Classic Air Force facts for kids

Classic Air Force was a special group that worked to save and show off old airplanes. They were based in Coventry, England. Their main goal was to keep important and rare aircraft from after World War II and during the Cold War flying if possible. This group was part of a charity called The Classic Aircraft Trust, which started in 2012. Sadly, Classic Air Force closed down in early 2016.

Between March 2015 and February 2016, their main home was Coventry Airport. This is where they fixed and kept 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.

History of Classic Air Force

Classic Air Force grew out of an older group called Classic Flight. This group itself came from a company called Air Atlantique. Air Atlantique started in 1969 as a small air taxi service. In 1977, they began using Douglas DC-3 planes for charter flights, which became their famous aircraft. By 2006, the part of the company that dealt with old planes 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 planes safe for a long time, even after the founders were no longer around. So, The Classic Aircraft Trust was created to manage everything. The Trust got a space at Newquay Cornwall Airport. Most of the planes from Classic Flight were given to this new charity. They also got a few more planes.

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

How Classic Air Force Operated

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

Fun Flights for Visitors

The charity also offered special flights for people who joined as members. You could fly in planes like the de Havilland Dragon Rapide and Percival Proctor. They even offered exciting aerobatic (stunt flying) trips in the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. In May 2015, they added another plane for pleasure flights, the de Havilland Dove. This plane was known as the Devon when it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Different Bases

From 2012 to 2013, the main base for Classic Air Force was Coventry Airport. This was mostly where they fixed and restored planes. But starting in April 2014, it also opened to the public on weekends, and it was free to visit! Even though it was mainly a workshop, two large planes, the Avro Shackleton and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, were on display for people to explore inside. Coventry was the only base used by Air Atlantique and Classic Flight before Classic Air Force started in 2012.

Between 2013 and March 2015, the main base moved to Newquay Cornwall Airport. Here, they had a huge hangar (Hangar 404) that could hold 25 of their planes. This hangar used to hold three RAF Hawker Siddeley Nimrod planes. The museum at Newquay opened on March 31, 2013, and was open to visitors from April to October. Smaller buildings nearby had model displays, a bookshop, a cafe, and other aviation-related activities.

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

Closing Down

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 of the charity's planes and facilities were planned to be sold by early 2016.

As a charity, Classic Air Force got most of its money from people visiting the museum and from membership fees. They also had a team of amazing volunteers. These volunteers included skilled engineers who fixed the planes and pilots who flew them.

Aircraft Fleet

The Classic Aircraft Trust had a fleet of over 30 planes that were built after World War II. Some of these planes are now for sale.

Flyable Aircraft

These planes were based at Coventry and could fly. The notes show where they are now.

• 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

Formerly Under Maintenance at Coventry

• 1 x Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer - G-APRS

Static Display at Coventry

• Hawker Siddeley Nimrod - XV232

Former Static Display at Newquay

• Note: All these planes are currently 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)

Images for kids

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

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  Douglas C-47 Dakota G-AMPY

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  DH Dragon Rapide G-AIDL

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

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  Meteor, Venom and Jet Provost at RAF Cosford in 2011