Brand new Fairey Firefly IV TW725, straight from the Heston paint shop.

Smart Royal Navy Beech 18, KP110, in gloss black with sky undersurfaces. In the background are Dutch Navy Firefly Mk IVs

One of the Fairey Aviation helicopter test pilots leaving the cockpit of Cierva C.30A Autogiro G-AHMI which, with G-AHMJ, was used in preparation for the Fairey Gyrodyne and Rotodyne programme. Both aircraft were reportedly handed over to the Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden. G-AHMI was G-ACWF before the war, was impressed into RAF service as DR624 in June 1941, and restored to the civil register on May 8, 1946 as G-AHMI.

Rare bird Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann G-AKAX photographed at Heston after reconditioning by Airwork Ltd. Supposedly never flown, other pictures show the aircraft at Denham, where it remained until it was broken up in 1950.

This visiting Percival Q.6, G-AFIX, was painted in faded PR blue and was covered in numerous doped patches. It crashed at Bromhall in May 1949.

Seen during an engine run after reconditioning by Airwork Ltd is the Messerschmitt Me 108 G-AFZO, ex D-IDBT. It was later sold to Switzerland as HB-ESL.

Proctor III G-AHFK still in its warpaint parked at Heston. In the background is “Tiny” Pilgrim's B.A. Swallow 2, G-AEOW, which was blown onto its back during a gale on March 16, 1947. The Proctor was last seen derelict at Nairobi, Kenya in 1964.

Seen at the air display held at Elstree aerodrome on July 27, 1947 is Billy Butlin's Southern Martlet G-AAYX. During the afternoon it tipped up onto its nose but was not damaged. Today it is dismantled and in the care of the Shuttleworth Collection.

Short Scion G-AEZF seen at Heston where it later became the subject of a court order. The bailiff's men took one of the wheels away to prevent the aircraft's removal. The Scion was subsequently sold and was later withdrawn from use at Exeter in May 1954.

The prototype Chrislea Ace was originally flown with a single fin. The company later moved from Heston to Exeter and a production line was laid down for developed versions known as the Chrislea Super Ace and Skyjeep. G-AHLG was scrapped at Exeter in April 1952.