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Have you ever seen a Mustang with a red tail? No not the American wild horse but the North American P-51 fighter aircraft that helped turn the war in favour of the allies during the last war, if you haven’t then take a long look at FlyPast.
FlyPast is billed as Britain’s Top-selling Aviation monthly magazine and after finding this months issue in the magazine section at Asda, after one look I was hooked and had to buy it. This month’s issue (March) runs to 98 glossy pages full of excellent articles and photographs for the princely sum of £3.30.
The magazine is devoted to articles on vintage aircraft; it is split into three sections, features, regulars & cover stories.
Features include
SOE Halifaxes. Telling the story of a Halifax bomber squadron during the last war engaged in secret activities.
Flying to Paradise. A report on the flight of three Hawker Hunter jet fighters, vintage mid 1950 from the UK to South Africa and the problems encountered during the flight.
Pioneer turned Raider. The story of a strange tri-motor aircraft from America.
The Battle of Purbeck.
A collection of memories from the Battle of Britain as seen through the eyes of a child.
Regulars Include
News. A regular update of aircraft news, such as the story about the entire operational fleet of Boeing B17’s (Perhaps best known as the Flying Fortress, you may have seen one in the film Memphis Belle} being grounded as the there are fears that the bolts that retain the wing spars to the fuselage may have cracked or corroded. The cost of the repair is estimated at $80,000 per aircraft, a not insignificant some when it is realised that these aircraft are operated and owned by private individuals and groups.
What’s New. A round up of, new books and products, relating to the magazines content, also included are model aircraft.
Triple Whiskey. A round up of aviation linked websites, including the magazines own site, where screen savers can be downloaded; if you are interested give it a go at, wwwflypast.com
UK Airshows 2002 guide A guide to airshows around the UK from May to October.
Cover Stories Include
Fightin’ Red Tails. The story of the famous Tuskegee airmen, a group of black-Americans who were trained to fly during World War Two. The decision for this had been forced upon the USAAF Air Corps, by the black press, black leaders, and a few radical but farsighted white people with influence. The stumbling block was that the Military didn’t want black officers giving orders to white people. This article goes on to describe how the unit became the success that it deserved to be. One notable fact is that graduates from Tuskegee formed the 332nd air group, which never lost a bomber in their care from fighter attack, which made them very popular with the bomber crews, BUT it was never made public that the pilots of the 332nd were coloured.
Lancaster’s by Day. The story of the last flight of a RAF Lancaster bomber during 1945 engaged on an attack on the Dortmund-Ems canal.
There is also a free full colour glossy supplement, called Spitfires on the Wing, which shows various Spitfires before and after restoration, which is well worth a look.
To sum up, Flypast is a must for anyone with any interest at all in vintage aircraft, whether they be fixed wing or helicopters. The standard of this publication is first class and is enhanced by the many photographs, some of which are absolutely stunning.
01.06.2005 18:58
The only planes that really interest me I am afraid are those that take me to holiday destinations :o) Jane x
19.04.2002 09:35
Excellent op. A fascinating read of a subject I wouldn't usually be interested in. Thanks.
20.02.2002 21:27
Great op, not something I go spending my good money on :¬) james