The nostalgic appeal of the Goodwood Revival is set to reach new heights for 2007 with an additional aeronautical attraction that recalls the style and excitement of flying as it used to be. For the 2007 Goodwood Revival, the “Freddie March Spirit of Aviation” is planned to be the first of a world-class annual “concours d’elegance” for historic aircraft, built up to 1966, the same cut-off year as all motor vehicles permitted on site at the Motor Circuit during the hugely popular three-day Goodwood Revival meeting.
Since the Earl of March reintroduced motor racing at the celebrated Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1998, aircraft have formed a key part of the Goodwood Revival activities. At the 2006 event, for example, no less than eight Supermarine Spitfires took to the air over Goodwood, the most seen in West Sussex skies since World War II. The origins of the Goodwood Motor Circuit are based around the perimeter road of former RAF Westhampnett, a key Battle of Britain airfield and the location of Sir Douglas Bader’s final sortie. Freddie March, the present Earl of March’s grandfather, was a keen aviation engineer, as well as an accomplished racing driver and vehicle coachwork designer.
The aim of the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation is to bring together some of the world’s finest, most elegant, original and rarely-seen airplanes from the evocative pioneering days of aviation, to create an added spectacle at the Revival that all racegoers will be able to get up close to and enjoy. Inspiration for this important new static aviation concours event comes partly from the hugely popular Cartier “Style et Luxe” car design competition, held annually during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as well as the successful Vintage Aeroplane Fly-In, staged for the first time last year at the Goodwood Aero Club.
Goodwood will pull together an expert panel of aviation historians and enthusiasts to hand pick around 30 important aircraft from around the world, with the ultimate winner gaining what promises to be the coveted Freddie March Spirit of Aviation trophy at the prize giving ceremony on the Revival Sunday, September 2. To be eligible for this award, every airplane must be airworthy, and the expert judging panel will consider each aircraft’s condition, originality, flight time, flight experience and maintenance record. Owners of suitable aircraft can register their interest in entering their airplanes by calling the Spirit of Aviation Chairman, Rob Wildeboer at +44 (0)1243 755064, or by e-mailing: spirit@goodwood.co.uk.
