COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A Coventry airbase which is home to dozens of vintage aircraft is to relaunch with its first major air show in a decade.



The Classic Air Force base at Coventry Airport is due to host the "Airbase gets Airbourne" show on 2 May.

The Classic Aircraft Trust says the event will feature a display of rare aircraft that date from the end of World War Two to the 1960s.

The trust described the base as, "a safari park of old aeroplanes".

The trust said the show would include the Gloster Meteor NF11, the night fighter variant of the pioneering British jet, the Meteor T7, the world's oldest flyable jet, and the Canberra, which set the world altitude record in 1957.

Jem Shaw, who oversees marketing for the trust, said: "Hardly any other museums have chosen this period of aviation history and yet it was so important.

"It was when the jet engine was first taking control and its inventor, Sir Frank Whittle, was an unsung hero."

He added Coventry, as the birthplace of Sir Frank, was the perfect place for the collection.

The trust says the base was only open to the public on a limited basis during 2012/13 because the site was threatened with the Gateway development, which was rejected by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in February.

"Now that threat has gone and we've secured the future of Coventry airbase," said Mr Shaw.

The show will enable members of the public to enjoy pleasure flights in some - but not all - of the aircraft.

G-BVWC suffered an engine failure in 2006 and a worldwide search began to find a replacement Rolls-Royce Avon 109 with the correct paperwork to allow a return to airworthiness. The search was to continue into 2012, when an Avon was found in the United States. It was a huge disappointment when, on the engine's arrival in Coventry, it was found to have been damaged beyond repair in transit.

Fortunately, the seller was in possession of further Avon engines which, on inspection in the USA, appeared sound and usable. Work is now underway to restore and prepare the airframe for receipt of its new power unit.

rebbonk wrote:Wouldn't it be a real bonus if the Shakleton trust could get the Shackleton airworthy for this event?

A project hopes to get the Avro Shackleton taking off from the runway at Baginton



AN iconic Cold War aircraft which has remained grounded in Coventry for nearly 25 years could take to the skies once more.

One of the world’s few remaining Avro Shackletons - a descendant of the legendary Lancaster - was flown in to Coventry Airport when it was retired by the RAF in 1991.

But now a team of ex-RAF engineers and aviation enthusiasts are trying to return the maritime patrol aircraft to its former glory and the latest part of that project saw them bidding to raise £12,000 for a close inspection of the piston-engined aircraft.

Of the 185 Shackletons built in the 1950s, less than 18 survive worldwide and if the one at Coventry - serial number WR963 - returned to flight, she would be the last of her kind to do so.

Richard Woods, from the project, said: “We hit the target with five days to go for what is a massive project.

“The money raised will be used to look at the state of the aircraft and how well it has survived over the years.

“It will be 25 years next years since it was retired so we need to find out if it needs any work if it is to be fit to fly again.

“The money will help pay for specialist inspections, x-rays, ultrasounds and even an endoscope in to the plane’s weird and wonderful places.

“If it fails the testing, it could cost up to £5million to fix and we would be looking at five to ten years to get that money raised.

“But if it passes then we are looking at a lot less money and we could potentially see it flying in about two years.

“It would be fantastic and a great achievement for all the people that have worked on this project.”

The Shackleton has already been upgraded from a silent relic after all four engines roared into life in 2013 for the first time in five years.

And it will once again be moving around on its own power this Saturday as part of the latest show at Coventry Airport.

The Airbase Gets Airborne event will see dozens of classic aircraft from the last century on show, including the Gloster Meteor, de Havilland Vampire and Jet Provost T5.

There will be spectacular air displays as well as numerous pleasure flights from 10am onwards.

Visit http://www.avroshackleton.co.uk or http://www.classicairforce.com/airbase-gets-airborne

Iconic British jets from yesteryear set to take to skies above Coventry


Jet Provost T5

Classic British jets will take to the skies above Coventry this weekend during the first major air show in the city for five years.

A Gloster Meteor, a de Havilland Vampire and a Jet Provost T5 are among six iconic planes from the 1940s, 50s and 60s which are set to thrill the crowds at the Airbase Gets Airborne show at Coventry Airport on Saturday, May 2.

A Percival Proctor, a Percival Pembroke and an Anson T21 will also perform aerial displays, while an Avro Shackleton and a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod will fire up their engines and taxi down the runway.

Visitors can also enjoy pleasure flights above the Warwickshire countryside in various historic planes, including a Percival Prentice or a de Havilland Rapide, Chipmunk or Dove.

Gates open at 10am while the air displays are set to begin between 12.30pm and 1pm. Ticket prices range from £6 to £22.

An Airbase spokesman said: “It’s time to take Coventry Airbase off the back burner. It’s time we brought the magic back to the Midlands.

“This is likely to be one of our biggest events ever.

“To celebrate the welcome return to flight of some of our most-loved treasures we’ve put together a great day’s entertainment.”

The Meteor night-fighter is powered by two Rolls-Royce Derwent engines, the Vampire is made almost entirely of wood while the T5 is fast but thirsty.

The world’s only taxiable Shackleton, powered by four Rolls-Royce Griffons - the same engines found in some Spitfires - and her successor the Nimrod, won’t fly on the day, but will fire up their engines.

Display director Trevor Bailey said: “It’s not often people get the chance to see the T5.

“It’s a thirsty little beast but it’s a great performer and the red and white RAF scheme looks spectacular against the sky.”

He added: “We’re out to put Coventry firmly on the vintage aviation map this year

“We represent a charity that’s dedicated to preserving historic aircraft for future generations

“Every visitor through the gates helps to ensure they’ll be there to delight people for many years to come.”

Airbase chief executive Sue Hawkins spoke about the regulations which means the Nimrod and the Shackleton remain grounded.

She said: “We live in a world of regulations and that’s nowhere more true than in aviation.

“I’d be the last one to criticise that – it’s one of the reasons that aviation is so safe – but it can be frustrating when we have a potentially flyable aircraft that isn’t allowed to fly.

“But circumstances change, so its our job to keep these machines in good order in the hope that one day they can return to the sky.”

The last major air show at Coventry Airport was in 2010 when spectators saw a Vulcan, Tornado and Venom take to the skies.

To book tickets visit http://www.classicairforce.com/airbase-gets-airborne or call 024 7688 2600.

Hundreds enjoy first Coventry air show in years


A 1945 Shackleton bought by the Shackleton Preservation Trust for £1

Classic planes took to the skies over Coventry during the first major air show held in the city for years.

Organisers have hailed the event, at Coventry Airport, a huge success with hundreds of people turning out to watch a host of iconic planes.

They even had to shut the car parks late in the afternoon as visitor numbers exceeded all expectations.

Jem Shaw, organiser of the Airbase Gets Airborne show, said: “We are all grinning like Cheshire cats.

“Everybody seems to have had a good time and the displays have mostly gone off without a hitch.

“We were aiming for 2,000 visitors and we’re currently estimating that we got something like 2,500.

“So we’ve beaten our targets, the old aeroplanes are safe for a little while longer and it’s been really good fun.

“There’s a very strong Coventry connection with some of these aeroplanes.”

Fans of classic aircraft won’t have to wait long for another event either, with organisers planning a special event in July.