Bleriot XI, of the Amicale Jean Salis

(lower picture provided by Jan Mattheus)

Bristol F2B Fighter D8096, still active with the Shutlleworth Collection.

The Bristol Fighter entered Royal Flying Corps service during the first World War and was initially unpopular with its crews until they discovered it had to be flown like a single seater. The design was so sound that it remained in production into the twenties and kept flying in several air forces into the thirties.

Caudron G.3

Though hardly a gorgeous design, the G.3 proved to be a very reliable training and observation aircraft, with the first examples entering military service during world war 1. Several air arms adopted the type and kept it in their inventory up into the late twenties. The example shown is still airworthy with the Amicale Jean Salis at La Ferté airfield in France.

(picture provided by Jan Mattheus)

Immediately after the Great War, aircraft became a popular passtime for the rich. Lots of surplus war aircraft were converted for civil use, as exemplified by this twin-seat conversion of the Pup single-seat fighter. Nowadays, it is owned by the Shuttleworth Thrust.

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann / Casa I-131-2000.

This popular German late-thirties training aircraft was also produced in Spain after the Civil War and remained in Ejercito del'Aire service into the seventies. Most aircraft of the type still flying today come from the Spanish production line.

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann D-ENNN showing its attractive paint scheme

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann painted to represent a pre-war Dutch Air Force machine

Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister

Taking it one step further, the Bü 133 was a single seat development of the Bü 131. With a more powerful radial engine, it was capable of the most spectacular aerobatic maneuvers. Today it is a much-loved antique, yet most aircraft are still flown up to their limits.

(picture provided by Jan Mattheus)

Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz D-EMIL

Another German aircraft that originated just before the war years, the Stieglitz was typical of that period's trainers : open tandem cockpits, biplane layout, engine with limited power. Some of these aircraft remain airworthy as illustrated by this blue/yellow bird.

Boeing Stearmans of the Crunchie team heading for each other.

Following the true tradition of the American wingwalkers of the twenties, this two-Stearman team performs aerobatics with a person strapped to a specially-made wing pylon. It probably looks more scary than it actually is, but the public just loves it.

Boeing Stearman

This view is a little deceptive. It looks as though the Stearman has a wide track undercarriage offering good ground stability. Yet, the Stearmans (mostly yellow painted in US Navy service) acquired the nickname 'Yellow Peril' just because of their groundlooping tendency.

(picture provided by Jan Mattheus - additional info from Carol Rex)

Comper Swift G-ACTF

During the late twenties/early thirties, a lot of small sports aircraft saw the light of day. One of them was the Comper Swift, equipped with a geared Pobjoy Niagara radial engine. Several were built, the one illustrated remaining active with the Shuttleworth Thrust at Old Warden.

Miles M.14A Magister

Complementary to the Tiger Moth in RAF wartime service and produced in relatively large numbers, the Magister never caught on with the larger public. The number of preserved aircraft of this type is very small indeed.

Morane-Saulnier MS.317 F-BCNL

In the inter-war period, Morane Saulnier started its series of high-wing parasol types, with the MS.230 achieving some fame as a training aircraft. After world war 2, the MS.315 and its re-engined derivative MS.317 appeared. They were popular as flying club trainers and glider tugs.

(picture provided by Jan Mattheus)

Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing

This can fairly be termed one of the very first business aircraft. Its roomy cabin layout was something of a novelty in the thirties, and the aircraft immediately became popular. Its top wing which was mounted behind the lower one ('negative stagger' to the technical bunch) earned it its 'Staggerwing' soubriquet.

Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing

Erco 415CD Ercoupe

During the 1930's, some people believed that private aviation was to become an everyman's daily transport. Several aircraft designs left the drawing boards with just one aim : to provide easy and careless flying for everyone. In the Ercoupe, the designers had devised a system whereby rudders and ailerons where coupled, so that the pilot only needed a steering wheel to maneuvre its airplane through the skies. This innovation was said to make the aircraft foolproof, yet there where no more followers to this formula.

Percival Proctor Mk.III G-AGWB (LZ734) - 1967.

During the thirties, both Percival and Miles produced some stunningly nice tourers, one of which being the Percival Gull. Its military counterpart, the Proctor, remained as elegant as the original one. It was used both for training and liaison duties, and some examples (including this one) were later sold to civilian owners. In civil hands, the aircraft were popular racing mounts, hence the race number '58' on this aircraft's tail.

Nord NC.858S Norvigie

French aircraft designers have always had a penchant for strange-looking designs, and the Norvigie is no exception. Originally intended for the air observation role, the aircraft was soon developed with the private aircraft market in mind. Due to its strange layout, it remains an eyecatcher at many a fly-in.