We are delighted to announce the launch of The Vintage Aviation Echo’s new print magazine – a meticulously curated 200+ page journal crafted for historic aviation aficionados, coming in summer 2024. Read more…
Editorials
Anticipation builds for 2024 UK Airshow Season
New events and star items build the hype for the year. Read more…
Restoring WT555, the first production Hawker Hunter F.1
Detailing North Weald Heritage Aviation’s static restoration of Hawker Hunter WT555, the first production F.1. Read more…
Protecting Britain’s aviation heritage
Would a new protection list help or hinder the warbird scene? Read more…
A Decade in the Sun
Reflecting on the 2010s – a decade that saw the historic aviation scene face some of its greatest triumphs and challenges. Read more…
Passion, perspective and redefining the usual
How Europe’s burgeoning warbird movement redefines our perspective of the historic aircraft scene. Read more…
The Unthinkable: Remembering the Battle of France
Recalling the Royal Air Force bomber and fighter squadrons’ actions in the Battle of France, from May to June 1940. Read more…
Ode to the Radial
Richie Piper offers a personal view of the trials and tribulations of operating radial engines – the supremely charismatic “smoke belching specialist aeronautical mechanical devices”. Read more…
Taking flight in the Bristol Blenheim
A passenger’s account of an evocative flight in the Aircraft Restoration Company’s Bristol Blenheim. Read more…
Nick Grey’s first Gladiator experience
Nick Grey recounts in his inimitable style the experience of his first flight in The Fighter Collection’s Gloster Gladiator Mk.II. Read more…
From The Hangar
Restoring and flying the ex-‘Connie’ Edwards Buchón cache
Air Leasing’s Richard Grace describes the efforts to restore the ex-Connie Edwards Buchóns to airworthy condition, and offers his impressions of flying the notoriously idiosyncratic fighter. Read more…
The NHS Spitfire Summer
Looking back on the Aircraft Restoration Company’s NHS Spitfire summer, the latest chapter in the intertwined histories of Spitfire PR.XI PL983 and John Romain. Read more…
Discovering the Definitive Fox Moth
For Mark Miller, flying the definitive example of the de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth recontextualised the pioneering exploits of an oft maligned type. Read more…
Ballerina – Run like the Wind
Of all the Formula One-class air racers still flying in the UK, none quite boasts the legendary charisma of Cosmic Wind ‘Ballerina’. Read more…
From Criquet to Storch: The reversion of a liaison warbird
Guy Black sets his focus on Retrotec Ltd’s next project: the reversion of the Historic Aircraft Collection’s Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet G-BPHZ to its authentic German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch specification. Read more…
The Founding Father & Son
Ray and Mark Hanna established the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford in the mid-1980s. We chart the organisation’s formative years and the part it played in shaping the present day vintage aircraft movement, with insight from Sarah Hanna. Read more…
Creating ‘Contrary Mary’: Story of a Mustang scheme
Steve Atkin charts the painstaking process of researching and repainting Anglia Aircraft Restorations’ TF-51D Mustang into the guise of ‘Contrary Mary’, a Duxford-based 78th Fighter Group aeroplane. Read more…
A History: John Romain and Spitfire PR.XI PL983
John Romain has shared an affiliation with Spitfire PR.XI PL983 since childhood. We chart their decades-long association in this exclusive feature, entwining the personal story with the aeroplane’s fascinating Second World War and post-war racing history. Read more…
Hawker Typhoon RB396: ARCo to support restoration to flight
The Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group has engaged the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) to provide engineering support and oversight for the restoration to flight of Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB RB396. We have the exclusive full story, and profile the journey so far. Read more…
Steve Hinton, Jr. & ‘Voodoo’: The Air Speed Record Attempt Story
The remarkable full story of Steve Hinton, Jr’s world air speed record attempt in P-51 Mustang ‘Voodoo’. Follow the team through victories, defeats and psychological strains on their way to setting a new piston world air speed record in this unmissable account. Read more…
Pilot's Notes
Memories of P-39 Airacobra ‘Brooklyn BUM 2nd’
Dave Southwood’s impressions of flying Bell P-39 Airacobra ‘Brooklyn Bum 2nd’, a warbird that stands out as unique amongst the many Second World War fighters he’s flown. Read more…
Paul Bonhomme on flying Spitfire FR XIVe MV293
Paul Bonhomme offers his detailed impressions of flying Spitfire FR XIVe MV293, a perennial favourite of Europe’s historic aviation aficionados. Read more…
The Wren: Flying English Electric’s 1923 Ultralight
Recounting the history of the Shuttleworth Collection’s Wren, the sole surviving example of English Electric’s attempt at designing an economical single-seat ultralight. Read more…
Bringing through the BBMF’s modern day Bomber Crews
Exploring the intricate process that takes a frontline RAF pilot and prepares them for life in the Lancaster captain’s seat Read more…
Mark Hanna – Pt.5 – The Stars Look Down
The landmark five-part series concludes with reflections on Mark’s enduring legacy. Read more…
Mark Hanna – Pt.4 – The Truly Great
“Mark wasn’t just a display pilot. That does him an injustice. He was a visionary.” The fourth part of our Mark Hanna anthology takes us through the 1990s, exploring the “passion and emotion” that made him such a special character. Read more…
Mark Hanna – Pt.3 – A Knight of the Air
Mark’s friends and peers reflect on the qualities that made him “one of the most accomplished warbird display pilots who ever lived”. Read more…
Mark Hanna – Pt.2 – Born of the Sun
The next chapter of our five-part series reflects on a remarkable decade of film and airshow flying that saw Mark become “part of the Hanna family flying legend” by the late 1980s. Read more…
Mark Hanna – Pt.1 – Dawn of a Golden Era
Charting the formative years of the “Hanna flying legend” through to Mark Hanna’s first flight in the family Spitfire and his co-founding of the Old Flying Machine Company. Read more…
Richard Grace: “I’ve never had a want to do anything else”
Richard Grace reflects on his meteoric rise to becoming one of the historic aviation scene’s most prominent purveyors of vintage aeroplanes. Read more…
Debriefs
Vintage Airshow is classic Shuttleworth
American types star at sunny September show. Read more…
Heavy metal headlines Shuttleworth Military Airshow
A great show despite being hampered by strong winds. Read more…
Shuttleworth firsts at Best of British Airshow
Four Spitfires tailchasing on a summer’s evening – what more could you want? Read more…
Around the World Airshow comes together
A new theme for Shuttleworth in 2023. Read more…
King & Country Show gets season underway
Shuttleworth’s coronation celebration boasted a host of highlights. Read more…
Rip-roaring Race Day rounds off 2022
Shuttleworth rounded off their airshow season with a delectable concoction of aeroplanes and automobiles. Read more…
Eclectic bunch of visitors bolsters bumper Vintage Airshow
From Second World War bombers and fighters to interwar classics and a celebration of Percival aircraft meant this show had plenty to offer. Read more…
Fly Navy returns in style
This enthusiast’s favourite was back with a bang, refreshed after a break of several years. Read more…
Weather fails to dull Shuttleworth’s unique vision
A never before seen warbird formation headlined a warbird packed Evening Airshow. Read more…
A magical May evening…
A truly magical Lysander pairs display highlighted what was a truly magical evening at Old Warden. Read more…
