A PASSION for engines ran through the veins of visitors to an air and vehicle show this weekend.

The Wings and Wheels event at Fishburn Airfield, near Sedgefield, County Durham, on Saturday was a chance for owners to show off their beloved vehicles and admirers to see them up close.

Sam Woodgate, who runs Fishburn Airfield and organised the event, said: “It is for local people who love anything with an engine, there is a real mix of airplanes and vehicles but I think everyone who came shares a passion for engines and can appreciate each others’ particular favourites.”

Star of the show was a Harvard plane from the Imperial War Museum, at Duxford, which was restored at Fishburn last year and whose distinctive thundering engine thrilled enthusiasts.

Mr Woodgate said: “It always pulls in crowds, it sounds dramatic and looks great in the air.

“Seeing it fly is really special because we rarely get to see the big war birds up here as most are down south where there are more museums and airfields.

“It has a nine cylinder engine which makes an awesome noise, at our show it is right there next to you and people can talk to the pilot after they’ve flown.”

A Jet Provost also gave fly past demonstrations and though some of the lighter visiting craft did not fly because of high winds people were still keen to learn about Purple Aviation’s move to the airfield, which means it can now run flight experiences and training from Fishburn.

“Microlights are the future of recreational flying and it can be done here now, what once seemed like an unachievable dream is now on the doorstep and more accessible,” said Mr Woodgate.

Aircraft Restoration Group, which plans to open a museum called Fishburn Heritage Aviation Centre at the site, displayed two of its craft.

Its 1957 de Havilland Venom had just come out of the paint shop a week earlier and visitors got to step inside a 1952 de Havilland Dove, which it hopes to ground run at future events following cosmetic restoration.

Chairman Mike Eastman said: “People enjoyed learning about them and also the group.

“We have about 20 members including people from aircraft industry and military backgrounds to a shopkeeper and warehouseman, all with the same interest and trying to preserve history and to keep skills like metalwork and woodwork going.

“We need to raise another £47,000 to get the project up and running and more volunteers, we have five people ask about getting involved by lunchtime.”

Alongside the planes there was an array of land vehicles from military vehicles such as a German half-track to pristine cars including classics such as a pristine Fiat 500, Jaguars and Porsches, along with bikes, tractors and kit cars.