One of just six Sparrowhawk light racers built, ex G-ADWW. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life

Miles M-5 Sparrowhawk sporting aircraft displayed at the Ringway Air Show in April 1948. Flown by Miles Aircraft during WW2 as U-3 and U-0223. Destroyed in crash at Nottingham (Tollerton) on June 19, 1948.

The prototype Sparrowhawk, completed in August 1935 to compete in the next month's Kings Cup Air Race. Owned immediately postwar by Mr C.G.M.Alington who was a Fairey Aviation test pilot, and was often based at Ringway. Sold to Fred Dunkerley in late 1950 for transformation into the M.77 Sparrowjet.

Test pilot Alington's Sparrowhawk racer wearing No. 8. Parked outside Fairey Aviation's 1937-built hangar - still camouflaged. This was the first building on the airport. Converted for Fred Dunkerley to the M77 Sparrowjet in late 1953.