FlyPast – January 2019

In the January issue of FlyPast, we go flying with a newly restored Hawker Hurricane. This fresh airworthy resident now inhabits the Imperial War Museum Duxford’s Battle of Britain hangar and comes with a short but hugely interesting history. Now airborne again following stellar work by Hawker Restorations, we tell this famous warbird’s story and capture exclusive air-to-air images as it returns to its natural environment.

SPITFIRE RECOVERY
A Spitfire PR.IV has been retrieved from a crash site in Norway. Darren Harbar looks at how it came to be there and outlines plans for the rare machine.

BELL P-39 AND P-63
Our popular Spotlight section focuses on two American fighters this month - the P-39 Airacobra and its successor, the more powerful P-63 Kingcobra. We feature rarely seen images, exclusive features and new artwork.

BEAUFIGHTER SECOND LIFE
Use of the fearsome Bristol Beaufighter continued after the war. Ken Ellis examines its second career, which lasted until 1960.

THE FLYING WING
Tony Buttler recounts the brief but fascinating history of the Armstrong Whitworth AW.52.

FROM THE COCKPIT – BEECH 18
Keen FlyPast aviator Dave Unwin looks back on a memorable flight at the controls of a Beech 18.

We also join Ken Ellis for a tour of the RAF Museum’s storage facility at Stafford, which includes some rarely seen gems in the form of both aircraft and personal items. On the other side of the Atlantic, Frank B Mormillo reports from another successful Reno National Championship Air Races, and closer to home we catch up with Sqn Ldr Andy Millikin as he prepares to end his three-year tenure with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We also bring you restoration updates on a Hampden, Skytrooper, Typhoon and more.