Admission to these events is reserved for members; as I’m not currently a member I was particularly pleased to be invited by a friend who is, to be his guest at the April event and it was with a real sense of anticipation that I joined him for the short drive across the ‘border’ into North Yorkshire.
On arrival at the airfield, we met up with a couple of other members; however, before the four of us set about exploring the aeronautical delights on offer, there was the small matter of an excellent bacon roll in the ‘crewroom’.
Suitably refreshed, we began wandering around the hangars and observing and photographing the various happenings; what struck me about Breighton during the day was how much there was going on. As aircraft were being pulled from the hangars in preparation for flying, there was a constant stream of arrivals on the grass strip and, at the same time, practice displays were being undertaken to the north of the runway.
I’ve now sent off my membership application and if anyone is interested in joining too, the link for the Real Aeroplane Company is: - http://www.realaero.com/index.htm
Let’s start with a few of the based historical aircraft...
G-RLWG is a Ryan PT22 Recruit (aka ST3KR) and was imported into the UK from the USA in 2008.
A British contemporary of the PT22 is the Miles M14A Hawk Trainer 3. Known as the Magister in RAF service, G-AKAT is one of 54 Mk3s built and wears its former RAF serial T9738.
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I so the appearance of Fokker DR I replica G-BVGZ during the day was particularly apt. I am well aware that this machine was built in 1993 and is powered by a Lycoming engine, but I still found myself looking at the airframe and wondering what it must have been like going to war in something so small and basic.
Yakovlev Yak18 G-CEIB. There is an interesting story on the RAC website about the Yak18. The type served with many air forces, most notably the Soviet and Polish, although its greatest claim to fame was its use as a night fighter by the North Korean's during the Korean War - 5.5 million gallons of fuel reportedly destroyed in one attack.
Apparently US troops nick-named the Yak 18 "Washing Machine Charlie" because the aircraft's radial engine reputedly sounded similar to early gasoline powered washing machines that were being introduced at the time!
The markings worn by this CASA-built Bucker Bu131 Jungmann may not be to everyone’s taste, but G-BJAL does, nonetheless, represent the development of German aviation during the inter-war period.
The unmistakeable shape of a parasol-wing monoplane! Barton-based Morane-Saulnier MS317 G-MOSA wears a French Navy colour scheme, despite it actually serving with the French Air Force.
Heading off into the wild blue yonder also was Piaggio FWP149D D-EARY, ‘Screaming Eagle’.
Another thing I’ll cheerfully own up to is having a soft spot for is Rollason D62 Condor G-AYFC. This aircraft was part of the RAF College Cranwell’s Flying Club in the mid-1970s when I was a member, and setting about learning to fly.
Yet more from Rollason. Beta G-BADC performed a number of low, fast flypasts during the afternoon.
Helicopters were not forgotten during the day, with a brace of Aerospatiale Gazelles making an appearance. HA-LFH began its career in the Philippines as RP-C5131, while G-LEDR formerly served with the UK military as HT2 XW857.
There were a couple of Pitts Specials flying during the day. G-PITZ is an S2A and was built by Razorback Air Services.
The angular lines of the Bede BD4 are not too common in the UK, so it was nice to see G-BOPD put in an appearance at Breighton, even if I did think it was a Wittman Tailwind at first. Hey ho, just shows how much I know...
Pazmany types are not over represented in the UK, either. G-OPAZ,’The Little Yellow Peril’ is a PL2.
Piper PA12 G-BSYG seemed to spend the day giving pleasure flights.
Taylorcraft Auster 5 G-ALXZ has been repainted recently and now sports its original military serial of NJ689.
Another ‘warbird’ type on show was SOKO Kraguj G-BSXD, the colours of its former operator, the Yugoslav Air Force, now somewhat faded.
A type new to me was the Roko Aero NG4, with the suitably registered G-ROKO gracing runway 29.
As the afternoon draws to a close, many of the visiting aircraft begin the journey to their home airfields. Best Off SkyRanger G-CCEH gets airborne off 29, closely followed by Flight Design CTLS G-LEGY, Van’s RV6 G-BXVO, Sonex G-ZONX, Bolkow Bo208 G-ATTR, Europa G-OSLD and Robin DR400 G-SELL.
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