Tag: November

Historic Aircraft Collection’s Hawker Hurricane Makes Move to Shuttleworth

Shuttleworth Hurricane

On 26 November 2025, pilot Dave Harvey flew Hawker Hurricane G-HURI into Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, where the aircraft will now reside amongst Shuttleworth’s own Collection aircraft. Staff were thrilled to welcome another Hurricane into the Collection hangars – with their own Hawker Sea Hurricane being a firm favourite with visitors.

Acquired by Historic Aircraft Collection in 2002, Hawker Hurricane G-HURI was one of the first civilian Hurricanes flying in 1989. Over the years, it has worn many schemes – including 71, 126 and 303 Squadrons – and now wears the 302 (City of Poznan) Squadron colour scheme. The squadron codes depicted are also significant in representing two Polish pilots who were scrambled out of RAF Duxford during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Flying Officer J Kowalski and Flight Lieutenant T Chlopik left the base on 15 September 1940 with only Kowalski going on to survive the war – Chlopik was killed in action later that day.

The aircraft was part of the 2005 ‘Merlins Over Malta’ project that saw it fly with Spitfire VB BM597 over Malta in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, and is due to take part of Polish Heritage Flight’s upcoming commemorative flight to Poland.

Pilot Dave Harvey, said, “We are delighted to begin this new chapter for Hawker Hurricane G-HURI at Old Warden, surrounded by the remarkable aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection. We look forward with great anticipation to our first air show season at one of the UK’s premier airshow venues.”

John Munn, Head of Engineering at Shuttleworth, said, “We are thrilled to now house this fantastic aircraft amongst our own Collection. With two Hurricanes now residing at Old Warden, we’re even more excited for the air show season ahead.”

Hawker Hurricane G-HURI is now on display in Hangar 4 of the Shuttleworth Collection – aptly named ‘Dangerous Skies’ for its celebration of iconic military aircraft. To see the aircraft, you can purchase 30-day return tickets to Shuttleworth Collection and Garden or look out for which of Shuttleworth’s 2026 air shows will feature a display from the aircraft (once confirmed) via www.shuttleworth.org.

Autumn Update at Newark Air Museum

Newark Air Museum Lightning

The recent drop in temperatures has meant that volunteers at Newark Air Museum (NAM) have been forced to reduce the amount of work being undertaken on the external exhibits around the site.

However, this was not before they were able to complete the all-important application of detailed markings on their repainted Jaguar XX829. This T2A version of the Anglo-French strike fighter training aircraft now wears the wraparound camouflage markings it once wore whilst in squadron service with 54 Squadron.

Sadly, work on the adjacent Lightning T5 aircraft, XS417 has also been suspended due to the weather, this is before the new 56 Squadron repaint could be completed. XS417 still requires the application of the detailed markings, which will be carried out when temperatures rise to acceptable levels.

Some in-depth restoration work is currently underway on the Blue Steel missile, which has been moved into NAM’s on site Workshop.

Elsewhere on site planning is underway for the 2026 restoration projects that will be resourced and implemented in the New Year.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Something big is about to land…

RIAT Black Friday

Get ready, our Black Friday event is almost here with up to 50% off a huge range of products! This year’s sale runs from 24th November to 2nd December and features savings on RIAT25 merchandise and much more.

Whether you’re treating yourself or searching for the perfect gift, this is your chance to grab fan favourites at their best prices of the year. Stock is limited, and once these offers go live, they won’t stick around for long.

Stay tuned and keep an eye on our socials – Black Friday starts soon, and you won’t want to miss it.

Explore all Merch

Viewing Village Garden – don’t miss out on the best savings!

Viewing Village Garden Saturday tickets are currently 5% off, but only until midnight on Sunday 23rd November.

Once the offer ends, these tickets will go to full price. Book now to secure your place at the best price available now!

Book Viewing Village Garden

Soaring to new heights

Army Flying Museum - Wheels and Wings

Following on from five fabulous sell out years, the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop has launched its flagship fundraising event bright and early again for 2026, with tickets now on sale for Wallop Wheels and Wings.  The event will take place on 11 July 2026 and with prices fixed until 31 January, early bookers have the chance to make some great savings and get a date in their diaries for another fun day out.

Demand for tickets is sure to be high as the event in 2025 was the biggest and best yet, with an amazing finale by the Army Air Corps Display Team, and has seen Wallop Wheels and Wings 2025 make it to the final of Tourism Event of the Year at the Beautiful South awards organised by Tourism South East.

The event in 2026 is set to be another amazing day of motoring and aviation, with a huge array of classic and super cars/bikes to keep motor enthusiasts entertained, including a variety of vehicle parades.  If weather permits, visitors can pull up a deckchair and watch an array of fixed wing and rotary aircraft taking to the skies and chat to the many pilots flying into the event, along with watching some spectacular air displays. 

With a wonderful mix of food, drink, and gifts in the shopping village there will be plenty for non-enthusiasts to browse throughout the day, along with a wide array of delicious food from the many catering units including Mexican and Chinese food and gourmet pizzas and fish and chips, to keep hunger at bay.

Families will have a packed day in store with lots of activities to keep little ones entertained throughout the day.  With everything from electric go karts to replica pedal planes, laser tag to craft activities, mini tanks to circus skills, there will never be a dull moment.

The Discovery Den will again be filled with plenty of hands-on STEM activities from Platinum sponsors GKN Aerospace to get young minds buzzing.

Other attractions will include historic aircraft, living history re-enactors and returning for 2026, a Speaker’s tent, with a wide array of authors taking to the stage and signing books for visitors.  All full price tickets bought in advance for the event include a free annual pass to the Museum, which is valid from 12 July, however visitors can purchase an add-on ticket to the Museum should they wish to explore on the day.

Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum Lucy Johnson said: “After the success of this year’s event, the great news about the Beautiful South Awards, and the fantastic feedback we received, we are so excited to be launching our 2026 Wallop Wheels and Wings fundraiser.  The event is so important for us as a charity in raising much needed funds to ensure the continued future of the Museum.  The team are already working hard to make sure that it’s going to be a great day out for families and enthusiasts alike. We have a few surprises lined up for the day and a wide range of entertainment for all ages and we look forward to sharing more information over the coming months.” For further information or to book tickets visit https://armyflying.digitickets.co.uk/category/21547

The RIAT Christmas collection has landed!

RIAT Christmas Collection

We’re excited to share our latest collection of seasonal products, available from the RIAT Shop!

From calendars and festive cards to stylish apparel and unique decorations, our new range has something for everyone this period.

Be among the first to enjoy our newest arrivals – shop your Christmas favourites today or pre-order to secure yours before they sell out.

Looking for smaller gifts? Explore our Gifts & Accessories collection, filled with great ideas for stocking fillers and thoughtful presents.

Shop now and make this festive season extra special.

RIAT Christmas Shop

Upcoming price changes

Don’t miss your opportunity to secure two of our most popular Saturday enclosures at a special 5% discount – but hurry, these savings are ending soon!

Cotswold Club Tickets

Viewing Village Grandstand – Saturday

Enjoy 5% off until midnight on Sunday 2nd November, when the price will return to full rate.

Cotswold Club – Saturday Save 5% until midnight on Tuesday 4th November, after which this option will also revert to full price.

Viewing Village Tickets

Don’t risk disappointment. Get your tickets today!

RIAT Tickets

Our discounted enclosure tickets are selling fast, so book yours today to avoid missing out!

With Christmas less than five weeks away, you can treat your loved ones to an unforgettable experience at RAF Fairford by checking them into one of our amazing enclosures at a discounted price*. Act now as these offers will be ending soon.

What’s selling out?
Aviation Club (Saturday) – SOLD OUT!
First Class Lounge (Saturday) – Less than 10
Cotswold Club (Saturday) – Limited availability

But there’s still time to grab a spot in the ever-popular Flight Deck! Enjoy a casual street food lunch and prime crowd line views. With 70% of Saturday tickets already sold, they won’t last long. Take a look at all our enclosures here.

Why RIAT25?
From jaw-dropping displays to up-close access to aircraft and cutting-edge tech exhibits in our Techno Zone®, there’s something for everyone. And remember – under 18s go free with a ticket holding adult!

Upgrade today
If you have already secured your general admission ticket and would like to treat your friends or family to an upgrade to an enclosure then please call our customer services on 01285 713 456.

RIAT will return to RAF Fairford on 18th, 19th and 20th July 2025. We look forward to seeing you all there.

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages/

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust to reach more young people with new partnerships

RAFCT STEM

On National Engineering Day, The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust has announced it is set to reach more children after signing new partnerships with EngineeringUK and EDT.

The charity, which is powered by the proceeds of the Royal International Air Tattoo, aims to inspire young people to consider careers in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The new agreement with EngineeringUK will see RAFCT become headline partner of their Big Bang at School Blueprint initiative, where young people from across the country participate in an inspiring STEM day in their schools, filled with amazing hands-on science and engineering activities and opportunities to learn more about STEM careers.

Meanwhile, the agreement with EDT will impact over 50,000 students from across the country as headline partner of both the Industrial Cadets initiative alongside Experience Days Developed by EDT and inspired by its Patron, His Majesty King Charles III, Industrial Cadets is a widely recognised, accredited awards scheme helping young people access STEM learning, experiences and the world of work through collaboration with industry.

In addition to National Engineering Day, this week marks Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, a celebration of engineering and technology designed to inspire young people, which makes it a timely announcement from the Gloucestershire-based charity.

Director at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, Justine Morton, said: “We are incredibly excited to be announcing these partnerships and demonstrates our commitment to inspiring young people.
“RAFCT is a signatory of the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code which asks members to inspire connection, drive inclusion, showcase engineering and technology and improve impact.
“These are principles we fundamentally believe in and we are looking forward to working with EngineeringUK and EDT to reach more young people from all backgrounds and inspire them about STEM.”

Since 2005, RAFCT has been on a mission to work with young people with these partnerships the latest initiatives the organisation supports. The new partnerships join existing programmes such as the Road to RIAT primary school competition which will reach over 500 schools.

This year the Royal International Air Tattoo welcomed a record crowd of 168,000 people to RAF Fairford, with tickets already on sale for next summer’s show which is taking place from July 18-20th.

Justine added: “The Royal International Air Tattoo is a huge event that naturally demands a lot of attention.

“I’d like to thank every single one of the visitors who joined us at RAF Fairford this year, as by attending our event, they may have changed the lives of children across the country.”

To find out more about the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, visit www.airtattoo.com/royal-air-force-charitable-trust/.

Rare Dornier wing section will go on display at the RAF Museum in early 2025

RAF Museum Dornier

Plans are underway at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands for the wing section of an iconic Second World War Dornier Do 17 to go on public display in early 2025. Salvaged after more than 70 years submerged beneath the waters of the Goodwin Sands, this rare artefact offers visitors a unique glimpse into the past.

Nicknamed the ‘Flying Pencil’ due to its slender fuselage, the Do 17 played a pivotal role in the early stages of the Second World War and is best remembered for its involvement in the Battle of Britain. Of more than 1,500 Do 17 bombers produced, over 400 were deployed by the Luftwaffe during the pivotal battle. Today, only one remains complete.

The wing section set to be displayed comes from this sole surviving Do 17, recovered in a landmark operation led by the RAF Museum in 2013. The dramatic moment the aircraft was lifted from the seabed and surfaced from the waters was broadcast live, capturing global attention. The recovery and subsequent conservation efforts have since fascinated not only aviation enthusiasts and historians but also scientists and engineers, all intrigued by the challenge of preserving this historic airframe for future generations.

Dr Harry Raffal, RAF Museum Head of Collections and Research said:
‘This is a remarkable moment for aviation history in Britain. After more than tens of years of intensive conservation, treatment and stabilisation, the Do 17 will go on public display. It represents not only the culmination of an extraordinary salvage operation but a unique way of understanding the Battle of Britain. The new year will see the Do 17 wing section, propellers, and engines situated alongside a Boulton-Paul Defiant, the very type that delivered the final blows to this Do 17. Our audience will see first-hand the thin edge of technology which enabled the RAF and Luftwaffe to fight out the most important battle of a generation.’

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with the wing section, propellers, and engines, through enhanced interpretation and delve deeper into the aircraft’s story. Uncover the aircraft’s historical significance in aerial warfare, the events leading to its demise, and the extraordinary salvage operation and unique preservation techniques employed to safeguard its legacy.

The Do 17 wing section will be available for public viewing from early 2025, subject to suitable weather conditions for the move. The Museum invites aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and families alike to explore this unique addition to the collection. This extraordinary exhibition will be a chance to reflect on the aircraft’s role in one of Britain’s most defining moments in history.

The fuselage will remain in store for the time being, owing to space constraints in the hangars, but the Museum retains the option to display it in future alongside the wing section.

For more details or to plan your visit go to www.rafmuseum.org/midlands.

RAF Museum London displays Noor Inayat Khan’s George Cross

The RAF Museum London is honoured to open a new display that shares the story of Noor Inayat Khan GC, who served under cover in Paris during the Second World War with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), and ultimately gave her life for the Allied cause.

Born to an Indian father and an American mother, Noor was living in Paris when Germany invaded France in 1940. She escaped to Britain where she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and trained as a wireless operator. As a follower of Sufism, Noor was a pacifist. However, she believed that it was her duty to support the fight against Nazism.
Noor’s technical skills and fluency in French led to her recruitment by the SOE and her deployment to Paris as a special agent in 1943. After Noor’s SOE colleagues were identified and arrested, she was given the option to return from enemy territory. However, she chose to remain at her post as the only SOE wireless operator in Paris. Noor was later betrayed and arrested. She endured a long period of interrogation before being executed by the Nazis at Dachau Concentration camp on 13 September 1944. Her last word was ‘Liberté!’

The Museum is displaying the George Cross that was posthumously awarded to Noor for her bravery while operating in German occupied France. It has been generously loaned to the Museum by Noor’s family. The George Cross is the highest award bestowed on civilian or military personnel who have carried out an act of bravery while not under enemy fire. Noor was one of only three women to receive the George Cross.

The citation for Noor’s George Cross reads: Assistant Section Officer Inayat Khan displayed the most conspicuous courage, both moral and physical over a period of more than 12 months.
The new display is integrated within the Museum’s ‘Strike Hard, Strike Sure: Bomber Command, 1939-1945’ exhibition. The exhibition explores the story of the incredible bravery of those in Bomber Command during the Second World War, sharing the stories of the people, aircraft and technology that enabled Allied victory.

The Westland Lysander Mk III, presented within this exhibition, is integral to Noor’s story, and the new display is located beside it. On 16 June 1943, Noor, codenamed Madeleine, was flown into France by Squadron Leader Frank ‘Bunny’ Rymills in a Westland Lysander. A record of this flight was recorded in his logbook, which is the RAF Museum’s archive collection and on display beside Noor’s George Cross.

Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF Museum said:
“We are privileged and humbled to share Noor’s George Cross with our visitors. Her story of bravery and determination sings to us across the decades and we know will inspire people of all ages and from all backgrounds. The generous loan of the medal by her family, alongside the logbook that records her flight into occupied France and our Special Duties Lysander are a powerful representation of her service and sacrifice.”

www.rafmuseum.org/london