Vimy’s last flight to Brooklands
15 December 2009

On Sunday 15 November 2009, airworthy Vickers Vimy replica NX71MY made its last flight when it was ferried from Dunsfold to Brooklands where it is now retired from flying.
The huge biplane was moved into the Brooklands Museum’s Wellington Hangar on 19 November and the Vimy exhibition was formally opened on the 21st. The decision was not taken lightly, but Brooklands Museum does not have a suitable permanent runway so it has had to rely on the generosity of others who have provided facilities to house the machine on their airfields in the last three years.

The museum is exceptionally grateful to those organisations at Dunsfold, Oxford and Duxford which made this possible. However, while the aircraft has been based at private or restricted-access premises this has meant that the museum’s own visitors could rarely see it, and ideally Brooklands wanted one of its most important exhibits on regular display.
The Vimy’s appearance in the air at recent events including the Goodwood Revival (where it is illustrated) in September proved to be very memorable, but the Trustees and management of the Brooklands Museum believe that the Vimy can be equally effective in evoking the spirit and lessons of the great pioneering flights by being properly displayed on the ground.
During its time flying the Vimy re-created several significant historical achievements, flying from England to Australia in 1994, England to South Africa in 1999 and non-stop trans-Atlantic flights in 2005 and 2009. Although now grounded, it will be maintained in full airworthy condition and capable of ground-running, and will continue to be a permanent tribute to pioneering aviators such as Alcock and Brown.

Opening of Kissimmee Air Museum’s new Exhibit:
‘Pearl Harbor and Air Power - the stories behind the events’
15 December 2009

Just in time to mark the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Warbird Adventures’ President, Graham Meise, graphic artist Neal Sands and exhibit designer Syd Jones (former curator and restoration director of the Pacific Aviation Museum - Pearl Harbor) have just completed a new series of exhibits for the Kissimmee Air Museum. The new expanded exhibits trace the rise of air power from the predictions of Billy Mitchell in 1924, that Pearl Harbor would be attacked by the Japanese on a Sunday morning to the actual attack on 7 December 1941.

Included in the new displays are never seen before photos taken from a Japanese bomber that give visitors to the museum a bird’s eye view of the attack taken on that ‘day of infamy’. The new exhibits are developed around wartime artefacts and tell the little known stories that swirl around the events of the day, bringing to life the facts that people have read about.
The new additions add to the interactive experience visitors have at the Kissimmee Air Museum where they can witness the restoration of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 project in the ‘WWII Fighter Aircraft Restoration Center’, or fly in the front cockpit of an authentic wartime T-6 trainer.

Kissimmee Air Museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Sundays from July though November. Admission: $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children under 12, Children under 5 free. For more information on the museum and Warbird Adventures’ flights in a T-6 or helicopter, call (800) 386-1593 or visit www.warbirdadventures.com. Located at 233 N. Hoagland Blvd. Kissimmee, FL  34741

Record attempt for Airfix’s 70th anniversary
15 December 2009

This December marks the 70th Anniversary of Airfix; the fascinating, affordable and intricate plastic model kits that have kept generations of children entertained since 1939. To celebrate this anniversary, Airfix and the Royal Air Force Museum invited members of the public to help achieve a brand new Guinness World Record for the most number of Spitfire model aircraft constructed in a day - with each person participating able to take their completed model home to keep totally free of charge as a thank you for taking part and an early Christmas present from both great British institutions.

In addition to this, throughout the day Airfix will be running a second competition whereby children of all ages are invited to create a new box design, taking inspiration from an exhibition of illustrations that have been used throughout the years by Airfix to promote their kits. In return, the artist of the winning design will receive a signed copy of ‘The Boy’s Book of Airfix’ and a selection of artist’s materials to the value of £50.

The world record attempt will take place on Saturday 19 December 2009 and will consist of two workshops running from 10:30am to 12:30pm and from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Thanks to a wonderful response, all the people required for this record attempt have now been accepted. Accordingly the organisers are no longer seeking any further applications. However, as an extra special treat for Airfix aficionados Arthur Ward, Airfix’s official historian and author of ‘The Boys Book of Airfix’ will be giving a talk at 12:00 in the Museum’s lecture theatre about Airfix’s fascinating history and will be on hand to sign copies of his book. For further details about this event please dial 020 8205 2266.

US Court of Appeals Rules Against CAF in P-82 Ownership
15 December 2009

In a judgment filed during November 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favour of the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) in the ownership dispute of the North American P-82B Twin Mustang 44-65162. “We had hoped that the de novo review would end in favour of the CAF,” said Commemorative Air Force President Stephan Brown. The Twin Mustang joined the CAF Ghost Squadron in 1966 and was flown in support of the CAF’s mission to Honor American Military Aviation for 20 years, before it was damaged in an accident in 1987.

Since the aircraft’s accident, the CAF had been searching within its membership for someone willing to help restore it. This P-82 would have been the only flying Twin Mustang in the world had the CAF had the opportunity to proceed with restoration. Since 1987, the P-82 was kept in the hangar at CAF International Headquarters, where it was viewed by CAF Airpower Museum and AIRSHO visitors. In the summer of 2009, following the judgment of the District Court, the P-82 was dismantled and shipped to the NMUSAF in Dayton, Ohio.

Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the Commemorative Air Force is a non-profit educational association, which has approximately 9,000 members and a fleet of 156 aircraft distributed throughout the country to 74 units located in 27 states. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org

Chief of Air Staff opens new exhibition
25 November 2009 - PHOTOS: RAF Museum

ACM Sir Stephen Dalton officially opening the MH-53 exhibition at the RAF Museum Cosford.

On 12 November the Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low exhibition at the National Cold War Exhibition, Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, was launched. The combat search and rescue helicopter is the first aircraft of its type to go on display in the UK and was kindly donated by the United States Air Force. The supporting exhibition, which greatly enhances the display, was made possible by sponsorship from Sikorsky.

The opening was conducted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Steven Dalton, RAF Chief of Air Staff. Sir Stephen also took a tour of the Cosford site including a visit to the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre.

David Powell, Sikorsky Vice President, Sales, The Americas & Global Oil, commented: “The National Cold War Exhibition in the RAF Museum at Cosford will provide a marvellous historical perspective of this time period, and the inclusion of the venerable Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low helicopter will add to the historical perspective. We are excited about the opportunity to provide sponsorship for this exhibition and to continue to rekindle the strong legacy of Sikorsky Aircraft in the United Kingdom.”

Collings Foundation’s Corsair is Kissimmee Air Museum’s VIP over the holiday season
25 November 2009 - KT Budde-Jones

The latest VIP (Very Important Plane) to visit the Kissimmee Air Museum, located at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Florida, USA, is the Collings Foundation’s rare Vought F4U-5NL Corsair. In addition to the museum’s permanent collection of vintage aircraft and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 restoration project, visiting aircraft have acted like travelling exhibits as they stop at the museum to share their history. In the past Liberty Foundation’s Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle spent a week at the museum offering flights and Larry Kelley’s North American B-25 Mitchell Panchito, which has already spent time at the museum, is scheduled to return in March 2010 again offering flights. The Valiant Air Command’s war veteran Douglas C-47 Tico Belle also came to the museum recently.

The Corsair’s distinctive gull wing design and prestigious combat history make it one of the most famous fighters built during World War Two and an icon for a generation of aircraft enthusiasts who grew up hearing the stories of such groups as the ‘Black Sheep Squadron’. After World War Two the Corsair showed it was still technologically competitive in an era when most of the propeller-driven fighters were being replaced by jets.

The F4U Corsair was designed to employ the largest engine and propeller ever fitted to a fighter up to that point. First flown in May 1940, its entrance into the combat arena with the US Navy was delayed due to concerns about visibility and landing characteristics. Land-based Marines were the first US forces to fly the Corsair in combat in March 1943. It was not until the British proved that the Corsair could safely operate from carriers that the Navy put the F4U into service in January 1944. A total of 24 Corsair pilots became aces during the war eliminating any doubt about the type’s fighting ability.

After the end of World War Two the Corsair continued to serve in the military. Corsair Bureau Number (BuNo) 124692 supported UN soldiers in Korea, serving aboard the carrier Essex with VC-3 flying 77 combat hours over Korea, most of its service as a night-fighter. Today it supports the Collings Foundation’s fight to preserve aviation history in its original VC-3 configuration, honouring those who sacrificed so much, so many years ago.

The Collings Foundation is dedicated to preserving and sharing aviation history, to honour veterans of World War Two, educate future generations and most importantly keep the few remaining examples of aviation history flying. Their Wings of Freedom Nationwide Tour is a living history display and flying museum that offers tours and flights in their Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and North American P-51C Mustang. The Collings Foundation’s F4U-5 Corsair will be on display for Kissimmee Air Museum visitors to enjoy during the Wings of Freedom’s Tour winter hiatus.

Kissimmee Air Museum and Warbird Adventures’ T-6 flight operations are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Sundays from July though November. Admission: Adults $6.00, Children under 12 $3.00, Children under 5 free. Located at 233 N. Hoagland Blvd. Kissimmee, FL 34741. www.warbirdadventures.com

Mosquito restoration continues to progress
25 November 2009

Work to restore DH Mosquito FB.26 KA114 to airworthy condition is continuing apace at Avspecs, located at Ardmore airfield, near Auckland, New Zealand. The aircraft has its wings and nacelles fitted, with the port engine bearer now in place. The bomb bay and cockpit are gradually being fitted out, and the first engine is being reassembled in the engine shop. It is hoped that the rare wooden fighter-bomber may fly some time in 2011.

TVAL’s latest
25 November 2009

The latest offerings from the World War One aircraft experts at The Vintage Aviator Ltd, Masterton, New Zealand, are an early Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c and a late war Albertros D.Va. Both are perfect reproductions powered by original engines.

The BE.2c represents a very early aircraft indeed, with bare aluminium cowlings and bare wood on the upper fuselage around the cockpits. It is covered in natural white linen with Union Jacks on the underside of its lower wings and on the tail fin, and carries the serial 347. Its engine is the only airworthy 80hp Renault flying today.

The Albatros has been ‘reverse engineered’ to produce an aircraft that flies exactly like an original. It has a natural wooden fuselage and its wings are covered with TVAL’s newly printed lozenge fabric. It is powered by an overhauled original Mercedes engine.

Both these incredible World War One reproductions have only recently taken to the air to begin their flight testing regimes.

Mortons Acquire Classic American Magazine
12 November 2009

Lincolnshire publishers Mortons Media Group Ltd have purchased Classic American magazine from the Trader Media Group. The magazine is the market-leading title for all things relating to classic American cars.

Mortons are one of the largest family-owned independent publishing companies in the UK with a portfolio of magazine titles of a similar size to Classic American. They are probably most famous for their classic motorcycle titles, including Classic Bike Guide, a former stable mate of Classic American when both titles were owned by Myatt-Macfarlane Publishing. Their expertise is very much in publishing specialist titles and most recently they acquired Kitchen Garden magazine, the UK’s leading title for those who grow their own produce.

Managing Director of Mortons Media Group Ltd Brian Hill commented: ‘We are delighted to be taking on Classic American. It is well placed to sit alongside our growing portfolio of specialist heritage transport titles and we have exciting plans to maintain the title at the forefront of the classic American car scene.’

Editor Ben Klemenzson will be staying with the title which will be published from Morton’s centre of operations in Horncastle. Ben commented ‘The move to Mortons can only be good news and I’m looking forward to the next successful chapter in the Classic American story with our loyal readers, subscribers and advertisers’.

www.classic-american.com

UK Commemorates Battle of Britain Commander
09 November 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

Left: Sqn Ldr Al Pinner (left) returned the Spitfire to RAF Coningsby on 5 November where after getting out of the aircraft he handed command of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight over to Sqn Ldr Ian Smith.
Centre: Mayor of London Boris Johnson gives a speech after the Sir Keith Park statue had been jointly unveiled by Battle of Britain veterans and members of the Park family.
Right: Spitfire IIa P7350 and a Typhoon from RAF Coningsby fly over Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square on 4 November during the ceremonies to unveil the new statue to Sir Keith Park. The Spitfire was being flown by OC BBMF Sqn Ldr Al Pinner MBE on his final flypast with the RAF.

On 4 November a statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park GCB KBE MC* DFC, who led RAF Fighter Command over London and the South East of England throughout the Battle of Britain, was unveiled on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, London. The statue, presented by the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign and supported by London Mayor Boris Johnson, will be in place for around six months then a permanent memorial statue of Park will be unveiled in Waterloo Place for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 2010.

At 15:45 the Band of the Royal Air Force College, trumpeters and the Queen’s Colour Squadron Guard of Honour marched on to Trafalgar Square. Then at 16:00 there was an RAF flypast by Spitfire IIa P7350 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – an aircraft which actually fought during the Battle – and a Typhoon.

On the ground the unveiling ceremony was then opened by Terry Smith, Chairman of the SKPMC. Other speakers included Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. Several Battle of Britain veterans and members of Sir Keith Park’s family were also part of the ceremonies. VIP guests included New Zealand High Commissioner His Excellency Derek Leask.

Sir Keith Park hailed from New Zealand and commanded 11 Group Fighter Command – which was responsible for the defence of London and the South East and which bore the brunt of the Battle of Britain. The failure of Nazi Germany to defeat the RAF in 1940 is seen as Hitler’s first major setback in World War Two and forced Germany to call off the planned invasion of Britain.

This statue is a fitting memorial to Park, especially being placed in London’s Trafalgar Square, in the heart of the United Kingdom’s capital city which he helped to defend in 1940. It is also appropriately situated beneath Nelson’s Column – a memorial to another commander who likewise defended Britain from invasion 135 years earlier.

Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, said: “It is an honour to be unveiling a statue of Sir Keith Park in Trafalgar Square today. Park was pivotal in organising the defence of our country and capital city during the Battle of Britain and was a key figure in ensuring the survival of our nation. A New Zealander, Park was one of many who came from Commonwealth nations and other countries to our aid at one of Britain’s most bleak times in history. As we reflect on the recent anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War, and the story of Sir Keith Park, we should remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by our own forces and by citizens from the Commonwealth and other countries in our ‘Finest Hour’.”

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, commented: “Sir Keith Park was a brave and exceptional fighter pilot, and outstanding senior officer, who never failed at any task he was given. He inspired all who worked with and for him, with his quiet gallantry, supreme personal inspiration, organisation and mental agility. He is a hero to the Royal Air Force, to this country, and to New Zealand, whose citizens have so often joined us in battle, from the World Wars through the Falklands to the present day.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson said it was an important moment: “London owes an enormous debt to Sir Keith Park for his courage and leadership, which helped to win the Battle of Britain. Hosting a temporary memorial in Trafalgar Square in time for the 70th anniversary of this epic battle is a mark of our gratitude for the bravery and commitment this great hero showed to London and the world.”

The ceremony also commemorated the c2950 pilots from 15 countries who fought to defend Britain in 1940 and served with Sir Keith Park. More details and pictures of this event will appear in a future edition of Aviation Classics.

‘VIPs’ share their history with Kissimmee Air Museum
29 October 2009 - Photos: Warbird Adventures

Kissimmee Air Museum, located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Florida, USA, home of Warbird Adventures T-6 flights, has expanded its museum to include not only a new hangar, but also new exhibits and programs, offering even more hands on history to their visitors.

Warbird Adventures has been offering T-6 flights from Kissimmee since 1998. Thousands of people from all over the world have already experienced history from the front cockpit and at the controls of one of the three authentic WWII trainers. Operations expanded in 2006 when the first new 10,000ft2 hangar was built, which is now home to the Kissimmee Air Museum, WWII Fighter Aircraft Foundations Restoration Center and Warbird Adventures’ T-6 flight operations. The new facilities has allowed for the expansion of educational exhibits that trace the rise of air power from the predictions of Billy Mitchell in 1924 that Pearl Harbor would be attacked by the Japanese on a Sunday morning, to the actual attack on 7 December 1941. Included in the new displays are never before seen photos taken from a Japanese bomber that give a bird’s eye view of the attack. The new exhibits are developed around actual WWII artefacts and tell the little known stories that swirl around the events of the day, bringing to life the facts that are normally only read about. With the addition of the second new hangar, the operation now encompasses over 30,000ft2. Both WA One and WA Two hangars have air-conditioned offices and work areas offering meeting spaces and a unique special events venue on two floors with spectacular panoramic views of the airport and are certified to perform aircraft maintenance in 12,000feet2 of open hangar area. Visitors to the Kissimmee Air Museum can witness work being done on the planes along with the restoration of the rare WWII Focke-Wulf Fw 190 project ‘Weisse Eins’ in the WWII Fighter Aircraft Restoration Center. The Museum also offers new and unique experiences for visitors through their VIP program, ‘Very Important Planes and Pilots’. Visiting historically significant pilots and planes come to the museum to share their stories throughout the year; making their history exciting and accessible to those who want to hear about history from those who made it. The museum is dedicated to collecting and recording the stories of WWII veterans who flew or supported flight operations.

Just a few of the many upcoming museum VIP events include the VAC’s WWII C-47 TICO Belle offering flights, several of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) will be at the museum on 28 February 2010 to meet and greet along with author Jonna Doolittle (Jimmy Doolittle’s granddaughter), WWII B-25 Panchito will coming March 2010 to offer flights, Warbird Formation clinic April 8-12, 2010, as well as fly-ins and flying fun. Check www.warbirdadventures.com for more about the T-6 flight operations and the Kissimmee Air Museum.

KT Budde-Jones

Grumpy leaves the UK
29 October 2009

After 22 years of being based in the UK, North American B-25D 4303318 (N88972) Grumpy left Duxford, Cambs, for a new home with the Historic Flight Foundation at Paine Field, Everett, close to Seattle in the USA, on 29 August. Five days later the B-25 arrived at Abbotsford for an appearance at the airshow there, and stayed on site until the main runway at Paine Field is reopened following repairs.

Vulcan surprise for LLA members
29 October 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

Visitors the annual Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association members’ day at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, got a surprise late in the afternoon when it was announced that Avro Vulcan B.2 XH558 (G-VLCN) would be making an appearance. LLA members had already been treated to seeing the Lancaster, Dakota, three Spitfires and two Hurricanes flying, but organisers had kept the Vulcan’s arrival a surprise and it was only announced shortly before the V-bomber appeared – to the great delight of the crowd of almost 2000.

Tornado F3 to cease Falklands air defence
29 October 2009

After 17 years of air defence operations of the Falkland Islands, the Panavia Tornado F3s of 1417 Flight are to be retired by the end of 2009. Taking over the QRA duties will be Eurofighter Typhoons, the first of which flew to the South Atlantic in September.

Tornado F3s took over these duties from McDonnell Douglas Phantoms in 1992, but the type is now in an advanced stage of its drawdown programme. Nos.25, 43 and 56 Squadrons have disbanded from operating the type in the past 18 months approximately, leaving just 111 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in Scotland as the sole F3 unit. It is expected that the F3 will be phased out completely by 2011.

Busy season for ‘Hurri-bomber’
29 October 2009

Peter Teichman’s Hawker Hurricane IIb ‘BE505’ (G-HHII) has had a packed first season since taking to the sky in January 2009. During one of its early flights the fighter unfortunately had a landing accident at its North Weald, Essex, base. The resultant damage was quickly repaired and the aircraft returned to flight a few months later. Since then it has made appearances at locations including Old Warden, Eastbourne, Shoreham, Rougham and Dunsfold. Its latest appearance was at Hardwick in Norfolk, where Peter flew to for the last 93rd Bomb Group Museum open day of 2009 on 18 October.
The Hurricane wears the paintwork of BE505 XP-L, a Manston based Mk.IIb of 174 (Mauritius) Squadron circa spring 1942 and is finished in authentic fighter-bomber configuration. It also has boxing kangaroo nose-art and the name Pegs.

P7350 returns home in new identity
22 October 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

Spitfire IIa P7350 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight made its way back to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 2 October following a meticulous year-long overhaul with the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. It has been repainted into the markings of 92 Squadron’s QJ-K as flown by Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum DFC during the Battle of Britain and the aircraft in which he scored his first aerial victory.
The new paintwork features a large amount of stencilling making it very authentic.

P7350 is the oldest airworthy Spitfire and the only example of its type still flying that actually fought in the Battle of Britain. It made its public airshow debut in this new identity at the Duxford Autumn Air Show on 10 October, which was the last major flying event of the UK season.

Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concourse winner
22 October 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

After arriving at the Goodwood Revival on 20 September by UH-1 Huey helicopter, being met by Lord March and driven around the racing circuit in a 1960s convertible Ford Thunderbird, former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin joined Sir Terence Conran, James May and others to help judge the annual Freddie March Spirit of Aviation award – a concourse d’elegance for pre-1966 vintage airworthy aircraft.

The award was won by a Bücker Jungmeister G-BVGP, owned by Mark Rijkse. Away from the race track activities, aviation is a major aspect of the three day Revival and in the skies above the former wartime RAF fighter base a series of stunning air displays included flypasts by the last airworthy example of the Vulcan bomber XH558, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s three-ship Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane formation, plus an array of other warbirds including more Spitfires and P-51 Mustangs

CWHM Lysander flying
22 October 2009 - Photos: Doug Fisher

Summer 2009 has seen the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Westland Lysander III 2363 (C-GCWL) take to the skies again after a lengthy restoration which began in 1983! Based at the CWHM in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the aircraft has been finished in authentic RCAF target-tug paint scheme comprising black and yellow stripes all over.

This is one of only two currently airworthy Lysanders in the world, the other being UK-based all black ‘V9367’ (G-AZWT) at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

Marinell returns to Fowlmere
22 October 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

Almost 65 years to the day that North American P-51D Mustang 44-13521 (G-MRLL) Marinell took off from Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, and was shot down over France, the recently restored fighter returned to its wartime base. Marinell took off from there on 13 August 1944 while being flown by Lt Myer Winkleman and was hit while carrying out a low-level bombing mission – its pilot was killed. The substantial amount of wreckage was stored in a barn in France for more than 50 years before being bought by warbird pilot and restorer Maurice Hammond, who spent around 5 years carrying out a meticulous rebuild around much of the original components.

Marinell flew again in August 2008, and on 15 August this year flew back to Fowlmere in the company of Maurice’s first Mustang restoration, P-51D Janie flown by Dave Evans, and Rob Davies’ Big Beautiful Doll. The three-ship formation was greeted at Fowlmere by a number of invited guests there to witness this emotive historic moment. The full story will be one of many articles included in Issue 2 of Aviation Classics which focuses on the P-51 Mustang and will be on sale from 29 January 2010.

Anniversary ‘return’ for The Last of the Many!
22 October 2009 - Photos: Jarrod Cotter

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Hawker Hurricane IIc PZ865 had its paint scheme slightly adapted to mark its 65th anniversary this year. This aircraft was the last of the more than 14,000 Hurricanes built and so in the summer of 1944 when it came off the production line was given the inscription The Last of the Many! on its fuselage underneath the canopy.
Currently PZ865 wears the paintwork of 1 Squadron night-fighter BE581 circa 1942. To mark its 65th anniversary the fighter has been applied with some paintwork to look as though its fabric has been torn back to reveal its former The Last of the Many! inscription underneath. This is placed under the canopy on its starboard side.

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