Air Atlantique Classic Flight

Thanks for clarifying the situation Tom. I was at Kemble today and asked your Devon crew giving joy flights about this and they were shocked, as they knew nothing about this! 😮

Not sure where you’re going with this one, Albert.

Thanks for clarifying the situation Tom. I was at Kemble today and asked your Devon crew giving joy flights about this and they were shocked, as they knew nothing about this! 😮

You’ve just quoted two major reasons why numerous other aircraft enthusiasts (myself included), don’t bother going to airshows anymore 🙁 .

Spitfires & Tornado’s (Yawn). .

Spitfires & Tornado’s are the best thing at an Airshows 😉 But I don’t really care what aircraft are at Airshows Fast Jets, Classic Jets ,Warbirds ,Heilcopters ,military aircraft and others. We sould be glad that there are people out there making these aircraft flying and making airshows.

James

Well as far as I’m concearned watching the flight going in and out of Bagington is a buzz. It was only Saturday we were treated at MAM to the Canberra flying out and also the return of the Meteor not long after.

We love it and I hope they never leave Cov. Well done and keep it up boys. Lets hope you just keep adding to the collection as it’s pretty damn good at the minute…….. 😀

I can only totally agree with you Hornchurch.

But I do have one question, where does this leave the re-launched and re-vamped Classic Flight Club?

Steve

Tom,
Do you think it would be possible to put an announcement/ statement on the website, to clarify the situation?
I thought Jon’s reply on WOW was very good and to the point ,as is yours, possibly a conglomeration of the two.
Might stop a few of the calls/emails?!

Regards, Alan.

Thanks Tom, thats really great to know – I think we must all feel much better from hearing that.

Steve

Yes it is ,I was sort off down by the sell off the Air Atlantique Classic Flight 😮 Happy now that its not for sell 😀

James

Thanks Tom, thats really great to know – I think we must all feel much better from hearing that.

Steve

Right. Let me make try and make this clear for everyone before the wild rumours start to spiral out of control!

This is purely a testing the waters scenario, to see if there is someone out there who has the interest and the cash to keep Classic Flight going beyond Mike Collett.

The Flight WILL NOT be split up

The Flight WILL NOT be sold aboard

The Flight WILL NOT be disbanded

The Flight WILL continue to operate for as long as is physically possible.

If someone comes along with cash to inject into the flight, then this must only be a good thing.

I’m pleased to say the response to the new format of the club has been very positive, even before we have produced any serious publicity and we will be continuing to expand and develop this over the winter. We will also be shortly establishing the Classic Flight Ground Support Team, and people interested in becoming a member of this volunteer based group should contact us at [email]classic@airatlantique.co.uk[/email]

We are also currently working to have our Devon, Rapide and Prentice approved for A-B flights, which will allow us to expand our operation and offer new experiences and opportunities to fly on these classic aircraft.

All of the team at Classic Flight are determined to make sure this unique collection keeps going for many years into the future. You can help us do this by joining the club, taking a pleasure flight or by flying with us to an airshow. We have a way of supporting the aircraft for all budgets so there is no excuse!!

I hope this helps clear a few things up and reassures people. I fully understand that there is a great deal of interest in the collection and people like to know what is going on. It will never be possible for us to post all the ins and outs of the Flight, but we do try and be as open as possible.

Tom.

I can only totally agree with you Hornchurch.

But I do have one question, where does this leave the re-launched and re-vamped Classic Flight Club?

Steve

– crowds want to see Spitfires and Tornados ‘cos they’re the only aircraft allowed at airshows – by law or something 😀

You’ve just quoted two major reasons why numerous other aircraft enthusiasts (myself included), don’t bother going to airshows anymore 🙁 .

Spitfires & Tornado’s (Yawn). Joe Public gets what Joe Public wants, bouncy castles ‘n all – after all (sadly), they’re the main revenue.

Thats what makes the Air Atlantique organisation so special to folks like me.

The Coventry show was unique & most enjoyable (when it took place).
The last one I attended was somewhat blighted by the disintegration/crash of a ‘Charles Lindbergh/ Spirit of St Louis’ replica, a few years back (sorry, can’t remember the date/year ?) & the Sea-Vixen appeared to shed a small panel.

Cherished seeing an Electra & 2 x D.C.6’s circuiting around toward the end – absolutely superb, (best thing I’d seen in years), with flights available in aforesaid ‘Classic Flight’ a/c at the end of the show (Twin Pin, Prentice & D.C.3 for example).

Guess the old adage “all good things come to an end” applies….. I certainly miss the sight & gorgeous unique sound of their D.C.6’s over the outskirts of my old house in London, (now we’re under the flightpath of L.N’s F.15’s, 120 miles further North, opposite Holbeach) – as well as their once large D.C.3 fleet…. (I was lucky enough to go up in G-AMPO from North Weald back in ’86 (ish !), before she was converted for the oil spill dispersant guff.

Fearing the worst on the ‘sale’ of the ‘Classics’ 😮 & hoping that this cloud has a Silver lining at the end (but won’t hold ‘me breath – being jaded)
🙁 🙁 🙁 .

Is Air Atlantic for sale as well?

Herman

It has also been just announced that Air Atlantic is to do the winter major service on the BBMF Lancaster – for cost of between £250K and £500K. So it’s possibly not a cash flow driven sale, ‘Classic’ just no longer fits into the group business plan. How many times a year do you actually see their craft display and not just fly in to a show? Perhaps the answer’s there – crowds want to see Spitfires and Tornados ‘cos they’re the only aircraft allowed at airshows – by law or something 😀

They are separate. Atlantic Airlines was subject to a management buyout in late 2005.

Tom.

Is Atlantic Airlines part of AA ore is it seperate.

Herman

Also worth remembering that the Shack isn’t a flyer.

The one in the USA is though!

I shall apply an adage to this that I have come to live by since working for AA.……..believe it when you see it! All remains normal until then.

Tom.

Ive just read the thread. Yes its a interesting one youve popped on her but not a happy one. As a Coventry lad I love watching these aircraft fly around on what seems a daily basis. Cant believe they may be going soon. Fingers crossed that its not the case. Also worth remembering that the Shack isnt a flyer.

This is my first post but it’s an interesting one.

That’s for us to judge surely? 😉

Welcome Skymaster.

I worry about the thought of the sale of the Atlantique Classics as a ‘going concern’

Is it?

BTW this is in the nature of a rhetorical question. The financial affairs of the Atlantic Group are labyrinthine to say the least – but since the result has been the restoration and operation of a wonderful fleet of aircraft it would be invidious of anyone here to carp.

Moggy

I think the implication of the ‘for sale’ advert, and the other one in FlyPast advertising for more classic maintenance staff, is that the flight is on offer, but is very much intended to be offered as a complete package, a ‘going concern’.

I hope the collection can say together; not often one can see such aircraft together as static exhibits in a museum let alone all airworthy.

Air Atlantique Classic Flight provided most of the non-single engine aircraft at the recent Duxford display and they were extra reasons why I went.

I think the implication of the ‘for sale’ advert, and the other one in FlyPast advertising for more classic maintenance staff, is that the flight is on offer, but is very much intended to be offered as a complete package, a ‘going concern’.

seems a bit odd too me

were they not advertising for an engineer in Flypast