An interesting trio photographed in the Duxford area last September. Rob Lamplough's ex-Portuguese Air Force Harvard Mk 4 is in the foreground. His Beech Staggerwing and Tony Hutton's Yak-11 complete the picture.

An interesting trio photographed in the Duxford area last September. Rob Lamplough's ex-Portuguese Air Force Harvard Mk 4 is in the foreground. His Beech Staggerwing and Tony Hutton's Yak-11 complete the picture.

Bucker Bu 181D Bestmann, OY-AVZ, photographed over Endelave Island, Denmark, in 1980 by Torkild Balslev.

An interesting trio photographed in the Duxford area last September. Rob Lamplough's ex-Portuguese Air Force Harvard Mk 4 is in the foreground. His Beech Staggerwing and Tony Hutton's Yak-11 complete the picture.

Wing walker Gordon McCollom was killed seconds after this picture was taken, when the Stearman lost height as it passed under the tape. The accident took place at the 1975 Reno Races, picture by RON BURDA.

Short S.45 Solent 3 N9946F was originally built for the RAF as NJ203 and was purchased by BOAC, receiving its C of A on March 19, 1949. Registered G-AKNP and named City of Cardiff, the Solent remained with BOAC until January 1951 when it was sold to Trans-Oceanic Airways of Sydney, Australia, and registered VH-TOB. In June 1956 the Solent was sold to South Pacific Airlines but was acquired by the late Howard Hughes when an intended South Pacific service failed to materialise. Hughes was forced to move the boat from San Francisco to Oakland, California, where it kept company with two other derelict Solents. All three Solents were later sold to a local scrap dealer but N9946F was purchased by Preflite Oceanographic a couple of years ago and is currently under restoration to airworthy condition. The engines are in running order and the interior has remained untouched and is in perfect condition. It is now likely that the Solent will fly once more after spending 22 flightless years stranded high and dry out in the open.