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North American P-51D Mustang (A14001V) Vintage Classics
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A thoroughbred fighting aeroplane, the Mustang possessed the range, speed and firepower needed to secure air supremacy in the skies over Europe and despite only entering the Second World War during its latter stages, was regarded as one of the most effective fighters of the entire war - an 'Ace' maker.
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc (A17001)
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In the world of aviation, is there any aircraft which can even come close to matching the iconic status the Supermarine Spitfire enjoys, a legacy which is as strong today as it was during the wartime years? A modern monoplane fighter aircraft which made its first flight from Eastleigh Aerodrome on 5th March 1936, the Spitfire would earn its legendary reputation during the Battle of Britain, when the pilots of the Royal Air Force stood defiantly against the overwhelming might of the all-conquering Luftwaffe, an aviation beacon of hope for a nation and its people during their darkest hour.
Elegant and graceful to look at, the Spitfire's appearance masked the fact that this was a deadly fighting aeroplane and one which was adaptable enough to undergo almost constant development throughout the wartime years, allowing later marks of the fighter to post speeds which were almost 100 mph faster than the first machines to enter service. With a service career which extended well into the post war years, the Spitfire outlived all its aviation contemporaries and with over 22,000 Spitfires of all variants (including Seafires) eventually being built, Spitfires are still a regular sight at Airshow events all over the world, as an ever increasing number of restored airworthy aircraft continue to write the enduring Spitfire story. Even though the prototype Spitfire made its first flight over 85 years ago, the aircraft is still widely regarded as Britain's most famous aircraft type and instantly recognisable to many millions of people the world over.
The Spitfire Mk.IX variant was arguably the most important mark of Spitfire in the entire production run and because of that, it is somewhat surprising to learn that it was actually something of a stop-gap development. The arrival of the Luftwaffe's new Focke Wulf 190 fighter over the Western Front in August 1941 saw RAF Spitfire Mk.Vs operating over the Channel falling victim to the 'Butcher Bird' in ever increasing numbers and something had to be done. A major Spitfire upgrade was in progress, but the Mk.VIII was still some way off, as manufacturing facilities prepared their tooling jigs for the new aircraft, but there was a temporary solution. One of the major features of the new Spitfire was its use of a powerful new version of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine and it was proposed that fitting this new engine to a Spitfire Mk.V airframe would give the fighter a welcome performance boost.
The first 100 Spitfire Mk.IX fighters were actually Mk.Vc airframes adapted to take the new Merlin 61 two stage, two speed supercharged engine, with this combination producing a thoroughbred fighting aeroplane, one which was more than capable of challenging the FW190 and the latest 'F' variant of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In fact, the new Spitfire was considered so successful that this would become the second most heavily produced variant in the entire production run and if including the aircraft powered by the licence built Packard Merlin 266 (Spitfire Mk.XVI) even eclipsed the Mk.V in production numbers. With further powerplant refinement taking place throughout the production life of this variant, the first Mk.IX Spitfires started to join RAF Squadrons from July 1942, with this famous mark of Spitfire going on to see service past D-Day and into the post war era. The last major Merlin engine powered variant of the Spitfire, this 'emergency stop-gap fighter' actually became something of an aviation classic.
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Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 (A18001V) Vintage Classics
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An aircraft which is undoubtedly one of the most significant in the history of aviation, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 was developed from the Hawker P.1127 experimental aircraft produced to test the possibilities of V/STOL vectored thrust flight. These aircraft would successfully master the transition from hovering to forward flight and back to the hover, despite several of the development aircraft suffering accidents during testing. The prospect of a viable V/STOL aircraft proved to be of great interest to both the British and US military, who funded further development of the aircraft.The new 'Jump Jet' was an instant hit with the British public, who marvelled at the ingenuity of their aviation industry, which was once again proving to be the envy of the world. As the consummate display performer, the Harrier was always a popular display item with Airshow crowds, with the two forming a bond which would last right through the Harrier's long service career. In the eyes of the British public, no Airshow was complete without a display from Britain's world leading Harrier.Entering Royal Air Force service in April 1969, the operational flexibility offered by the Harrier GR.1 ensured the aircraft would never find itself too far away from potential conflict hotspots. Not confined to operating from military airfields, Harriers could be concealed in forest clearings or dispersed to sections of motorways, or even school playgrounds, but with the intention of keeping their location concealed from the enemy. With many of these early Harriers deployed in West Germany, they would act as a significant deterrent against Eastern Bloc aggression, potentially lurking in many undisclosed locations, poised to strike against attacking Soviet armour at a moment's notice.
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Junkers Ju87B Stuka (A18002V) Vintage Classics
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An aircraft considered by many to be the most infamous in the history of warfare, the Junkers Ju87 Stuka was designed not only to inflict devastating strategic damage on opposing military forces, but to do so by spreading fear and confusion amongst their ranks, thus further reducing their effectiveness as a fighting force.
A Stuka dive-bombing attack employed the use of a siren intentionally bolted to one of the aircraft’s undercarriage legs, which emitted a terrifying wailing cry, which would continue until the aircraft pulled out of its dive, only to be replaced by the sound of exploding bombs. Signifying impending devastation, the Stuka was the aviation manifestation of Blitzkrieg.