THE LITTLE AND LARGE DUO DISBAND AFTER 10 YEARS OF DISPLAY FLYING
The Extra Duo Display Team have announced that the 2022 airshow season was their last season of display flying and after 10 years the team has come to an end.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 31, the aerobatic display team said “personal commitments ” and the “general logistics of making the display work” were the reason behind this choice.
The news comes after 2 other British aerobatic teams The Yakovles and the Blades aerobatic team announced that they won’t return in 2023 or that 2023 will be their last season.
Extra Duo Display Team logo
For 10 years Chris Burkett and Mike Williams have entertained the crowds at British airshows with their unique synchronised display of a full-sized high-performance, single-seat Extra 300S aircraft flown by Chris Burkett and a 40% scale, radio-controlled model flown by Mike Williams. The team often called the “little and large” debuted at the Little Gransden Air & Car Show and since then performed at a number of airshows all over the UK.
The Extra 300 aircraft was designed by former world aerobatic championship competitor, Walter Extra, with a single aim in mind; to be the world’s top-performing competition aerobatic aircraft. He succeeded. The German-designed Extra 300 is the world’s most successful certified sport and performance aerobatic aircraft. It has proven its performance in international aerobatic competitions, and in combination with its great handling and stability, it is the perfect cross-country touring aircraft. For pure power, handling and performance nothing can match the Extra.
The full-size Extra came from the production line. The model extra came from Mike’s workshop. With a 3.1m wingspan, a length of 2.9m and weighing 18kg – this is no off-the-shelf model. Scale performance is similar in most areas to the full-size version apart from the power-to-weight ratio.
Photo source Extra Duo Display Team facebook page
Statement from the team;
“Morning everyone.
We need to start by saying a huge thank you to everyone we have met and who has come and enjoyed our displays over the last 10 years.
Sadly we, the team, have made the decision to finish our displays after the 2022 season due to personal commitments and the general logistics of making the display work.
It has been a great achievement and total pleasure for us, not only to bring something as individual and unique to the Airshow circuit but also to have had the response that has been received and friendships that have been made from all of the people we have met along the way.
With thanks to all of the show organisers, staff and helpers, supporters and followers. This will always be a great memory for us and hopefully you all too.
We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our journey and have been blessed with blue skies and great times.
Extra Duo Display Team
Signing off.”
