For our final update of June, we have a pair of additions to this year’s flying programme, plus a cluster of civilian aircraft on static display.
Next month SAAB will be returning to RAF Fairford with their Gripen E taking to the skies across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Back in 2023, the display came away with the Paul Bowen Trophy for Best Solo Jet Demonstration, so we are excited to see what they have planned this summer.
Elsewhere, we are set to welcome the world’s only airworthy FIAT G.91 to Gloucestershire, which will help us celebrate the past, present and future of the Italian Air Force as their iconic display team, Frecce Tricolori, marks their 65th anniversary this year. Further strengthening our Italian contingent, we have two Aermacchi MB-326 aircraft to join the static display.
Rounding off this week, we have more aircraft on the ground as part of our ‘Eyes in the Skies’ theme, including two King Airs from Flight Precision Ltd and Metrea – who are also bringing their new Dash 8 Fireswift. More aircraft to bolster the static lineup include a CASA C-295M from the Spanish Air and Space Force, a privately owned IAR-823, and Twin Otter from De Havilland Canada.
Our special offer on the Altitude enclosure upgrade package ends at midnight on Sunday 29th June. Normal price Friday £200, special offer price just £175. Normal price Saturday and Sunday £225, special offer price just £200. Don’t miss out on this fantastic offer and experience the show from our coolest and newest offering, with delectable food, refreshing drinks and cocktails, all included! As well as live DJ music once the flying display is finished. Buy your tickets today.
Over the weekend of 21st and 22nd June, 2025, Newark Air Museum (NAM) hosted its twenty-fifth (25th) annual Cockpit-Fest event at its site in eastern Nottinghamshire; close to the border with Lincolnshire.
During the Sunday Awards Ceremony, the museum trustees made the sad announcement that this was to be the last time that NAM was hosting Cockpit-Fest. Museum member Bill O’Sullivan originally came up with the Cockpit-Fest idea back in 1999, and was its main organiser for several years; a role eventually taken over by museum trustee, Colin Savill.
Cockpit-Fest became a fixture on the aviation calendar and each year attracted visiting cockpits and associated displays; this year there were more than forty (40) visiting cockpits attending the event, including military jet cockpits, helicopters and civilian aircraft types. In addition, nineteen (19) visiting aviation related exhibits will be displayed inside; with twenty (20) special displays outside in different parts of our 16-acre site. Cockpit-Fest has always provided the owners the chance to display their prized exhibits to their fellow enthusiasts and to the general public.
The winning entries this year were announced in a short ceremony on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd June.
Grand Champion (Visitors Cockpit) – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Newark Air Museum Special Awards – Bill Fern’s Air Force (display of 18 cockpits)
Visitors Non-Cockpit Award – Scott Bouchard, Lightning interactive display
Cockpiteers Non-Cockpit Award – Martyn Steele, Ian Hodgkiss & Joe Blackburne, control column display
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Marcus Cordran, Buccaneer XN979
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Bob Sloan, Blackburn Botha
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Matt Gilby, Sea King ZG875
“Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Cockpit-Fest over the years. It was a conscious decision not to advise in advance, that this year’s event was to be the last.” commented museum trustee, Howard Heeley, he continued. “We are proud to have finished on a high with the most visiting cockpits ever displayed; a record number of visiting displays and with combined visitor figures over the weekend in the top five that we have ever recorded.”
“Various factors have combined to guide us toward deciding to stop running Cockpit-Fest. These include: museum volunteer organisers retiring; indications from some cockpit owners that this was to be their last event; and ever more onerous Event Safety Planning guidelines.”
He concluded, “At the moment the museum’s plan is to continue with single day events like Aeroboots, and perhaps specific aircraft related events and gatherings. However, we are mindful and watchful, that the ever increasing wave of regulations around Organised Events, could impact on plans for future events.”
The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire are thrilled to announce a new event taking place at the Museum on 11 August – Walking the UK Coastline with Chris Lewis.
Chris, an ex-paratrooper, had hit rock bottom, suffering with anxiety and depression so severe he would shut himself in his bedroom for weeks. Then, in summer 2017, whilst surfing – his only respite – he cast his eyes along the coast and made an impulsive decision that would change his life.
A few days later, on 1st August 2017, with nothing but a broken tent, a borrowed pair of boots and £10 in his pocket, Chris set off to walk the entire UK coastline raising funds for the veteran’s charity SSAFA. He had no idea how long it would take him or if it was even possible. What followed was the adventure of a lifetime which turned his life around. He adopted his beloved dog, Jet, nine months into the journey who became his devoted companion.
Chris faced serious challenges along the way battling hunger, injury, extreme weather conditions and incredibly challenging terrain in the most remote corners of the UK, spending three months on the uninhabited island of Hildasay with no fresh water, food or electricity. It was in these wildest landscapes that he found happiness, pride and self-respect.
Soon after, his life was to take an unexpected turn once again when he met Kate, a fellow adventurer, at the bottom of a cliff. Kate packed in her former life to join him on the walk full-time and the couple then welcomed their baby son, Magnus along the way. Undeterred, they continued with their newborn baby in tow and finished the walk in July 2023 with an army of followers crossing the line behind them having raised over £500,000 for charity. By the end of his walk, Chris had gained more than he could ever have imagined possible.
Chris and his family, now known as Wilderness Family, have recently embarked on their next big adventure cycling and hiking 8000 miles along the Atlantic Coast of Europe raising funds for the charity, Make A Wish UK.
Join Chris at the Museum for an entertaining, heartwarming and inspiring talk, as he shares stories and reflections from his incredible journey. For more information, visit https://armyflying.com/what-s-on/
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome a new nation to this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo! Making their debut appearance, the Egyptian Air Force becomes our 59th participating nation and will be bringing their Antonov An-74T Coaler to join the static display.
We’re also excited to confirm several new additions to our static lineup. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will also be attending with a pair of Chinooks, while the Spanish Air and Space Force will contribute another C.16 Tifón. From the Army Air Corps, we’re adding a fourth AH-64E Apache to the static display, alongside a Wildcat AH.1.
We’re delighted to welcome the new Army Air Corps Display Team with two Apache’s and a Wildcat to perform in the flying display, accompanied by pyrotechnics. This will be exclusive to the Friday of RIAT.
In a change to the lineup, the Whirlwind is unfortunately unable to attend. However, we’re pleased to announce that Historic Helicopters will instead be bringing their Sea King HAR.3 for the static display. Further additions include an RAF F-35B Lightning II, which will be on static display, along with a King Air 350 and a Leonardo AW139 from QinetiQ. With less than one month to go until this year’s Air Tattoo, the excitement is building fast – and there are still plenty more aircraft announcements to come in the weeks ahead!
Time is running out to secure your spot at RIAT25, with Friday and Saturday general admission sold out! Sunday is now hot on its heels. The only way in now for Friday is with an enclosure upgrade package and for Saturday is with an Altitude upgrade package. Altitude is our newest enclosure and it’s currently on special offer. Normal price Friday £200, special offer price just £175. Normal price Saturday and Sunday £225, special offer price just £200. We know how disappointed you’ll be if you don’t buy your tickets now and miss out on all the fun. Consider this a friendly reminder, buy your tickets today, before Sunday sells out too. And be a part of the world’s greatest airshow.
The Royal Air Force Museum is on a mission to relocate over 50,000 historic objects to a new Collections Hub in the Midlands.
To achieve this monumental move, the Museum is inviting the public and companies to join The Crate Escape, an ambitious fundraising campaign set to unlock over a century of incredible stories from RAF history.
The RAF Museum is the guardian of a national collection, capturing every aspect of RAF life. Currently, less than 1% of the Museum’s rich collection is on public display, with many of the remaining treasures hidden away in a vast storage facility at MOD Stafford. This Aladdin’s cave of aviation heritage holds everything from aircraft and ejector seats to uniforms, medals and memorabilia, each item with its own remarkable story.
Now, in a bold new mission, the Museum will relocate these hidden treasures to a new purpose-built Collections Hub at the RAF Museum Midlands, where they will become accessible to the public for the very first time.
Ewen Cameron, Curator (Stored Collection) at the RAF Museum, said:
‘The move from Stafford to our Midlands site is no small feat. Behind the scenes, our specialist staff and dedicated volunteers are busy preparing to move more than 50,000 objects. This equates to over 31,000 hours of work identifying and cataloguing each individual object, assessing its condition, carrying out essential conservation work, and carefully cleaning and packing the objects, ready for their final journey to the Museum.’
This enormous logistical operation marks a key phase in the wider transformation of the Museum’s Midlands site. Due for completion in summer 2027, the transformation will also include a new permanent exhibition that explores the role of the RAF from 1980 through to space and cyber defence, along with a state-of-the-art Learning Centre and expanded green spaces for visitors to enjoy. The project has been made possible with the support of funders including The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Royal Air Force, as well as the RAF Museum’s own investment.
Ella Hewitt, Individual Giving Manager at the RAF Museum, said:
‘The Crate Escape isn’t just about moving objects, it’s about bringing hidden RAF stories of bravery, innovation and sacrifice to light. By sponsoring a box, supporters are helping to preserve these powerful stories and make them accessible for future generations. With your support, we can deliver history to its new home and bring our vision for a transformed RAF Museum Midlands to life, one box at a time.’
Support the RAF Museum’s mission today by visiting rafmuseum.org. Every box tells a story. Every donation makes a difference. Choose your support tier, Bronze, Silver, or Gold, and sponsor a box used in the move.
Bronze £30 – Be one of four names on a box, receive a digital certificate, and see your name added to The Crate Escape virtual wall
Silver £100 – Your name will exclusively be added to a box, receive a special thank you and pin badge through the post, and see your name added to The Crate Escape virtual wall
Gold from £1000 – Large object sponsorships are available. Choose the object you wish to sponsor, receive personalised recognition on protective coverings, and enjoy the opportunity to visit the team in action at MOD Stafford, even get hands-on and help pack!
Whatever your sponsorship tier, supporters will receive a unique box number, exclusive behind-the-scenes project updates, and the thrilling reveal of what’s inside your sponsored box, be it boots, buttons, logbooks, or even a piece of an aircraft, when it moves to its new home.To find out more about the RAF Museum’s redevelopment project and how you can get involved in The Crate Escape, visit rafmuseum.org. The Museum is open daily from 10.00am and admission is free.
It’s less than five weeks until we start welcoming aircraft to RAF Fairford for this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo and we still have participants to reveal!
This week we have another addition to the flying display with the ever-popular RAF Chinook performing a role demo over the weekend, plus a pair of Typhoons and a Poseidon to further bolster this year’s static line-up as we explore our theme of ‘Eyes in the Skies’.
Elsewhere, we are excited to announce the US Army are heading back to Gloucestershire for the first time in a decade with their AH-64E Apache Guardian on static display, meanwhile, sticking with helicopters, the Royal Navy are also providing a Wildcat HMA.2.
Rounding off this week and as part of our 40 years at Fairford, we’re pleased to welcome an Auster AOP.9 and Bell Sioux AH.1 on static display, as well as a pair of Jet Provosts. To view every aircraft confirmed for RIAT25 so far visit our website.
Friday and Saturday general admission has now completely sold out. The only way in for Friday is with an enclosure upgrade package and for Saturday is with an Altitude enclosure upgrade package.
Arrangements for the 2025 Cockpit-Fest are well advanced at Newark Air Museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire; close to the border with Lincolnshire. The museum is a registered charity located on part of the former site of RAF Winthorpe; this year’s Cockpit-Fest is once again taking place in its traditional June time-slot; on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd June, 2025.
This will be the twenty fifth (25th) time that like-minded enthusiasts have displayed their aircraft cockpit sections at the museum. Cockpit-Fest has become a fixture on the aviation calendar and each year attracts many visiting cockpits and associated displays. Cockpit-Fest allows the owners the chance to display their prized exhibits to their fellow enthusiasts and the general public.
As ever this event will see a diverse range of aviation subjects represented. Plus, in what is a going to be a record turnout, more than forty (40) visiting cockpits and airframes are due to attend the event this year, including military jet cockpits, helicopters and civilian aircraft types.
In addition, nineteen (19) visiting aviation related exhibits will be displayed inside; with twenty (20) special displays outside in different parts of our 16-acre site. Alongside Cockpit-Fest an Aeroboot / Aerojumble aviation and avionics sale is being held. Here enthusiasts and the public can search out those missing aviation artefacts, books and models from the thirty-seven (37) sellers who have booked spaces.
The event is supported by a range of organisations and individuals; with the visitors being encouraged to have a say in deciding, which is the best cockpit by voting on their favourite display and from these results, prizes are awarded.
Cockpit-Fest also attracts other visiting displays like local history groups; re-enactors; and even more aviation related displays such as clothing and historical artefacts.
Full details about the events and a full list of visiting cockpits and displays can be found on the Museum Events page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org
It’s not long until aircraft will start touching down at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, and we are still adding to this year’s flying programme!
This week, we are delighted to confirm that the French Navy will be providing their Atlantique, which we are sure many of you will consider a highlight for this year.
We’ve also got aircraft to bolster our theme of ‘Eyes in the Skies’ as we prepare to welcome the Royal Canadian Air Force with their CP-140M Aurora, Italian Coastguard with their ATR 42 and HM Coastguard Sikorsky S-92A. Rounding off this week, we are pleased to announce the Grob 520 Ergrett and Grob 120TP, as well as an Envoy IV from the Royal Air Force, all on static display.
We are still selling tickets for this year’s show at a rapid rate and while Saturday general admission has sold out, you can still secure a spot by giving our new enclosure Altitude a try!
Enjoy an all-inclusive cocktail bar with selected drinks, upper deck viewing space that will give you a unique view of the show and an exclusive DJ music set in the enclosure, once the flying display has concluded.
With Saturday selling out, Friday and Sunday aren’t too far behind, so if you are planning on joining us this year, you’ve got to act fast! We’ve got aircraft from all around the world, hours of flying displays and plenty to keep you occupied on the ground with our Techno Zone ®, Inspire Stage and static line-up so book now to avoid missing out.
The Army Flying Museum, in Middle Wallop, are in the last throws of their preparation for their popular annual fundraising event, Wallop Wheels and Wings, which will take place on both the Museum site and the historic adjacent airfield on Saturday 12 July.
Visitors are in for a real treat again this year as, weather permitting, a number of air displays are planned throughout the event. The amazing Aerosuperbatics Wing Walkers will be wowing the crowds and making their first visit to Wallop Wheels and Wings. The Wing walkers perform breathtaking acrobatics and handstands whilst strapped to the top wings of two beautiful 1940’s Boeing Stearman biplanes as the pilots fly through a choreographed and energetic routine of dazzling aerobatics and close formation flypasts. It is set to be a very exciting addition to the display programme at this popular annual event at Middle Wallop. In addition, the Museum are thrilled to welcome back the RAF Falcons Parachute Display team, the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight Spitfire and the Navy Wings Harvard.
Also included in the programme are very special displays by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Douglas C47 Dakota and RAF Grob Tutor, along with what is set to be a real crowd pleaser, as a Westland Lynx AH Mk.7 takes to the skies to entertain the crowds.
The event is a great day out for the whole family, not just for car, motorbike and aircraft enthusiasts and will see a full programme of entertainment running throughout the day including inflatables, craft activities, laser tag, mini racers and circus skills, for all ages to get involved in. This year, sponsors GKN Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters will also provide some great activities to keep young minds whirring in the Discovery Den. Younger visitors will also have lots of fun with the classic pedal planes and little tanks. The event village will showcase local artisan traders including Homemade Brownie Company, New Forest Shortbread, Hornet Chilli, Saxnot Meadery, and many more and is a great chance to support local independent traders and pick up some unique gifts.
The event this year has attracted its highest number of exhibitors, with over 400 classic/super cars and motorcycles, with a very special display by sponsors Andover Norton International. The event will also showcase the Model Aircraft Club, Living History Groups and much more.
For those with an interest in photography, there are only limited tickets remaining for the photography enclosure which gives exclusive access to aircraft arrivals and prime positioning to capture some amazing shots on the day.
Chief Executive of the Museum Lucy Johnson said: “Wallop Wheels and Wings is the Army Flying Museum’s main fundraising event and a chance to showcase some of the best vintage aircraft, cars and motorbikes on the beautiful site of Middle Wallop airfield. We are also thrilled to have been able to build on the number of air displays included in the event this year. The Museum is an independent charity and relies on fundraising activities to support the work we do in preserving the history of British Army aviation, so the proceeds from this event are vitally important. But it’s also a brilliant day out for the whole family and we hope you can join us!”
All tickets purchased in advance of the event come with a free annual pass for the Museum valid from 13 July and with all school holiday activities included in the annual pass, this gives great value for money for local families to enjoy and support this great local Museum.
3rd June 2025 marks 60 years since the theatrical release of the much-loved aviation comedy, ‘Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines’. The film is a particular favourite at Shuttleworth as it features the Collection’s Bristol Boxkite, an aircraft celebrating its own anniversary in 2025.
‘Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines’ is a 1965 comedy based on the early days of aviation. Set in 1920, the film centres around a host of characters racing to be the first to fly over the English Channel for a sizeable cash prize put up by a wealthy newspaper mogul. Whilst the characters all endeavour to win, several are also beguiled by the newspaper mogul’s daughter. This light-hearted caper was a firm favourite of the era.
Setting a film during the early years of aviation is one thing, but how do you accurately represent the aircraft that were being flown at that time, 115 years ago? Especially when some no longer existed in the 1960s? In the case of the 1910 Bristol Boxkite, F.G. Miles Engineering Ltd were tasked with building – to the original specification as far as possible – a reproduction of the iconic Edwardian aircraft. Following a starring role in the film, the Boxkite was acquired by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, who placed it in the care of the Shuttleworth Collection for preservation. Since being part of the Collection, the Boxkite has proven to be one of the most popular in the Collection, and has made many flights – the most recent being April of this year.
Jean-Michel Munn, Head of Engineering at Shuttleworth (and someone who has flown the Boxkite), said, “We’re delighted to be able to preserve a stunning example of the Bristol Boxkite here at Shuttleworth for future generations to enjoy. Seeing this incredible aircraft up close in the hangars is one thing, but seeing it take to the skies is a truly magical experience and one that we are proud to be able to offer visitors 115 years on from the first flight this type of aircraft would have taken.”
Visitors can see the Shuttleworth Collection’s Bristol Boxkite in one of six hangars full of aeronautical history at the Bedford visitor attraction, or, for a truly remarkable experience, you can see it take to the skies at the upcoming Festival of Flight Air Show on 28 & 29 June, or any of the venue’s season air show displays. For daily admission or event tickets, visit www.shuttleworth.org
