Bristol F.2B BAPC 165 is taking shape at Cardington. The aircraft is based on one of six fuselage frames found near Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, in the early Sixties, plus four wing panels found in Ireland and one more from the Shuttleworth Collection.

Nick Grace’s newly-restored Spitfire T.9 two-seat trainer, G-LFIX, at St Merryn on April 16, 1985, with Dick Melton running the engine up for final checks before the test flight.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire PR.XIX, PM631, gleams in the sunshine at Cranfield. The aircraft has just been given a major service and repaint by the College of Aeronautics’ Engineering Unit. The work, completed during the first week in May 1985, included changing the propeller and undercarriage, removing both banks of cylinders from the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine for servicing, replacing the wing attachment bolts and control cables, reskinning the tailplane and repairing the fuselage. Many of the replacement parts were made in Cranfield’s own workshops.

Hawker Fury replica G-BKBB/ K1930, being built at Lands End by Viv Bellamy, is nearing completion. Engine runs were imminent at time of press.

Ten weeks after its first flight since an extensive overhaul and re-covering of the wings, Shuttleworth's Hawker Tomtit, K1786, was damaged in a landing accident at RAF Mildenhall on Sunday, May 26, 1985.