Category: FlyPost

A number of articles caught my eye in the November 2025 edition of FlyPast. It’s quite amazing sometimes how you can find a connection in various articles describing events that might at first seem a little obscure or buried deep in the past.

I loved the photos and description of the displays at 2025’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I was out there a few years ago and can confirm that it really is like a small town totally given over to aviation. If it has something to do with aviation and you want it badly enough, you will certainly find it there. Also, there is always much for us enthusiasts of historic aviation to get excited about. I remember seeing one of the two Boeing B-29 Superfortresses fly over at pretty low level. The noise was full of character and the sight of it gleaming in the sunshine… Well, only the word ‘Wow’ seems to sum it up.

I also noted with interest the article about the counterinsurgency operations which saw Bristol Sycamores being put to good use in the so-called Cyprus Emergency in the 1950s. My grandfather was out there for a while and says he remembers the first of those distinctive-looking helicopters arriving in Cyprus sometime in 1955. They were indeed initially tasked with search and rescue duties, to which they were well suited, but pretty soon the Sycamore crews were tasked with more hazardous missions. These were termed ‘Internal Security’ operations, as the article states.

Finally, it was good to read about the Thomas Castle Aviation Scholarship, taking what was obviously a very sad event and working hard to produce something positive from that. Good luck to all involved.
Maxwell Rhead
Splott, Cardiff

I was much impressed with the October issue of FlyPast and the articles about the Avro Vulcan. It was not in regular service when I was in the air force – I was a fighter controller from 1955 to 1957 – but I have retained an interest in the type ever since seeing one at Farnborough.

When I was in Cape Town from 1960 to 1961, I climbed Signal Hill to watch an aircraft carrier leave the harbour. As it left, a Vulcan dropped over Table Mountain and roared over the navy departure. It was a typically spectacular appearance by a Vulcan!
XH558 often visited Kemble and always gave a noisy and memorable display. I remain a fan but am sorry it is no longer flying.

Paul H
Cirencester, Gloucestershire

I would be most interested to know if any of my fellow FlyPast readers could throw light on two aircraft which I have been led to believe were the last of their type to be in operational service.
As an early 1950s ATC cadet, our squadron was on camp at RAF Woodvale near Southport. Flying out of there on a daily basis was a Spitfire which we were told was conducting Met flights and was the last Spitfire operating in the RAF. Does anyone know if it’s still flying?

Fast-forward to 1961-1963 when, as an aircraft electrical mechanic on Victor B2s carrying out the B2 flying trials and then with 232 OCU at RAF Cottesmore, we had occasional visits from a Royal Canadian Air Force Lancaster. I recall that, coincidentally, this aircraft was also on Met operations. Word on the base at the time was that the crew ‘engineered’ a fault (perish the thought!) in order to patronise a ‘watering hole’ of some repute on the nearby A1!

That’s as may be, but what I am intrigued to know is if this could have been VeRA which toured the UK in 2014? I had the good fortune to see her, along with our own BBMF Lancaster, at that year’s Southport Airshow. Maybe one of our friends ‘across the pond’ can ignite that light?
Mike Byrom
Prescot, Merseyside

Imagine my delight when my then four-year-old grandson George was asked what he wanted for his birthday, and he replied: “the magazine that grandad gets.” Yes, he wanted FlyPast!

We have had so much fun at airshows this year – three times at Duxford, Old Buckenham and the Shuttleworth Collection. Nearly all of them were affected by bad weather, but the thrill and excitement remained. I love sharing all of this with him and took this photo at the Duxford Flying Finale in October. Again, weather affected the display, but we did see the wonderful Catalina, Typhoon and the Red Arrows, and it did give us time to wander around the hangars – again!

This photo garnered much interest from passers-by! My dad flew Handley Page Hampdens in World War Two, so we will get down to Hendon to show him the version recently moved from RAF Cosford.

We have to encourage the younger generations to respect, understand and appreciate all that’s gone before. I, for one, love every moment of sharing my interest. I hope you are able to publish this and keep up the great work!

Peter Lord (and George),
Suffolk