Still languishing at Holman Field, St Paul’s, Minneapolis, is all-black Douglas A-26 Invader N7079G Bar-Belle Bomber. Bought by UK-based warbird enthusiast Barbel Abela from Conrad Yelvington in the USA in November 1991, the former On-Mark Marksman executive conversion of the World War Two twin-engined bomber had corrosion and a mainspar crack rectified at Brownsville, Texas, and then visited the UK in July 1992 as part of the Round-the-World Air Race. It returned to the USA via Moscow to visit the Oshkosh fly-in, and then flew to Holman Field for an airshow appearance. During its display routine there on August 9, 1992, a loud crack from the port wing was quickly followed by a precautionary landing. Three-and-a-half years later the A-26 is still at Holman with its port wing off.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas A-26 / B-26 Invader - СШАUSA - 1942

The Air Victory Museum’s McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom BuNo 148273.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - СШАUSA - 1958

Hawker Hurricane BE417/G-HURR engine-running at Blackbushe before its first post-restoration flight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Hurricane - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

The cine camera fitted into the port wing-root of Bader’s personal Spitfire VA, which crashed in France on August 9, 1941.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

September 15, 1945: Group Captain Douglas Bader swings his tin legs into the cockpit of his Spitfire to lead the Victory flypast over London.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Standing in the rain at Vancouver International South, neglected and forlorn over last Christmas, was this former Air Canada Vickers Viscount, CF-THG/625. When its flying career ended many years ago, it was given to the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where it has been used to teach a new generation of aircraft engineers. Now, however, the institute needs a more modern type - jet engines, triple systems etc - and the Viscount is to be replaced, it is said, by an ex-Canadian Airlines Boeing 737. There is a fear that CF-THG is destined for a road trip to a private collector across the border in the USA, but it is hoped that it could instead stay in a British Columbia museum. The only other Viscounts in Canada are at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa and the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Viscount - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1948

D.H. Heron Mk 2 G-ANUO is to be moved from Biggin Hill to Croydon and put on a plinth outside Airport House, the historic former terminal building. Bought by Acebell Aviation of Redhill for Airport House owners Westmead Business Centre, the airliner was operated by Shell at Croydon during its heyday. The type is particularly appropriate since Morton Air Services Heron IB G-AOXL operated the last commercial service out of Croydon when it closed on September 30, 1959.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Heron / D.H.114 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1950

Avro XIX G-AHKX with starboard engine running and anti-collision light glowing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Anson X - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1943

Piper J3C-65 Cub G-BBLH has recently been restored in the markings of an L-4 of the US Army’s 183rd Field Battalion, based in Germany in 1945. Built in 1943, ’LH is believed to have seen American service in North Africa before embarking on its postwar civil career. Owned jointly by Mike Dunkerly and Peter Greenyer, the Biggin-based Cub made its C of A test flight on January 31, 1995.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Piper Cub J-3/J-4 / L-4 Grasshopper / PA-11 - СШАUSA - 1937

The AVM's F-86L Sabre is painted in the colours of 512 Interceptor Squadron, based at Bentwaters in Suffolk.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American F-86D/F-86K - СШАUSA - 1949

J-143 at Wohlen in December 1995.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: FWA D-3800 / D-3801 - ШвейцарияSwitzerland - 1939

Morane D-3801 J-126 in 1944.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: FWA D-3800 / D-3801 - ШвейцарияSwitzerland - 1939

The Salis Collection’s newly-acquired CASA-built He 111 being dismantled at Leon, Spain, during December 1995.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: CASA 2-111 - ИспанияSpain - 1943

Engineless and awaiting their turn for overhaul, two of the Douglas R4D-8s sit in the open at Victoria, British Columbia. Note the fully-faired undercarriage doors and the squared-off wingtips, just visible here.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas Super DC-3 / C-117D / R4D-8 - СШАUSA - 1949

Andy Sephton flying Lynn Williams’s recently-completed 1926 Staaken Z-1 Flitzer D-692. The diminutive 18ft-span biplane, designed as an airshipborne survey aircraft, is just coming to the end of its test-flying programme.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Williams (Lynn Williams) Z-21 Staaken Flitzer - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1995

Painted in its original high-visibility red colour scheme for arctic survey work in the 1920s, Staaken Z-1 D-692 should create quite a stir - particularly among enthusiasts of inter-war German types - on the UK airshow circuit this year.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Williams (Lynn Williams) Z-21 Staaken Flitzer - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1995