FNG - yes, I fly a purple one but I also fly a red one and a white one! And every minute spent in my workshop brings me closer to flying a brand new one - have an idea of the paint scheme but will keep that quiet until I actually buy the paint!
IO540 - can't recall doing any circuits at Duxford, am normally cleared straight in from the east or join downwind if I have been aerobatting there to be critiqued by some of the UK's finest.
If you are concerned, let me know what date this heinous act occurred and I'll check my log-book. If it was me and I am quietly confident that it wasn't, I'll buy the beers.
The problem in the bipe stems from the fact that it is generally a constant rate turn from downwind to short final to allow oneself to see the r'way. If on downwind at 110/120mph it is not uncommon to quickly start overhauling traffic in front, as one generally pulls power abeam the numbers and starts to turn and descend at say 95/100mph, it is VERY tempting to nip in front of traffic who are extending their downwind legs. Tempting because if you have to follow them into the next county, you are going to have to slow down, the more you slow, the higher goes the nose, the higher the nose goes, the less you can see out the front! It is quite an eerie feeling knowing that somewhere in front of you is a C150 but you don't know exactly how far!
Nipping in front and flying a very tight circuit generally causes very few problems, the issue is that unless a "belly-check" (rolling wings level and looking away from the runway) is done when approaching 90 degrees to runway heading you will NOT be able to see any traffic on final. This can be disastrous at worst and does lead to the sort of negativity towards very maneouverable, fast moving biplanes that IO540 has experienced.
Anecdotally - my first ever foray into the PFA Rally in 1997 in my vintage taildragger, I was nicely established on a 1 mile final when a yellow Pitts cut me up beautifully. We both continued downward and onward and he was told to land short, I was asked if I could comply with "land long".
Yes, it was a bit stressful but in reality it was a pretty minor em******ance! A few months later, I met the owner/pilot of that yellow bumble bee and recounted my tale. He swore that he'd not seen me!
I do try and promote "belly-checks" at all possible opportunites if flying a curved approach.
Stik
Stik