Hawker Sea Fury WJ229 bears strange markings at Benson in September 1953. Presumably these were part of the Battle of Britain Display, with the Sea Fury playing the part of a FW 190. Although still bearing the aircraft code '102', it would seem that this is an aircraft held at Benson pending ferrying, as No.802 Squadron was in the Mediterranean at this time. The organisers seem to have had no qualms about decorating their aircraft with swastikas at a time when model aircraft kits had to leave them out of their decals.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Letting fresh air into a Firefly FR.4 does give a good idea of the access panels available to ground crews. This line-up was taken at Heston on 11th April 1947, 11-39 being one of a batch of forty FR.4s delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy as 11-31 to 11-70. 11-39 served with Nos.2 and 4 Squadrons before being struck off charge on 10th March 1953.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Firefly - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

One of the twelve Martin Mariners for the Royal Air Force handled by Saro at Beaumaris, Anglesey, in 1943. The type's service with the RAF was brief, the problems of operating another type of aircraft being overcome by replacing them with a further batch of Catalinas. Photo from Ted Flowers, extreme left, shown with Flt Lt Swaffen, T Guy, one unknown and L Mainwood.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Martin PBM Mariner / Type 162 - СШАUSA - 1939

The Dornier Wal was the standard flying boat in the Dutch East Indies, 40 being ordered from 1926 onwards, the first five being built by C M A at Pisa and the remainder by Aviolanda at Papendrecht. Some remained in service until 1940, having been supplemented by six Wal Fs in 1931/32. D22 failed to reach the Far East. It crashed on landing at Basra on 2nd May 1929 during its delivery flight and was not repaired. The photo shows it being towed to the RAF Base.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Do.J Wal - ГерманияGermany - 1922

Westland Wapiti I J9102 had an eventful life although it never reached an operational unit. Flown in July 1928, it was used for Jupiter development and went to the A&AEE for trials of fuel pumps. During 1933, it was used as a flying test-bed for the Bristol Phoenix I air-cooled diesel engine, making its first flight with this in May. The engine was cowled with 'helmets' over the cylinder heads. An improved 485 hp Phoenix II was fitted in 1934 and on 11th May 1934, Harald Penrose took it up to 27,453 feet to set a World diesel engine altitude record.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Westland Wapiti - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1927

Barracuda II P9795/G was fitted with parachutist pods, apparently replacing P9725 which was originally allotted to Heston Aircraft for conversion. Each pod held two men and was mounted on the wing bomb racks but was not intended to be jettisoned, the occupants bailing out on receiving an OK from a signal light in the pod. The pods were known as 'Cuda Floats'. Although SOE was also interested in using such methods for dropping agents, the scheme never became operational.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Barracuda - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1940

Following on from the item in the last issue on the Miles M.18, this photo shows U11, the fourth prototype built for trials at the Royal Aircraft Establishment. It had span-wise leading-edge slots and full-span slotted flaps. The tailplane and elevator were increased in size but control was poor at low speeds and the aircraft was laterally unstable. Upturned wingtips were later fitted and in this form it is seen at Woodley. The designation M.18HL was applied and it later became JN703.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles Trainer M.15 / M.18 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1938

Blackburn Dart N9694 flies over Fort Grange at Gosport. After initial service with No.461 Flight, it was on the strength of RAF Base Gosport until 1928. Later in its career, the Royal Aircraft Establishment used N9694 for smoke screen trials and the development of smoke-producing devices and it appears to have finally been taken out of service in 1932.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Blackburn Swift T.1 / Dart T.2 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1920

Felixstowe F.5 N4838 was fitted with a pair of Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIs and was used by the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe for stability tests. S.536 appears below the serial, showing it to be a Short-built aircraft, one of a number of sub-contractors building the F.5. The hull was wholly wooden-skinned and durable. In 1918, production of the F.5 had begun in Canada and the United States and they became the U S Navy's standard boat in the early 1920s. Others were exported to Japan.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Felixstowe F.2 - F.5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

Between the wars, it was unusual for British aircraft to carry both civil and military markings. One example was Southampton II S1235. In service with No.201 Squadron, it was ferried out to Athens in December 1929 on loan to Imperial Airways, following the loss of Calcutta G-AADN on the Genoa - Alexandria route in October. To conform with international civil registration procedures, it was painted as G-AAFH until February 1930, a new Calcutta being delivered as a replacement. It subsequently served with the Seaplane Training Squadron at Calshot.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Southampton / Solent - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1925

The Supermarine Southampton X differed widely from early Southamptons. It had a stainless steel hull with a gun position in the tail. Three 430 hp Jaguar IVs were later replaced by 525 hp Panther IIAs and finally by 570 hp Jupiter XFBMs. From this might be deduced the fact that the airframe was heavier than planned but weight-saving failed to produce the specified performance and the Mark X was dropped.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Southampton / Solent - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1925

With roundels and camouflage paint, the Reid & Sigrist R.S.1 Snargasher retains its civil registration G-AEOD as the maker's communication aircraft between 1939 and 1944.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Reid and Sigrist R.S.1 Snargasher - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1939