Welcome to Aviation Classics, a new series of high-quality glossy publications centred on the world’s greatest aircraft, the events in which they played crucial roles and those who flew, maintained and supported them.

We begin with the Avro Lancaster, a type held in high regard by Bomber Command aircrew and an aircraft still admired by so many. The sight and sound of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s PA474 flying around the country will turn anyone’s head, and can bring a tear to the eye of those with a personal connection as it brings back emotional memories of fallen comrades and family. Over 55,000 Bomber Command aircrew didn't return home and many more were physically and mentally scarred. Ground crew, too, lost their lives with their efforts to keep the aircraft flying.
 

In the second edition we zoom in on the incredible North American P-51 Mustang, often referred to as the ‘cadillac of the sky’!
Features include exclusive air-to-air photography of a three-ship Mustang formation, which was organised by Maurice Hammond to take his recently restored war veteran 339th Fighter Group P-51D Marinell back to Fowlmere – almost 65 years to the day that it took off from the Cambridgeshire airfield and was shot down over France. This emotive inside story is not to be missed.
 

In the third edition we turn our attention to the quintessential British fighter of World War Two, the Supermarine Spitfire!
Contents will include:
■ The history behind the latest paint scheme applied to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s
■ Spitfire IIa P7350 – an aircraft that actually fought in the crucial aerial conflict of 1940
■ No.19 Squadron – the first RAF unit to receive the legendary type while based at Duxford
■ Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires – variants of the famous fighter which flew alone and unarmed to gather vital intelligence

We turn the clock back to World War One, when military aviation was in its infancy and aerial combat was a new concept of war.
Called the ‘Great War’, it was a name which described the extensive destruction and impact it left on the world. Highlighting the mass carnage of World War One, when the Battle of the Somme began at 07:30 on 1 July 1916 – following a brief and eerie silence as tens of thousands of men considered their fate in the next few minutes – whistles blew and the first British and French infantrymen left their muddy trenches to meet a deadly hail of machine-gun fire.

In issue 5 of the 'Aviation Classics' series we go 'supersonic' by showcasing the incredible 'English Electric Lightning'- the all-British jet fighter capable of travelling at twice the speed of sound.

Writing for this edition are several ex-Lightning pilots, describing from first hand experience various eras of the Lightning's 28 years of service with the RAF.

Edited and compiled once again by Jarrod Cotter, the issue will comprise the publication's now-established high-quality mix of features and photographs showing the jet off to great effect and will include the following:

■ A focus on 74 squadron, the first RAF unit to receive the Lightning into service
■ Flying the Lightning F2A during the Cold War in RAF Germany
■ The Lightning Preservation Group - caring for the type in a former Q-shed
■ The origins of its design and some of the famous squadrons which operated this amazing aircraft

Coming next from Aviation Classics…

We’ll pay tribute to ‘The Few’ in a special issue published to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Aviation Classics will cover numerous aspects of the crucial aerial conflict which took place in the summer of 1940, as well as looking at some of 2010’s significant occurrences to mark the occasion in this milestone year.

Make sure you don’t miss it!

Aviation Classics : Lancaster Avro
Published: 29 October 2009 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Aviation Classics : The P-51 Mustang
Published: 29 January 2010 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Aviation Classics : The Supermarine Spitfire
Published: 26 March 2010 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Aviation Classics : Knight of the Sky
Published: 28 May 2010 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Aviation Classics : English Electric Lightning
Published: 30 July 2010 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Aviation Classics : Battle of Britain
On Sale: 24 September 2010 Direct from Mortons Media Group Ltd and WH Smiths
Price: £6.99

Buy current/next issue: www.classicmagazines.co.uk
Buy back issues: www.classicissues.com

• 132-page perfect bound
• A4 magazine
• Full colour with B/W archive images

For Further Press Information Please Contact:
Sarah Downing
Marketing Manager
Mortons Media Group Ltd
Tel: 01507 529342
Email: sdowning@mortons.co.uk

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Advertising Exeutive: Jamie Moulson
Email: advertising@aviationclassics.co.uk
Telephone: 01507 529465
Media Pack: Click here to download (PDF)