The Vickers Vespa served the Royal Aircraft Establishment well from 1933 to 1938. Apart from breaking the World Height Record on 16 September 1932 by climbing to 43,976, it also was engaged in cosmic ray research and de-icing trials at high altitude. From its work stemmed the Bristol 138A which took the record to even greater heights. Not least among its trial equipment was protective flying clothing for high-altitude work.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Vespa / Type 113 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1925

Fairey P.4/34 K5099 drew one of the more alarming tasks at RAE. It was extensively used for 'defence experiments' which meant flying into cables in midair.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Fulmar / P.4/34 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937