And a warbird shot which I also like a great deal. This was at last years proms. The Hind was busy air testing yesterday, and the Lysander was up today. It makes gardening so much more fun with activity from Shuttleworth!

There are two aircraft that stand out for me as those that escaped my camera.

P-38 “Miss Behavin”

Never managed to see this before it left the UK.

A-26 Invader I think it was called “Black Belle” owned by the same person as the Beech “Beech Belle”. (see photo below)

I believe the invader was only in the UK, for a very limited time. I have only ever seen one photograph of her, in a jet black scheme.

I would also add the catalina that recently left North Weald to my list. I can not understand why this never appeared at a show.

The Flying content of any squadron is down to the pro activeness of the staff team. I am the CO at Bedford squadron, and we are very much a flying squadron. This past year, we have flown The usual Tutor and Vigilant slots with the addition of Merlin / Seaking / Puma / Gazelle / Chinook flights (helicopters are a good way of getting multiple cadets airborne). In addition, we have had two Hawk flights and just last December a Tornado flight for one of my cadets. There are a lot of squadrons that do more adventure training, but we find a mix of both keeps the troops interested.

The cadet organisation is dtill very strong, and with a reducing service to support us, it is becoming more challenging. At the end of the day, it is what you make it, and it can be fantastic fun, for both the cadets and staff.

Picture of Sinead Cunningham of 134 Bedford Sqn in a 9 Sqn Tornado.

WB586 “A” flown by Gordon Clack.

Another of 805. I will try and scan some of the others.

Neil, great to hear 901 is going to visit Abingdon. Is she still in 6 AEF colours? If you know the contact details of the owner, send me the details and I can send some “in service pictures” to them.

Bruntingthorpe last year

looks like an AEW -3 Nimrod. Most were scrapped at Abingdon except one which flew out, I believe to Waddington. I have lots of pictures from Abingdon including the last airframe flying out, but I just don’t get around to scanning them in. I have attatched what I have.