NORMAN PEALING photographed the Shell- and National Geographic-sponsored Vickers Vimy replica N71MY over the UK in August this year

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Vickers Vimy replica N71MY over the remains of Brooklands Aerodrome, the type’s birthplace in World War One, on the day of its arrival there on August 27, 1994. The unmistakable outline of the motor-racing track round the airfield boundary is still discernible. Despite the road built across the middle of the runway (that great symbol of the airfield property developer), the Vimy managed to land there - as, incredibly, did BAC One-Eleven G-ASYD six weeks earlier when it arrived to join the Brooklands Museum, which occupies the buildings to the right of the parked airliners.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Vickers Vimy replica N71MY over London on August 27, 1994.
Recreating the flight of the Smith brothers, Lang Kidby and Peter McMillan’s replica NX71MY is powered by a pair of 420hp (313kW) Chevrolet converted motor car engines. Flown into Mildenhall (inside a C-5 Galaxy) the Vimy was flown to Brooklands on August 27, 1994 in readiness for its appearance at the SBAC show at Farnborough. It left Farnborough on September 11 on the start of its epic flight. As AE56 closed for press, news was to hand that the Vimy had suffered a force-landing in Sumatra, thankfully with no injury to the two pilots. It was hoped to ship out a replacement engine and finish the journey.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Rear three-quarter air-to-air view of Vimy N71MY. The tailwheel and the bright Shell stickers are among the very few items which visually distinguish the Chevrolet-engined modern replica from the original.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Lang Kidby and Peter McMillan’s spectacular Vickers Vimy replica, used to recreate the flight of the Smith Brothers
A majestic view of N71MY over Greater London.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

N71MY on static display at Brooklands Museum in the week before Farnborough.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

N71MY silhouetted against a Californian sunset during test-flying in the USA.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Front air-to-air view of Vimy N71MY. The tailwheel and the bright Shell stickers are among the very few items which visually distinguish the Chevrolet-engined modern replica from the original.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Views of the Vimy replica in the air, showing off the prominent registration lettering which led to the original being nicknamed “God ’Elp All Of Us”.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

The original Vimy G-EAOU before its departure for Australia in November 1919.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Cold and wet: the original Vimy departing from Hounslow on the bleak and snowy morning of November 12, 1919. The temperatures on the first leg to Lyons were so cold that the crew’s sandwiches froze solid.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Hot and dry: G-EAOU at Anthony’s Lagoon, Queensland, Australia, in December 1919 after its pioneering flight from England. En route the Vimy and its crew had endured severe turbulence, low cloud, torrential rain, a gale which nearly flipped the aircraft over on the ground, birdstrikes, boggy landing grounds, close encounters with trees and mountains, and fog.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vimy / FB.27 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917