Storm Amy left most of Duxford’s Flying Finale grounded, with just three aircraft taking to the skies, raising serious questions about whether the day justified the cost.

Low cloud and strong winds hung over the airfield as visitors gathered for what had been billed as the crowning display of the season.

IWM Duxford is known for its historic aircraft and seasonal flying days, and the Flying Finale was positioned as the headline event of 2025. Ten displays were promised. Instead, under the grip of Storm Amy, only three aircraft flew: the Catalina flying boat, a Eurofighter Typhoon and the Red Arrows.

Safety comes first. But the decision to proceed left many visitors questioning the value of the day.

Two tickets alone cost £80 and, with food, drinks and additional charges to board static aircraft, the total could easily exceed £140. For just three flying displays across seven hours, that is difficult to justify.

Communication made matters worse.

Staff were unable to confirm when flying might begin, and even the standard 1pm to 4pm flying window went unmentioned. Announcements struggled to carry across the windy airfield, and promised social media updates never appeared. A simple briefing explaining which aircraft were grounded and why would have gone some way toward managing expectations.

When aircraft did take to the skies, the flying itself was impressive.

The Catalina was a rare sight, gliding above the airfield with unmistakable wartime elegance. The Eurofighter Typhoon delivered the expected thunder and speed of modern combat aircraft. The Royal Air Force Red Arrows followed, flying eight jets in tight formation and delivering the precision and spectacle they are known for.

These moments landed. They just did not last.

With only three displays across an entire day, the long gaps between flights left the programme feeling thin.

On the ground, period actors added colour, but the site struggled to absorb the crowds sheltering from the weather. Catering queues stretched, covered spaces filled quickly, and families searching for ways to pass the time found little beyond static displays and hangars.

Frustration was not limited to casual visitors. Writing on forums.airshows.co.uk, one attendee suggested that “even a credit of the difference show price and the museum price would have been a gesture of contrition, might have sweetened the sour mood in the crowd.”

Events like these require extensive planning, and organisers cannot control the weather. But customer experience is still a choice.

Duxford remains a world class aviation museum. This finale, however, risked eroding goodwill among visitors who expected far more from the season’s headline event.

If disruption is inevitable, communication and care cannot be optional. Without them, even the most anticipated events begin to feel expendable.