Tag: news May

Cockpit-Fest 25 – “Over & Out!”

Newark Air Museum - Cockpit Fest Winners

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.”

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Back By Popular Demand: Shuttleworth’s Festival of Flight

Shuttleworth Festival of Flight

Following the huge success of 2024, Shuttleworth’s Festival of Flight Air Show returns by popular demand for its second year. On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June, the venue’s biggest air show will see a total of four flying displays, a visit from the Red Arrows, and the largest amount of ground attractions ever seen at Old Warden aerodrome, near Biggleswade.

Shuttleworth is the closest you can get to the flying action in the UK, with an unparalleled flightline that makes for a truly spectacular air display experience. The Festival will feature a stellar line up of top-class visiting display aircraft, including, but not limited to: the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Nieuport 23 and Fokker D.XXI (which will both be making their UK debuts). All of the Shuttleworth Collection’s own airworthy aircraft available this season will also take to the skies across the weekend – if the conditions are right, this will include the Collection’s Edwardian aircraft, featuring the World’s oldest airworthy aircraft, the 1909 Blériot XI.

Outside of the flying displays, the Festival also has the largest amount of ground attractions of any of Shuttleworth’s events. The Tigers Children’s Motorcycle Team and Fusion Extreme Stunt Show will wow audiences with their adrenaline-fuelled tricks. Then, there are countless interactive attractions from simulators to a working anti-aircraft exhibit, circus skills workshops, pedal planes to fly and mini landers to drive. Visitors can enjoy Shuttleworth staples from the educational activities in various Discovery Zones, to the chance to hop aboard a vintage bus and to see working steam and heritage exhibits from Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd. Shuttleworth House, the site’s Grade II listed Victorian mansion will be open with displays and tours, and – for those seeking a moment of calm – the 9-acre Swiss Graden is the perfect place to explore in the shade, complete with resident peacocks. Better still, all of these activities and attractions are included in the price of a ticket – offering a full day’s entertainment for fantastic value.

To enhance a visit even further, visitors can prebook marquee ‘pods’ to decorate and use as a base for the day – a wonderful way to come together with friends and family for a celebration or get together. Guests can also step onto the airfield and get within touching distance of these amazing aircraft with flightline tours – but you’ll need to be quick as these sell out fast.

Shuttleworth boasts a beautiful camping area, letting guests turn their flying visit into an unforgettable stay. You can make the weekend of it for just £20 per pitch per night and enjoy additional entertainment at Shuttleworth House.

Marc Boult, Head of Visitor Operations at Shuttleworth, said, “Our Festival of Flight Air Show is the jewel in the crown of our air show season. This is the big one, where we super-charge every element of the event, from the flying to the ground entertainment. We hope to see lots of families joining us for a fantastic day out, inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. If you’ve yet to experience an air show at Shuttleworth, then Festival of Flight is definitely the way to do it.”

Festival of Flight takes place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June with tickets starting from £39 (children go free). Already in high demand, the Festival looks on track to break sales records at Shuttleworth.

www.shuttleworth.org

RAF Museum Gifts Kestrel Undercarriage to Wings Aviation Museum for XS694 Restoration Project

RAF Museum Kestrel undercarriage

The Wings Aviation Museum is proud to announce the generous gifting of the original Kestrel undercarriage by the Royal Air Force Museum to support the restoration of Hawker Kestrel XS694 — a rare and iconic piece of British aviation history.

This extraordinary donation follows six years of delegation, discussions, and unwavering commitment, and marks a significant milestone in the restoration of XS694. The RAF Museum has gifted the complete main gear, nose gear, one outrigger, and two main wheels — vital components that will allow Wings Aviation Museum’s dedicated team to progress the project with greater authenticity and historical accuracy.

Manufactured by Dowty, a leading British aerospace engineering company now known as Safran Landing Systems, the Kestrel’s undercarriage was an advanced piece of design for its time — developed to withstand the demands of vertical and short takeoff trials. The survival of these original components is incredibly rare, making this gift both technically invaluable and historically significant.

The museum plans to reverse engineer the outrigger to fabricate a second one, ensuring the full set is complete. Anyone with experience in reverse engineering or fabrication of aircraft components is encouraged to get in touch and lend their expertise to this unique restoration effort.

“We are deeply honoured by the RAF Museum’s support,” said Aaron Simmons and Dave Cotton, joint project leads at Wings Aviation Museum. “The undercarriage is not just a mechanical part — it represents a major piece of British innovation and aviation development. This gift brings us one step closer to preserving a vital chapter of our aerospace heritage.”

“We are proud to support the restoration of Hawker Kestrel XS694 — an aircraft that played a vital role in the development of V/STOL flight and Britain’s aerospace leadership. The RAF Museum is fortunate to have a Kestrel on display at our Midlands site, where it continues to inspire visitors with its story of innovation and engineering excellence. By gifting these rare and original parts — which would otherwise remain in storage — to the Wings Aviation Museum, we are helping to bring another remarkable airframe back to life. It is through partnerships like this that we ensure our nation’s aviation heritage is preserved, shared, and celebrated with wider audiences for generations to come.”

— Maggie Appleton, CEO, Royal Air Force Museum

The Hawker Kestrel FGA.1 was a pioneering aircraft developed in the early 1960s to test Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) technology. With only a handful ever built, each surviving component carries immense historical value. XS694 is one of only two surviving Kestrels in the UK — and the only example to have been brought back from the United States, where it served with both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA during its active life.

In a fitting tribute to the aircraft’s legacy, once restored, Hawker Kestrel XS694 will go on public display at Dunsfold Aerodrome — the very airfield where it first took to the skies. This future display will honour not only the aircraft’s revolutionary design but also its unique connection to British aviation history and innovation.

The Kestrel is just one part of the Wings Aviation Museum’s ambitious future at Dunsfold, where plans are progressing for a new, expanded museum site. The new facility will tell the story of Hawker Aviation and British aerospace innovation at Dunsfold, from the early jet age through to the iconic Harrier. As part of its mission, the museum will deliver engaging STEM-focused educational programmes designed to inspire young people to explore careers in engineering, science, and technology — connecting classroom learning with real-world aviation heritage. Visitors will also experience enhanced exhibition spaces and hands-on restoration workshops, bringing the remarkable legacy of British aircraft design and test flying to life. XS694 will take pride of place in this new setting, helping to inspire future generations.

The undercarriage components will be integrated into the ongoing restoration efforts at the museum’s workshop in West Sussex, where volunteers and aviation experts have been working tirelessly to return XS694 to its former glory.

Wings Aviation Museum extends its heartfelt thanks to the RAF Museum for this remarkable gift and their ongoing support of historic aircraft preservation. Their generosity ensures that future generations can continue to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by Britain’s rich aviation legacy.

Wings Aviation Museum invites supporters, historians, and enthusiasts to follow the project’s progress and contribute to this historic endeavour. Donations of tools, parts — including essential skin pins — and financial support are all welcomed to keep this unique restoration flying forward.

www.wingsmuseum.co.uk

New Look Tucano Joins Wings & Wheels Line-up

Wings & Wheels is delighted to confirm the RAF Tucano will be showing off its new desert camouflage design in an impressive aerobatic display on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

Unveiling the new paint scheme at the end of March at their base at RAF Linton on Ouse, its design mirrors the Second World War Spitfire aircraft operated by 72 Squadron in 1943. The scheme was chosen to commemorate the 70th anniversary of 72 Squadron’s involvement in North Africa in support of the Tunisian campaign during World War II. During this period they flew a selection of Supermarine Spitfires including Mk VIII and Mk IX variants.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director comments: “Our five hour air display is starting to take great shape and we are excited to have the Tucano at Wings & Wheels. The display of skill and power demonstrated by the pilots never fails to impress and the camouflage design will be a welcome new sight in the skies over the aerodrome.”

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Typhoon, Team Breitling Wingwalkers and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the 5 hour flying displays. For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum.

The 9th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August 2013, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 18:00.

Tickets start from £20 for adults, £45 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £6 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £65 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited with proceeds going to nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.