Classic Air Force facts for kids

Classic Air Force was a special group that worked to save old airplanes. They were based in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Their main goal was to keep important and rare aircraft from after World War II and during the Cold War flying.

This group was the public face of The Classic Aircraft Trust. This Trust was set up in 2012 to manage the aircraft preservation and museum activities. Classic Air Force closed down in early 2016. From March 2015 to February 2016, their main home was Coventry Airport. This is where they fixed and stored most of their flying planes. Before that, from 2013 to March 2015, their main base was in Newquay.

Classic Air Force closed its museum in Coventry in October 2015.

How Classic Air Force Started

The Classic Air Force continued the work of Classic Flight. Classic Flight itself grew from a company called Air Atlantique. Air Atlantique began in 1969 as a small air taxi service. In 1977, they started using Douglas DC-3 planes for charter flights. These planes became very famous for the company.

In 2006, the part of the company that dealt with classic aircraft became its own group, called Air Atlantique Classic Flight.

Becoming a Charity

In 2012, the people in charge decided to make it a charity. This would help them keep old and rare aircraft safe for many years. The Classic Aircraft Trust was created to manage everything. The Trust got a large area of land at Newquay Cornwall Airport. Most of the planes from Classic Flight were given to this new charity. They also got several more planes.

The Newquay site opened as an aviation museum on March 31, 2013. It closed in March 2015.

What Classic Air Force Did

Gloster Meteor T.7 G-BWMF at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2013

Many of the planes that belonged to Classic Air Force are still flying today. Some have been sold, and others are waiting to be sold. Until the end of 2015, these planes often took part in airshows across the UK.

The Trust also offered special flights for people. You could fly in a de Havilland Dragon Rapide or a Percival Proctor. They also offered aerobatic (stunt flying) trips in a de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. In May 2015, they added a new plane for pleasure flights, the de Havilland Dove. This plane was known as the Devon when used by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Main Bases Over Time

From 2012 to 2013, the main base was at Coventry Airport. This was mostly where they fixed and restored planes. But from April 2014, it also opened to the public on weekends for free. Even though it was a working area, two large planes were on display for tours. These were the Avro Shackleton and the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod. Coventry was the only base for Air Atlantique and Classic Flight. Operations only moved to Newquay when Classic Air Force started in 2012.

Between 2013 and March 2015, the main base moved to Newquay Cornwall Airport. They used a huge hangar, called Hangar 404, which could hold 25 of their aircraft. This hangar used to hold three RAF Hawker Siddeley Nimrod planes. The museum opened on March 31, 2013. It was open to visitors from April to October. Smaller buildings had model displays, a bookshop, a cafe, and other aviation exhibits.

However, in early March 2015, they announced they were moving. The flying planes went back to Coventry. Later that month, it was confirmed that the Newquay section would close in 2015. Coventry became the main base again. Classic Air Force started operations at the original Coventry base on May 2, 2015. They even had a special airshow called "Airbase gets Airborne."

Why Classic Air Force Closed

In the summer of 2015, it was announced that the founder, Mike Collett, was going to retire. Because of this, Classic Air Force would close down. All the Trust's aircraft and facilities were sold by early 2016.

As a charity, the Trust got most of its money from museum visitors. They also raised money from people who became members of the Classic Air Force. Many volunteers helped out, including engineers who fixed planes and pilots who flew them.

Aircraft Fleet

Douglas C-47 Dakota G-AMPY

DH Dragon Rapide G-AIDL

Avro Anson G-VROE taking off from Hullavington Airport in 2005

Meteor, Venom and Jet Provost at RAF Cosford in 2011

The Trust had a fleet of over 30 aircraft from after World War II. Some of these planes were put up for sale.

Aircraft That Could Fly

These planes were based at Coventry and could fly.

• 1 x Auster Autocrat - G-JAYI
• 1 x Avro Anson - G-VROE - now airworthy
• 1 x Chrislea Super Ace - G-AKVF
• 1 x de Havilland Chipmunk - G-APLO
• 1 x de Havilland Dove - G-DHDV
• 3 x de Havilland Dragon Rapide - G-AGTM, G-AIDL and G-AKRP All now airworthy
• 1 x de Havilland Vampire - G-HELV Airworthy in Jordan
• 2 x de Havilland Venom - G-DHVM and G-VENM
• 2 x Douglas Dakota - G-AMPY and G-ANAF Airworthy
• 2 x English Electric Canberra - G-BVWC Restored at Doncaster
• 2 x Gloster Meteor - G-LOSM and G-BWMF - in America
• 1 x Percival Pembroke - G-BXES - now airworthy
• 1 x Percival Prentice - G-APJB
• 1 x Percival Proctor - G-AKIU

Aircraft Under Maintenance at Coventry

• 1 x Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer - G-APRS

Planes on Static Display at Coventry

These planes were on display and did not fly.

• Hawker Siddeley Nimrod - XV232

Former Static Display at Newquay

These planes were on display at Newquay. They are now on loan to the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre.

• 1 x BAC One-Eleven - G-BGKE
• 1 x English Electric Canberra - G-CDSX
• 2 x Hawker Hunter - WT722 and WB188
• 1 x Hawker Sea Hawk - WV798
• 1 x Hawker Siddeley Harrier - XV753
• 1 x Vickers Varsity - WL679
• 1 x Vickers VC10 - ZA148
• 1 x de Havilland Sea Devon - G-SDEV / XK895

Stored Aircraft

• 3 x de Havilland Dove - (G-BWWC, G-BWFB, G-ARHW)