G-AMSV Returns to Coventry
An old friend returned to Coventry yesterday when G-AMSV, in her striking Indian Air force livery, landed here for extensive maintenance by our engineers. Sierra Victor was part of the Air Altantique fleet here for many years. She'll...
Baginton Air Pageant
The initial details for the Baginton Air Pageant are up on the website! As we don't have the space for a full-on air show attracting 20,000 or so people, we're aiming for low-key, themed days like this. A couple of thousand people,...
Newquay Pleasure flights
We promised we'd be back to fly in Cornwall, and here we are. We'll be heading south with a Rapide and Chipmunk to spend a week at Newquay from 25th July, with a further visit planned in August. The flights are bookable in the normal...
New Dakota Book
Geoff Jones just told me that his new book on the DC-3, released to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Dak's appearance, is now available. The cover sports a lovely shot of G-ANAF, shot by Simon Westwood before her radome goiter was...
Nimrod Engine Run
We've just confirmed plans by NPT to run all four of the Nimrod's Rolls-Royce Speys on Saturday 9th May. We expect the thunder to start just after lunchtime. Come along and enjoy some audio power - and please dip into your pockets...
Jem Shaw
03/05/2015 14:15:43
Idris Elba at Airbase
There was a surprise in store for visitors to our air display yesterday when they saw Luther climbing into an Extra Sbach. Idris Elba was a top-secret part of our day when he and a phalanx of aerobatic competitors used our CAF as its base for an awrobatic competition that was then replayed on a giant screen on our apron. The displays were compered by none other than George Gently actor, Martin Shaw, giving the enthusiastic spectators a double celebrity whammy!
Jem Shaw
04/04/2015 14:27:35
Flying sideways
I snapped this phone photo of Dakota G-ANAF getting airborne at Coventry earlier this week. This was the day when the roads were littered with branches and wheelie bins, so the old girl needed a bootful of rudder to keep her tracking the centreline. Look at the angle of the windsock in the background!
Both our Daks are on lease to RVL at the moment, ready for fast response in their anti-pollution role. It's great to see them still out there earning their living, but we're looking forward to getting them back. Signs are good for them returning to passenger flying!
Geoff Ogden
31/03/2015 21:18:07
MEMBERS' INFORMATION Re Newquay
Members.
If you are a member and based in Cornwall, you may be wondering what will happen now that Newquay is closing.
Well a group of volunteers are attempting to maintain a facility at St Mawgan, Newquay. We are trying to create funds in order to run this facility this year. A number of the current static aircraft would then remain at Newquay – including the VC10 and BAC 1-11. We are also currently working on providing pleasure flying.
The new venture would be a separate trust to the current Classic Flight. But current members would be most welcome to use that membership at our new facility.
This is not guaranteed. We are working hard ...More >
Jem Shaw
09/10/2014 10:57:31
CAPTURING THE LIGHTNING
The English Electric Lightning rescued from the scrapyard with the help of our friends at Gateguards UK and the generous cooperation of BAe Systems has moved into the main hangar at Newquay. As you can see from the photograph, there's a lot of work to be done, but she's in surpisingly good shape so will be making her return to full beauty over the winter.
She stood for many years as gate guardian at BAe Sytems Samlesbury. I know there was a great deal of local upset when she was removed for scrapping, so I hope we'll see a few visitors making the journey from Lancashire to visit her in her new home.
Jem Shaw
05/10/2014 14:59:24
A GREAT DAY (...ISH)
Lovely to see so many people at Newquay yesterday when we ran our mini air show to round off a great season. Jon Corley put on a series of magnificent displays and the planes seemed to have a great time - the Meteor and Vampire were certainly whistling happily!
I'd have enjoyed the day even more if I hadn't managed to trip over the apron gate rails and faceplant the tarmac. It all seemed to go depressingly smoothly though while I was being glued back together (literally) at Newquay MIU.
(Superb photo by Kyle Greet)
