Duxford Flying Finale. In a first at a British airshow, two Grumman Wildcat FM2s performed a pairs routine at this year's Flying Finale, both operated by the Fighter Collection however AX773 is operated on behalf of its private owner. Wildcat AX773 has finally flown its first display since restoration, it suffered a crash in 2023 whilst landing at the Heveningham Hall Country Fair. The aircraft suffered substantial damage but fortunately, the pilot received non-life threatening injuries. It was deduced that the accident was caused by a softening grass runway caused by hot weather. It joins G-RUMW of the Fighter Collection and both aircraft were built as General Motors FM2 variants of the F4F Wildcat. Both aircraft wear Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm paint schemes, G-RUMW wears a scheme that represents JV579, a Grumman Martlet III from HMS Tracker from around the timeframe of D-Day in 1944. AX773 represents a desert schemed Martlet from 805 Squadron Naval Air Squadron flown by Sub Lieutenant W. M. Walsh. Timeline - 00:00 | Pairs Takeoff 00:31 | Run-In for Display 00:52 | Display 05:50 | Final Pass & Display Conclusion 06:08 | Pairs Landing 06:58 | Taxi to Parking 07:57 | Outro #aviation #aircraft #duxford #airshow #duxfordflyingfinale2026 #warbirds #f4fwildcat #grummanwildcat #radialfighter #fightercollection #aircraftrestorationcompany #fleetairarm