Here's Classic Flight's cherished collection of irreplaceable aircraft. While they all qualify as endangered species, some are under more immediate threat than others. So we've ordered them by threat level so that you can see the more urgent cases at a glance.
The collection is there for you to enjoy, so please browse at your leisure - better still come and visit them in person!
 |
||||
 |
English Electric Canberra B-2 Conceived in 1944 as a replacement for the de Havilland Mosquito, the Canberra was one of the first aircraft to be type-approved to carry nuclear weapons. |
|||
 |
||||
|
||||
 |
English Electric Canberra T-4 The Air Atlantique Classic Flight T4 carries the miltary serial VN799, previously held by the prototype that flew in 1949. She's also painted in the same all-over blue. She retired from RAF service at Marham in 2005. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Gloster Meteor N.F.11 The night-fighter version of the Meteor featured a lengthened nose to accommodate the air interception radar. It was introduced to replace the obsolete Mosquito, first flying in 1950. |
|||
|
||||
 |
||||
 |
de Havilland Vampire The Vampire first flew in 1943, zooming through design, prototype and test-flight stages in just 16 months. |
|||
 |
||||
 |
||||
 |
de Havilland Venom Developed from the Vampire, the Venom employed similar wood/metal construction, but was powered by a more powerful engine. This, allied to a revised wing, contributed to its higher performance. |
|||
 |
||||
|
||||
 |
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer Designed for short take-off and landing, the Twin Pioneer delights at airshows with her astonishing slow-flying abilities. The much-loved "Twin Pin" is the world's only surviving flyable example. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Percival Pembroke This has to be the world's most unlikely spy-plane, but the Classic Flight Pembroke was used in the Cold War for stealth reconnaissance. Its innocuous appearance may have been the factor that allowed it to "hide in plain sight". |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Douglas DC-6 Resplendent in her new British Eagle livery to replace the KLM stage-costume she wore in the film "Bride Flight", G-APSA looks every inch a 50s thoroughbred airliner. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
de Havilland Dove/Devon De Havilland developed the Dove as a short haul airliner to replace the Dragon Rapide, a role it fulfilled well enough to come to the attention of the RAF. Their version was named the Devon |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Douglas DC-3 Dakota G-ANAF has always been the ugly duckling of the fleet. That huge Adam's apple contains sensitive radar equipment, powered by an auxiliary generator mounted on the outside of the fuselage. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
de Havilland Dragon Rapide These beautiful biplane airliners continue to delight passengers. There are few more pleasurable ways to fly than in these grand old ladies. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Percival Prentice T 1 The prototype Prentice first flew in 1946. The aircraft was also used by the Argentinian and Indian Air Foces as well as the RAF. Many of the Navigators and Radio operators of the RAF in the 50s learned their trade in these aircraft |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Avro Anson T-21 The Annie is one of the sweetest-flying, most endearing aircraft in the whole Classic Flight collection. Her design comes from the same distinguished pen as the Avro Lancaster. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
de Havilland Chipmunk T10 Few aircraft are as loved by pilots as the ubiquitous "Chippie". More than sixty years on from its introduction, this agile, dependable trainer is still capable of amazing airshow audiences with its aerobatics. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
 |
Auster J1 Autocrat Developed from the successful military observation monoplane of WW2, the J1 Autocrat was conceived as a civil touring aircraft. The capacity for a third passenger gave it a useful advantage over competitors like the Piper Cub and Luscombe |
|||
|
||||
