New Forest Air Group

I have just finished reading a book written by Peter Vacher, detailing the discovery in 1982, in a compound at a Technical College in northern India, the rusty hulk.of a genuine Battle of Britain Hawker Hurricane, R4118. In 1996 he decided to act and made an offer to buy the remains. In 1997 the offer was accepted.

The book then documents the following six years of complicated negotiations before in 2002 Peter was given 24 hours to remove the plane from India..

Published by Grub Street, "Hurricane R4118: The Extraordinary Story of the discovery and restoration of a great Battle of Britain survivor” .is illustrated with many colour photographs taken during the restoration in England. It provides a rare insight into the world of classic aircraft restoration. The worldwide search for parts for R4118, the careful reconstruction, through to the flight-testing make a fascinating read. I highly recommend this book.The book then documents the following six years of wrangling, committees, red tape, Indian Air Force involvement, and much patient lobbying before in 2002 Peter was given 24 hours to remove the plane from India.

From April 2007 Newsletter

W/C ERNIE JONES Ret'd

At the March meeting, Wing Commander Ernie Jones (ret'd), gave a very personal insight into the life of a pilot in the Red Arrows, having served in the team as Red 7, in 1967. He started with slides of the early RAF aerobatic teams, consisting of three Bristol Bulldogs, tied together with string, looping the loop over the Hendon Air Pageants of the 1930's. Progressing through with photos of the shiny black Hawker Hunters of the "Black Arrows" led by Sqn Ldr Roger Topp, the blue Hunters of 92 Squadrons "Blue Diamonds" in 1962-63, the red Jet Provosts of the "Red Pelicans", to probably the most powerful aircraft used by the RAF aerobatic teams, the English Electric Lightning equipped "Fire birds" of 56 Sqn in the mid 1960's of which Ernie Jones was also a team member. After the introduction into RAF service of the Folland Gnat in the 1960's, the Central Flying School painted some Gnats yellow and created the "Yellowjacks", which after two years were painted red and became the team, we all know so well today, the "Red Arrows". A video of some film dating from the late 1960's was shown showing a rather youthful Ernie Jones squeezing into the narrow confines of the Gnat cockpit, prior to a Red Arrows display, filmed by the great aviation photographer Arthur Gibson. The shot of a Gnat travelling at less than 5 feet, down the length of undulating runway at RAF Kemble, was a sight seldom seen nowadays in this age of stringent airshow Health & Safety legislation.

From November 2007 Newsletter

JOHN FARLEY
Addressing a packed October 2006 audience, former Harrier Test Pilot John Farley OBE, AFC, Ceng, gave a superbly presented talk & power point presentation on the history of vertical take-off development. Here are four of John's pictures.