Tornado
Tornado is a twin-engine European combat aircraft used primarily by the Royal Air Force, German Air Force (Luftwaffe), Italian Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force. Seven Royal Air Force aircraft were lost during the Gulf War in 1992. Inspired by the comprehensive news coverage of the operations and painted as hostilities ceased, this picture is now in private collection.
Bell helicopter
A private commission produced as a retirement gift to a colleague, from staff at the UK Ministry of Defense. It was a near disaster though, as the carefully packed original was totally destroyed in the Post. Though insured, a replacement had to be produced in one day! Fortunately I had kept all my notes, sketches and photographs, but of course, every painting is different!
de Havilland Sea Vixen
The de Havilland Sea Vixen was a 1950s two-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm. A notable visual aspect of the Sea Vixen is that the pilot's canopy is offset to the left hand side. The other crew member (the navigator) was housed to the right completely within the fuselage, gaining access through a flush-fitting top hatch into his space (known in the service as the "coal hole") which had only a very small window.
Night Hawk
The Aerospatiale Gazelle as used by the Army Air Corps in 1992. A special commission, the original hung in the Mess of 665 Squadron, Northern Ireland Regiment and was reproduced as a limited edition print. Signed print number one hangs in the Army Air Corps museum at Middle Wallop.
A few signed copies of the Artists proofs have recently
become available.
Supermarine Scimitar
The Supermarine Scimitar was a British naval fighter aircraft. The prototype for the eventual production version flew in January 1956 and production aircraft were delivered in 1957. It saw service with the Royal Navy from 1958 until 1969. Only 76 were built and it suffered from a high loss rate. In a variety of accidents, often through landing this relatively large aircraft on the small British carriers, 39 were lost.
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. It was used extensively during the Vietnam War, serving as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as being important in ground-attack and reconnaissance roles by the close of US involvement. First entering service in 1960, production ran from 1958 to 1981 with a total of 5,195 built. The British variant had Rolls Royce engines, fitted as a political softener to UK citizens, but these aircraft were never as good as the originals!
Harrier
Chance Vought F4U Corsair
The Chance Vought F4U Corsair saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War but it served in smaller air forces until the 1960s. The wing shape was necessary to give enough clearance for the enormous propeller - 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m) - without having very long undercarriage legs and folding wings!
Handley Page Hastings
This attractive but enormous tail-dragger replaced the Avro York as the Royal Air Force's standard long-range transport from 1948. By 1967 the Hastings had left first-line service, replaced by the Hercules and Argosy transports. Radar Flight of 230 Operational Conversion Unit had the last four until 1977.
Avro Shackleton
A maritime patrol aircraft of the Royal Air Force, developed from the Avro Lincoln but with a new fuselage. It’s role was Anti-Submarine and Maritime Patrol. It was later adapted for Airborne Early Earning and Search and Rescue and was in service from 1951 until 1990.
My own love for these aircraft had to do with it being the only link my generation had with the four-engine types of World War II — it was like watching an operational Lancaster! I have no idea where the original is, it went missing from an exhibition in 1992.
Avro Vulcan
For those of us growing up during the 50s and 60s, the
V bombers and Lightning Interceptor were the highlights of the British air shows and made this period a really exciting time! The A. V. Roe (Avro) Vulcan is a delta wing subsonic jet bomber that was operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. In company with the Valiant and Victor, the Vulcan was part of the RAF's V bomber force, which fulfilled the role of nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was also used in a conventional bombing role during the Falklands conflict in 1982 – an amazing story itself.
|
