FlyPast 01.2018

14 FLYPAST January 2018

briefi ngs

NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE

Bentwaters Cold War Museum (BCWM)

held events recently to celebrate both

the 10th anniversary of the opening of

the museum and to unveil its Fairchild

Republic A-10 Thunderbolt 80-0219,

which now wears the colours of the

509th TFS, 81st TFW.

Veterans and special guests

previewed the aircraft on September

10, with 700 people attending the

exhibition when it opened to the

public seven days later.

Several veterans from earlier eras

also visited, included Harry Eckes,

now president of the Bentwaters

Aviation Society (BAS), who served

as a pilot of the 91st FIS in 1954.

There were several speeches, and

a presentation of new artwork by

Matthew Emeny, titled Thunderbolts

Over Bentwaters. The painting has

been purchased and donated to the

Suffolk-based museum by BAS member

Jack Baker.

The public event included visits to the

Bentwaters control tower, classic cars,

military vehicles and re-enactors, plus

a display of photos and videos covering

the attraction’s history, and the A-10’s

recovery from Alconbury and subsequent

renovation. http://www.bcwm.org.uk

WITH THANKS TO SIMON GLADAS

Bentwaters unveils refurbished A-10 Thunderbolt

Veterans gather in front of A-10 Thunderbolt 80-0219 at Bentwaters Cold War Museum.

BOTH SIMON PARKER

The A-10 in its new colour scheme at Bentwaters.

Heritage fl ypast marks

RCAF jet anniversary

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

celebrated more than 70 years of

jet fi ghter operations with a special

Heritage Flight at Airshow London in

Ontario on September 22.

The fl ight paired McDonnell Douglas

CF-18 Hornet 188734 with Vampire

Aviation’s de Havilland Vampire T.

N593RH (painted as WR016). The former

was fl own by 425 Tactical Fighter

Squadron’s Capt Matthew ‘Glib’ Kutryk,

with Jerry Conley fl ying the Vampire.

The distinctive, twin-boomed fi ghter

previously fl ew with the Swiss Air Force,

and is today painted in RAF markings

with Suez Crisis stripes. Named Vampy,

it is one of four Vampires operated by

Jerry.

The British-designed type entered

RCAF service in 1946, fl ying with 410

and 421 Squadrons, as well as several

reserve units. It was the air force’s fi rst

operational jet fi ghter – three Gloster

Meteors had previously been used for

testing. The Hornet has been in service

with the RCAF since 1982. ANDREW CLINE

Vampire T.55 N593RH ‘Vampy’ (top) fl ying

with CF-18 Hornet 188734 ‘Canada 150’.

ANDREW CLINE

Elfan ap Rees, the chairman of Weston-super-

Mare’s Helicopter Museum has received The

Award for Aviation Journalism from The

Honorary Company of Air Pilots. The citation

notes that “we owe to Elfan the preservation

of what remains of Britain’s illustrious

helicopter heritage, which he has built over 40

years into a unique and world-class museum.”

Fokker 100 ZP-CFL has been converted into

a restaurant, bar and fl ight crew trainer

in Loma Grande, some 34 miles from

Paraguay’s capital, Asunción. The airliner

previously fl ew with Sol del Paraguay, and

is today situated in the grounds of Hotel

del Rancho. It continues to wear most of its

service livery. HOTEL DEL RANCHO VIA ROGER SOUPART