Thousands of enthusiasts seeking vintage fl ying exp iences have had
the wishes fulfi lled by Headcorn-based A o Legends. FlyPast editor
Chris Clifford discov s the fi rm’s recipe for success... and its fut e vision.
OPERATORS AERO LEGENDS
Right
Aero Legends’ two
stunning Spitfi res formate
for the camera during
‘FlyPast’s recent exclusive
photo shoot. ALL DARREN
HARBARBottom right
Aero Legends owner
Keith Perkins (right),
and son Ben, with
‘FlyPast’ editor Chris
Clifford (centre).46 FLYPAST December 2018
Thousands of enthusiasts seeking vintage fl ying exp iences have had
the wishes fulfi lled by Headcorn-based A o Legends.FlyPast editor
Chris Clifforddiscov s the fi rm’s recipe for success... and its fut e vision.
HARBARH
eadcorn Aerodrome, in
Kent, has impressive form
when it comes to
fighter aircraft.
The RAF ace ‘Johnnie’ Johnson
called it home in 1943 when he
commanded 127 Wing Royal
Canadian Air Force, which
comprised the Spitfire-equipped
403 and 421 Squadrons. Known
as RAF Lashenden after it was
requisitioned in 1942, the facility
passed to the USAAF’s Ninth Air
Force in April 1944 and hosted
354 th Fighter Group
Mustangs.
So, it seems
entirely fitting that
the airfield is now
the headquarters of
blossoming warbird
operator Aero
Legends. Thecompany seems to have arrived
from nowhere, considering the
longevity of more established
vintage flying organisations,
but owner Keith Perkins didn’t
originally envisage such a busy
entity, which now includes two
Spitfires, a de Havilland Devon,
three Tiger Moths, a Harvard and
a C-47 with D-Day and Arnhem
credentials, among other types.
Keith
was a
senior
executivein the financial services industry
for many years, in Asia and the
southern hemisphere, before it
became fashionable for ambitious
Brits to work there. But he had a
dream: “I’ve always been interested
in World War Two aeroplanes.
Growing up in the UK, with my
generation it was all Airfix kits and
learning about the war. I built
loads ofmodels
and read
loads of books.
Like many people,
though, I wondered
what it would be like to
own a wartime aircraft. Then
the dream subsided when reality
kicked in. As a result of a successful