Bristol Sycamore HR14
The Sycamore has the distinction of being the first British-designed helicopter to fly. During the 1950s Sycamore crews helped pioneer many of the helicopter techniques commonly used …
Period: Post-WWII
de Havilland Chipmunk
One of the RAF’s longest serving aircraft types, the Canadian designed Chipmunk entered RAF service in 1950. Chipmunks replaced the Tiger Moth as an initial pilot trainer, …
Gloster Meteor F8 Prone Position
A much modified Meteor F8 fighter, the ‘prone position’ Meteor, was used to evaluate the advantages of coping with the effects of gravity while flying lying down. …
Hunting Percival Pembroke C1
Entering service in 1953, the Pembroke took over from the venerable Anson in the light transport and communications role. It was developed from the Prince civil transport …
Vickers Valiant B1
The Valiant was the first of Bomber Command’s V class aircraft and established Britain’s air-borne nuclear deterrent force before pioneering operational in-flight refuelling in the Royal Air …
de Havilland Chipmunk
de Havilland produced another classic with the replacement for their world famous Tiger Moth. The Chipmunk was designed and produced in Canada before being adopted as the …
Vickers Varsity T Mk I
The Varsity was a versatile twin piston-engined aircraft brought into RAF service in 1951 for crew training as a replacement for the Wellington T10. The aircraft had …
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C1
The Argosy was a variant of the civil AW650 freight aircraft. The RAF ordered fifty-six Argosies for use as medium range transport, paratroop and supply aircraft. The …
de Havilland Devon
The Devon aircraft was developed for the RAF from the civil de Havilland Dove 4 as a light communications and transport aircraft. The de Havilland Dove was …
Handley Page Hastings
The Handley Page Hastings replaced the Avro York as the Royal Air Force’s standard long-range transport from 1948. Two squadrons of the new aircraft served alongside the …
Westland Belvedere HC1
The Belvedere was the Royal Air Force’s first twin engined, twin rotor helicopter to enter service. During its operational service Great Britain began the slow and sometimes …
Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF14
Always considered a stop-gap until more advanced aircraft came into service, the introduction of radar-equipped Meteor night fighters nevertheless provided the Royal Air Force with valuable experience …
de Havilland Vampire F3
The Vampire was a first generation jet fighter which saw service in the immediate post-war period with Royal Air Force front-line fighter squadrons in the United Kingdom …
Handley Page Victor K2
Designed and in service as a strategic nuclear bomber, some were converted to in-flight refuelling tankers and remained in service until 1993. Much use was made of …
Westland Gazelle HT3
Built 1973 by Westland Helicopters Ltd of Weston-Super Mare in Somerset as a Gazelle HT Mk3, this aircraft is one of 32 Gazelles delivered to the Royal …