As slow and rickety as it might have been, George missed his Cleansweep Five, tragically lost, along with his ear, at the battle over Little Whinging. Yes, since the opening of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, George had earned enough money that he could have bought himself a Firebolt if he'd wanted, but he and that old Cleansweep had been through a lot together.
Of course, that nostalgia didn't prevent him from buying the latest racing model of the time once the Cleansweep snuffed it, and he had to admit, the new broom was a hell of a lot more comfortable.
Filled with excitement at an active "search and destroy" mission, George spent the first part of the trip circling the center of the group to work of some of the tension. As time wore on, he slipped back into the old standard of keeping the troops entertained. Nothing flashy or dangerous, just a few well-placed jokes.
Being a goof really did help, even if it only served to distract him.