   This particular Bell AH-1F attack helicopter was a gift by the US Department of Defense to the British Army Flying Museum. It can be seen on display in the Museum, on the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop, in Hampshire.

Aeronautica

The hugely successful Bell AH-1

The unique Sea Hurricane Ib, the sole flyable 'hooked Hurricane' in the world, is seen here at Old Warden airfield, home of the Shuttleworth Trust. 

The Hawker Sea Hurricane Ib - the Royal Navy's first 300 mph fighter

The unique Shield Xyla is powered by a Ground Power Unit, and is a very eccentric British one-off aircraft! 

The Shield Xyla -showing that every Ground Power Unit has its day!

The aircraft described has since been moved from the RAF Museum, London to the RAF Museum, Cosford. The 'thumbnail' image shows it in its new home.   

The Sopwith One and a Half Strutter - crazy name, great aircraft

   Here we see an immaculate DHC-1 Chipmunk, in a 'modified' version of a Chipmunk of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Royal Air Force's last user of the classic Canadian-designed trainer.

Ep. 15 Almost a BBMF Chipmunk - a wolf in wolf's clothing

   This superbly restored C-47A is now with Kermit Weeks' private collection in the U.S.A. It is shown here at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, Gloucestershire, England, wearing the markings it wore on D-Day, 5/6th June, 1944. Flying from RAF Upottery, it carried part of Easy Company, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division, U S Army, the famous 'Band of Brothers'.

The C-47A - a magnificent D-Day survivor

G-XCUB, seen here, is a typical Piper PA-18 Super Cub; an aircraft design that keeps going and going and going.............          

The Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub - the aircraft that will not quit

Here is a fine example of the Druine D.5 Turbi - a classic French two-seater, constructed of wood. 

A less turbulent Druine aircraft - the D.5 Turbi

   Here we see a North American T-28C Trojan at Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts. Typical of the breed, it is a burly trainer with blunt lines

The T-28 Trojan - at the end of a long road trip

 The photograph shows a V-1 missile loaded on to its launch ramp at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire

The V-1 - technical success, tactical failure

  The Westland Belvedere HC.1, the RAF's first 'heavy-lift' helicopter, had a difficult 'birth' and never really fulfilled its promise.

This rotorcraft fell between two stools (or two rotors) - the Westland (Bristol) Belvedere HC.1

 The Midland Air Museum, Coventry has preserved an example of the F.6 version of the BAC (formerly, English Electric Co Ltd) Lightning. Even today the aircraft looks 'modern', with its highly swept wings and angular lines. The last of the RAF's interceptors, and a classic jet fighter. Please note that the 'thumbnail' photograph shown here is of a preserved Lightning F.1, on display at the RAF Museum, Cosford, as part of the National Cold War Exhibition.

The last of the true interceptors - the BAC Lightning F.6

The Auster Autocrat was a most significant, British-built, post-War light aircraft. Indeed, it has been described as 'the epitome of a gentleman's aerial carriage'. Here we see an very early example (1946), still active from the Imperial War Museum's Duxford Airfield.   

A vision in silver - the Auster Autocrat

   The 22,000lb MC, "Grand Slam' bomb shown here, on its custom-built trailer, is on display at Brooklands Museum, site of a former Vickers Ltd facility.        

'A ‘bigger bang’ – the 22,000 lb MC ‘Grand Slam’ bomb'

 Here is the former N485EV, a Boeing 747-212B, at Quonset State Airport, Rhode Island, USA, after being converted to resemble a VC-25A. This 'Presidential aircraft' is now in Washington D.C., being used as an educational tool for schoolchildren.

A 'fake' Air Force One

An aviation life - aircraft, airfields, museums, airshows - and Mosquitoes!

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Aeronautica

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