Three SE5s are being built by Messrs Bodeen and Strahlman at two locations in the USA. A two-seater is being built at Melbourne, Florida and two single seaters are being constructed in California. The aircraft will be powered by licence-built Hispano Suizas.

Patrick Lindsay’s Sopwith Triplane reproduction N5430, G-BHEW, completed by Personal Plane Services at Wycombe Air Park where the aircraft is based.

Spencer Flack’s Spitfire XIVc, ex NH904, ex Belgian Air Force and now registered G-FIRE, seen at Elstree on March 14, 1981 on the day of its first flight since restoration. Bought from Sir William Roberts in July 1979, the Spitfire has been carefully rebuilt at Elstree over the past 18 months. Though seen here in primer paint, the aircraft will be painted scarlet overall and will join the owner’s similarly painted Hawker Hunter G-HUNT and Sea Fury G-FURY for the coming airshow season.

Spencer Flack’s Spitfire XIVc, ex NH904, ex Belgian Air Force and now registered G-FIRE, seen at Elstree on March 14, 1981 on the day of its first flight since restoration. Bought from Sir William Roberts in July 1979, the Spitfire has been carefully rebuilt at Elstree over the past 18 months. Though seen here in primer paint, the aircraft will be painted scarlet overall and will join the owner’s similarly painted Hawker Hunter G-HUNT and Sea Fury G-FURY for the coming airshow season.
Spencer Flack’s Spitfire XIVc, ex NH904, ex Belgian Air Force and now registered G-FIRE, seen at Elstree on March 14, 1981 on the day of its first flight since restoration. Bought from Sir William Roberts in July 1979, the Spitfire has been carefully rebuilt at Elstree over the past 18 months. Though seen here in primer paint, the aircraft will be painted scarlet overall and will join the owner’s similarly painted Hawker Hunter G-HUNT and Sea Fury G-FURY for the coming airshow season.

The Shuttleworth Collection’s ex-Afghan Air Force Hawker Hind nears the end of its ten year restoration programme. At the time of press its 600 h.p. Rolls-Royce Kestrel was awaiting its first run since the early 1950s. The Hind should be flying during the season.

A Luftwaffe (???) F-4F Phantom from Ramstein AFB backs off after receiving 1,500lb of fuel from KC-135A of the 42nd Air Refuelling Sqn over West Germany on March 19, 1981. Normally based at Loring-Main, USA, the squadron was on a 45-day detachment at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

First of several UK registered Quickies to take to the air is G-BHUK built in a year by a London group.