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  • Memorable Vulcan appearance over Table Mountain

    Memorable Vulcan appearance over Table Mountain

    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

  • Spitfire and Lancaster – last of the line?

    Spitfire and Lancaster – last of the line?

    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

  • Starting early!

    Starting early!

    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

  • Hawker Hurricane moves to Old Warden

    Hawker Hurricane moves to Old Warden

    After almost 40 years at IWM Duxford, the Historic Aircraft Collection’s Hawker Hurricane G-HURI officially moved to a new home with Old Warden’s Shuttleworth Collection on November 26.

    The Hurricane, which is operated under the banner of the Polish Heritage Flight, was flown to Old Warden by Dave Harvey. Now on public display at the Bedfordshire attraction, the famous aircraft will continue to wear its distinctive 302 (City of Poznan) Squadron colour scheme, honouring the unit’s time at Duxford during the Battle of Britain and maintaining a visual link to a significant history.

    The move to the Shuttleworth Collection ensures the aircraft will remain airworthy and regularly displayed. Ownership will remain with the Historic Aircraft Collection and their commitment to the Polish Heritage Flight continues.

  • First flight for Fokker D.VII reproduction

    First flight for Fokker D.VII reproduction

    Paul Ford’s Fokker D.VII reproduction G-FKKR made its debut flight from Duxford on November 21 with Dan Griffith at the controls.

    Construction of the World War One fighter – which uses a downrated inverted de Havilland Gipsy Queen 30 engine in place of the type’s original six-cylinder Mercedes D.IIIa – began at Paul’s Jasta Binks Aviation facility at Derby during 2009. Arriving at Duxford on January 19, 2025, it wears the eye-catching lozenge and lilac scheme of Fokker D.VII OAW 4523/18, the personal mount of Lt Rudolf Stark during October 1918.

    This welcome addition to the UK airshow scene is expected to appear at 2026 events alongside Paul’s Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker reproduction.

  • Raspberry Ripple’ Hawk flies in civilian hands unveils 80th anniversary retro livery

    Raspberry Ripple’ Hawk flies in civilian hands unveils 80th anniversary retro livery

    The first flight of L39 Aviation Ltd’s British Aerospace Hawk T.1 G-HAWC took place at St Athan in South Wales on December 2 with Dave Harvey and John Hurrel in the cockpit.

    The former Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) jet has been returned to flight by Horizon Aircraft Services.

    Rolled out as T.1 XX342 in 1981, the Hawk was delivered to the ETPS at what is now MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, adorned in the operator’s famed ‘Raspberry Ripple’ scheme. It was used for both fast jet continuation and spin training until withdrawn in 2017. Acquired by L39 Aviation two years later, it was moved to St Athan and added to the UK civil register in 2020.

    The company is working alongside the CAA on a permit to test flight programme – the Hawk will relocate to L39’s base at Blackpool Airport in Lancashire to complete its certification.