Avro Lancaster B Mk.I

One of the famous British heavy bombers, the Lancaster must surely rank as one of the most succesful. Several aircraft are preserved nowadays, including this ex-Canadian specimen in the RAF Museum at Hendon.....

The Kingcobra, a further development of the similar-looking P-39 Airacobra was notable for several features. Its engine was located behind the pilot leaving the slender front compartment available for machine gun fitment. Its cockpit was accesible from both sides through car-like doors, which equally eased cockpit maintenance.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

Probably the world's most photographed B-17, Sally B is a popular warbird on the airshow circuit year after year. It is shown here at the Mildenhall Air Fete 2000.

(picture supplied by Stef De Wit)

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV

Originally conceived as a heavy fighter, the Blenheim was soon modified into a high speed bomber. The aircraft shown here is preserved at the RAF Museum at Hendon.

Early in the war, a bunch of American pilots took part in the defence of China. Their P-40's soon became known as the Flying Tigers. This replica outside Los Angeles' Proud Bird Restaurant pays tribute to these American Voluntary Group pilots.

Although built in large numbers, the P-40 family of fighters was certainly not the best around during the second World War. This airworthy example is part of The Fighter Collection's impressive fleet at Duxford, UK.

Heinkel He 111

This medium bomber of Battle of Britain fame was one of the first operational aircraft using the 'Vollsichtkanzel', a completely glazed nose instead of the usual stepped cockpit layout.

Illustrated here is the example preserved at Hendon's RAF Museum.

Hispano Aviacion/Casa/Heinkel He 111

After the Spanish Civil War, several Heinkel He 111 were (re-)built in Spain. The lack of Geman assistance necessitated the use of readlily available engines such as the Rolls Royce Merlin. With these powerplants, several aircraft continued in service well into the sixties, with several surviving to this day. The illustrated example was seen in open storage at Duxford during May 2000.

Hawker Hurricane Mk.II

Slightly older and definitely less popular than the Spitfire, the Hurricane was the mainstay of British aerial defence during the Battle of Britain. Later in the war it served succesfully in ground attack missions.

Hawker Hurricane Mk.II

Shown here is one of two airworthy examples in the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Junkers Ju 87D Stuka

Originally conceived as a dive bomber the Ju 87 evolved into several versions, including succesful tank attackers.

Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun G-ATGB

Actually, the aircraft pictured here is not a genuine German war aircraft but a post-war French development known as the Nord N.1002, differing mainly in engine fit.

Messerschmitt Bf 109G

The aircraft shown here is the National Air and Space Museum's immaculately restored example.

Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet OO-STO

A frequent visitor to many airshows, the MS.505 (actually a radial-engined French-built derivative of the well-known Fieseler Storch) mostly impresses the crowds not with its speed but with its slowness ! In a reasonable headwind, it can actually fly backwards related to the ground, or touchdown with virtually no groundroll.

North American B-25 Mitchell

Pouring rain, low clouds... could this be an English airshow ? Almost, in fact The Fighter Collection's B-25 has just landed after an airshow rehearsal at Duxford.

(picture supplied by Stef De Wit)

Short Stirling

One of the first British heavy bombers, the Stirling quickly became relegated to second-line duties such as glider towing or transport.

WAR Fw190 OO-90

The american War Aircraft Replica company (WAR for short) designed this attractive semi-scale flying replica of the wartime Focke-Wulf fighter. Due to its kit construction, amateur builders could produce their own German fighter at relatively short notice. On the aircraft shown, power is provided by a converted VW-engine, although there are examples flying around with other powerplants.

Yak 11 'Moose' OO-YAK

This two-seat training aircraft is a joy to see and hear, its 9-cylinder radial producing an impressive noise. The example shown was painted in a spurious Soviet color scheme of dark grey with a white lightning bolt and the inevitable red stars.