The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, was designed by Alexander Lippisch. This was a German rocket-powered fighter aircraft. It is the only rocket-powered fighter aircraft ever to have been operational. Its design was revolutionary, and the Me 163 was capable of performance which was unsurpassed at the time. German test pilot Heini Dittmar in early July 1944 reached a staggering 700 mph, which […]
Hawkeyes and Ospreys
This week a look at two of the more unusual aircraft that have been made available to the diecast aviation enthusiast recently. Firstly a look at the E-2C Hawkeye. The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the […]
Duxford 75th Anniversary Airshow & Pistons & Props Event at Sywell this weekend !
I always consider the Autumn Airshow at Duxford as the beginning of the end of the airshow season each year.Obviously this year’s event was something very special as it commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Fortunately the weather was kind and as you will see from a few shots from the event […]
75th Anniversary Battle of Britain Flypast 15th September 2015
The largest gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft since the second world war took to the skies of southern England to mark the aerial conflict’s 75th anniversary. Forty Spitfires & Hurricanes and a Bristol Blenheim bomber flew in various formations from Goodwood Aerodrome last Tuesday afternoon, before dispersing across wartime airfields over the south of England. The […]
The LAA (Light Aircraft Association) Rally Sywell 2015 & Hobbymaster Sale.
Last weekend I attended the annual LLA Rally at Sywell. The event took place over three days Friday through to Sunday. Whilst I was working in the office on Friday I heard the constant throb of engines as they passed overhead and I anticipated that the airfield was starting to fill up. I did not […]
SBAC Farnborough 1953 & an update on Corgi Avro Vulcan XL321
When I am out and about , I always keep my eyes open for anything interesting in aviation. I often browse antique markets and bric a brac stores and recently I went to the Antique Cellar in Brackley Northants. I picked up some early SBAC Farnborough Flying Display programme for just a few pounds and I have reproduced […]
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird “Speed Record Setter”
The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. Renowned American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of […]
Hobbymaster Latest Announcements,Corgi Vulcan and Aviation 72
Firstly, Hobbymaster have announced the RRP on their new tooling of the F-14 Tomcat which is available for Pre-order. Many of you have either already expressed an interest in this model or have ordered it with Flying Tigers. The RRP is £106.00 and Flying Tigers are selling this at only £89.50. I will contact all […]
The Great War Display Team at Sywell
Last weekend the The Great War Display Team visited Sywell and put their aircraft through their paces. This is the second time I have had the privilege of watching their display routines here at Sywell since Flying Tigers re-located to Sywell Aerodrome. The crowd were treated to a wonderful dog fight display before a massed flypast to […]
Latest Visitors to Sywell Aerodrome
Last night as I was packing up my briefcase for some work at home, I heard the roar of a Merlin engine overhead. By the time I had packed up the car, shut the office for the night, and walked round to the airfield to see what (if anything) had landed, there was nothing to be […]
The Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 Part 2
It already seems a long time ago since RIAT 2015. Time flies quickly when you are busy packing models, planning your next airshow visit and getting more products on to the website. Thank you for your kind comments on last week’s Flying Tigers Newsletter RIAT Part 1 and also for being patient on the delay on […]
The Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 Part 1
As promised last week the focus of this week’s Flying Tigers Newsletter is RIAT 2015. I always look forward to attending this airshow as a collector ( and now also a seller) of “Fast Jet” models. RIAT is always a treat ! I know many of you attend the show over all of the days, including the […]
Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary 10th July 1940
Today the 10th of July 1940 (Wednesday in 1940) is widely acknowledged to be the start of the Battle of Britain, with a number of Luftwaffe attacks on shipping convoys off the south-east coast of England.During the summer and autumn of 1940, 544 personnel from Fighter Command died as the RAF fought in the skies […]
An Evening at Duxford in Early June.
I recently joined the Friends of Duxford at my last visit to the Duxford Airshow ( see previous Newsletter) and was encouraged to visit one of the member’s open evening events. I wasn’t sure I would be able to get down there in time for the start of the event ,around 6.30 p.m., as I […]
New Hobbymaster Pre-Order models, Military vehicle sale and Tornados !
A short Newsletter this week as I have not been able to get out and about recently and am very much keeping my powder dry and looking forward to attending RIAT 2015 in July. I have added some New Hobbymaster models to the Future Models section. These are scheduled to arrive in the UK during […]
“HALT” Who goes there at Sywell this week?
Sywell entertained two new visitors this week. As many of you will recognize from the photograph above, the first of these visitors was none other than P51-D “Jumpin Jacques” operated by Hanger 11. I don’t know exactly what time she arrived, but when I made my morning trip to the Aviator Hotel reception (to collect […]
Shuttleworth Airshow and Product Additions.
Dear Newsletter Readers thank you to all your kind comments on the Newsletters that I have recently written. It certainly is encouraging to me that they are read and enjoyed by so many of you. Each week I will try and vary the content between updated aviation model news and recent news from the airshows that […]
The end of an era for Flying Tigers – Newsletter Edition No.396
I don’t really know how I am feeling about the prospect of posting the latest Flying Tigers Newsletter – I know that it is going to be a bit of a challenge. It is certainly something of a watershed moment in my life, as the thing I have invested so much time and effort into, […]
Britain’s Supermarine Spitfire ‘A Spitfire Summer’ – Flying Tigers Newsletter Edition No.394
I was lucky to receive a number of kind e-mails this week, following our Mustang article on last weekends Newsletter, saying how much they enjoyed the feature – I am extremely grateful for your comments. I was also asked if I would do something similar regarding the Spitfire this week, particularly as this year is […]
A sad farewell for the much loved TFC Hellcat – Flying Tigers Newsletter Edition No.391 (13/02/15)
As I put the finishing touches to last weeks Newsletter, I received some rather distressing news regarding one of the best loved Warbirds in the UK – In fact, it was so distressing that I had to do a little more research, before allowing myself to believe the rumours. Unfortunately, they turned out to be […]
