Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. Up until this point what would become the RAF had been the Royal Flying Corps, the aviation element of the Army. This key development shortly before the end of the First World War confirmed the aeroplane's importance in warfare and started a … Continue reading RAF 100 – 10 Decades 10 Types
My first "live" aviation event of 2018 was a short trip down to the Gatwick Aviation Museum. It will always be a surreal sight discovering this hidden treasure trove of 1950s and 60s British aircraft just a few hundred yards away from the busy day to day activities of Gatwick airport. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/26240258857/in/dateposted-public/ The museum's first … Continue reading Gatwick Aviation Museum Shackleton and Lightning Engine Run Day 24th March 2018
This May/June marks 30 years since the aerial filming took place for the ITV television series " Piece Of Cake" based on the Derek Robinson Novel of the same name. The show is a classic for any warbird enthusiast with some stunning flying and great characters. Robinson's original novel followed the fictional Hornet Squadron though … Continue reading When Piece of Cake came to Headcorn – 30 years on
Following on from the resounding successful launch by numerous operators of two seat Spitfire flights, along with the exciting prospect of a two seat Buchon in 2018, it is unsurprising that talk of a two seat Hurricane has started to crop up. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/38572374062/in/album-72157688820126531/ Back in October I visited Hawker Restorations who confirmed at that time … Continue reading Warbird People: A Hurricane Built For Two? Hawker Restorations Update
With no main feature for this weekend to post I thought I would share a few images from an enjoyable couple of hours spent at Duxford yesterday. You certainly wouldn't have thought it was only mid-February with the amount of aerial activity and lovely weather, without the breeze it could have even been quite warm! … Continue reading Springlike Duxford in February
The last post in this series took a look at some of the early jet engine designs that were underdevelopment or flown in the second world war. In this instalment lets take a look at some of the more unique designs used during the closing days of WW2 along with some iconic post war jet … Continue reading Aero Engines of History Part 6 – Rockets, Pulses and Post War
2018 marks the end of the 100 year anniversary commemorations of the Great War. Seemingly under the radar the past four years have seen the UK First World War Aviation community grow and diversify across a number of groups. As we approach 100 years of the armistice being signed, I wanted to take a look … Continue reading WW1 100 – Aviation Highlights
This month’s “Warbird People” sees me speak with Ed Vesely, the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Helldiver pilot, a self-described “caretaker of history” who takes on the responsibility of flying this unique airframe and keeping history alive telling the important stories of the veterans that flew the SB2C. Curtiss aircraft throughout the company’s history maintained that … Continue reading Warbird People – Ed Vesely on Flying the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
I already completed two posts in 2017 taking a look at the history of the Kestrel powered Hawker biplanes as well as detailed history of the airworthy examples in the UK. Alongside the wonderful original quintet of airworthy machines there are also a pair of original Harts in the RAF Museum collection alongside a Hind … Continue reading Hawker Biplane Family Part 3 – Hart Survivors
The news broke last week that long-time Duxford resident and airshow favourite P-51D 'Ferocious Frankie' would be moving on to a new life and new owner in Turkey. The Mustang had been announced as being sold for a few months so it did not come as a surprise that the airframe would be leaving the … Continue reading Pastures New – Farewell to ‘Frankie’
