Escapee’s Auster on display in Doncaster
The fuselage section of Auster J1.N G-AHHP has recently been positioned on display at Doncaster’s South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum (SYAM).
German-owned Spitfire returns to UK register
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVIIIe SM845 has been returned to the UK Register as G-BUOS, having been acquired by Duxford’s Aircraft Restoration Company.
Westland Dragonfly restoration progress
The Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group is making progress with its restoration of Westland Dragonfly HR.5 WN499.
Swedish Spitfire moved within museum
The Swedish Air Force Museum’s recreation of a reconnaissance Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIX, designated 31051, has been given a new display space at the Linköping attraction.
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Aeroplane July 2024
July 2024 issue of Aeroplane in page-turning format is a Cold War special featuring Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird' and how its association with Britain began
Red Bull DC-6 visits the Mach Loop for event
Red Bull’s Douglas DC-6B, OE-LDM, paid a visit to the Mach Loop low flying area today (May 31, 2024) in support of an event being staged in one of the valleys which makes up the Loop.
Historic Aviation Quiz
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Korean veteran Corsair christened ‘Devotion’
The Siegerland, Germany-based Flying Legends collection has named its Korean War veteran Chance-Vought F4U-5NL Corsair after Adam Makos’ 2015 book Devotion.
Taking the Blackburn Beverley to the brink
How did we end up in a situation where the last remaining Blackburn Beverley had to be saved from a possible demise? In general, the big British airlifter hasn’t enjoyed the happiest life in preservation
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The Latest Historic Aviation News All in One Place
This is your one stop shop for everything you could possibly want to know about historic aviation. Historic aircraft flights, displays and renovations can all be found among the categories and articles linked to from this page.
Readers can find categories for Warbirds, restoration projects by individuals and organisations such as museums, and in-depth resources on iconic aircraft from all the corners of the globe. Whether it is the Hughes H-4 Hercules Spruce Goose, Boeing C-137 Stratoliner, Aerospatiale / British Aircraft Corporation Concorde, Tupolev Tu-144, Hawker Harrier jump-jet or any other historic commercial and military aircraft, the information is here at your fingertips.
Warbird News & Projects
Warbird enthusiasts spend their time bringing iconic military aircraft back to life and in some cases even back to a state of airworthiness. The name Warbird originally referred only to World War 2 era aircraft but has since been widened to include all historical military aircraft.
Popular Warbird types include the North American P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and the Messerschmitt Bf109. While one or two-seat fighters are affordable for the individual enthusiast to restore, aviation museums and groups of people take on much larger aircraft. Examples of these, include, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Avro Lancaster. The most famous of recent years must be the Avro Vulcan supersonic bomber, which is now on a static display in the UK but flew for several years at airshows.
Spitfire Fighter Aircraft
The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably the most iconic World War II era European aircraft. Credited with a significant role in the Battle of Britain victory against the Luftwaffe’s assault on Great Britain in the summer of 1940, the propeller driven fighter was designed by Reginald J Mitchell at Supermarine Aviation. Mitchell designed the Spitfire with the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Griffon engines in mind because he saw their potential when combined with the aircraft’s unique aerodynamics.
The Spitfire first flew on 5th March 1936 from Eastleigh Aerodrome. However, due to production issues and limitations in Supermarine’s manufacturing process, the first production Spitfire did not take to the skies for a further 2 years. The Spitfire was born four months after the maiden flight of its partner aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane. Together they would deny Nazi Germany air superiority over England and the English channel.
Aircraft Restorations
The restoration of historical aircraft is a challenge full of difficult obstacles with missing engines, control system parts, and the need for significant fuselage, wing or tail repair. The long, slow process of restoring an aircraft to a flight worthy condition or simply for static display is taken up by many individuals, but also museums and groups of enthusiasts.
The restorations undertaken can be as small as a one-seat civilian bi-plane or the always popular Warbirds, or as large as a Lockheed C-121C Constellation. Museums that tackle large scale restorations include the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in Missouri and the Museum of Flight in Everett, Washington. These museums have restored early propeller driven passenger aircraft and the early airliners built in the USA and Europe, like the de Havilland Comet.
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