GT2573 is pictured taxying out to rw18 bound for Pittsburgh (PIT).

CI5522 is pictured picking up speed on rw18 at the start of its long flight back to Taipei (TPE).

While operating with 3 Sqdn in Afghanistan, this Harrier was badly damaged by debris during a rocket attack on Kandahar airbase. It was returned to the UK for repair assessment and was deemed to be damaged beyond economic repair, so in 2008 was allocated for ground instructional use at RAF Cottesmore. With the withdrawal of the Harrier fleet in December 2010 it was restored externally and, in April 2011, was placed on the gate at RAF Wittering.

This 1978-vintage Lynx is preserved in the markings in which it served 815 NAS aboard HMS Endurance in the South Atlantic, having been airfreighted from Brize Norton to the Falklands aboard an An-124 in October 2008. This is not the first time the Lynx has been on public display - apart from being in the static at the 2006 Yeovilton Air Day, XZ246 made an appearance at the Ideal Homes Exhibition in London in 1983!

XP345 initially served the CFS at Terhill in camouflage, later gaining the yellow overall scheme for SAR work. It is now exhibited by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group in the markings carried after being returned to camouflage for service at RAF Akrotiri with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Displayed outdoors at the 2018 RAF 100 airshow at Cosford, this Whirlwind had the distinction of making the final flight of the type by the RAF - on 1st March 1982 it was the last to land of a formation of Whirlwinds in a flypast at Akrotiri to mark the disbandment of 'B' Flight, 84 Sqdn.

After initial use in recce pod trials, XV406 moved to the A&AEE for more trials work. On entering RAF service, she served with 23, 29, 43, 54 and 111 Sqns. Retired to gate guard duty at RAF Carlisle and later moved to the Solway site, now displayed in the impressive markings of its last operating unit. I was pleased to reunited with this Phantom, having a photo of me sitting in its cockpit at the Finningley RAF Review in 1977.

The South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum houses some very rare helicopters, albeit in cramped conditions making photography difficult. Only the ninth Whirlwind to be built by Westland, XA870 first flew in May 1954 and was initially allocated for RN service in the Far East but was found to be unsuitable. It then spent much of its service life in these colours aboard HMS Protector and was notable for the rescue of scientists from Roux Island in Antarctica in 1956. A few days after taking this shot I discovered the wrapper from the 1960s Airfix kit of XA870 during a clear-out, long since forgotten!

Over 28 years of service with the RAF, this 1952-vintage Canberra served with a long list of units, as follows, with credit to Damien Hurst's excellent Thunder & Lightnings site: Stn Flt RAF Waddington, Stn Flt RAF Upwood, 231 OCU, Stn Flt Upwood, 231 OCU, 56 Sqdn Cyprus, Stn Flt RAF Wyton, 100 Sqd, 231 OCU, 360 Sqdn and finally with 231 OCU again. Sold back to BAC in 1981 and stored at Samlesbury till 1988, when acquired by the Solway museum. It is to the credit of the hard-working staff there that I found almost all of the outdoor aircraft in unusually fine condition after recent repaints.

Built as a Gannet AS.4 and entering service in 1957, XA459 was converted to ECM.6 in 1961 and served 831 NAS at Culdrose until 1966. After use as a ground instructional trainer, it was moved to the museum at Cardiff airport in 1979 and when that collapsed in the late 1980s, passed through a series of private owners, landing up at White Waltham in 2006, appropriate as that is where Fairey built and test-flew Gannets. Acquired in very poor condition in 2020, once again the Solway volunteers have done a brilliant restoration job.

A long-term Carlisle resident having arrived at the museum in 1977. Operated by 238 OCU, North Luffenham from 1955 to 1958, this night-fighter Meteor spent most of its service life as a research and communications aircraft at RAE Llanbedr.

Looking splendid in a 56 Sqdn repaint completed this year and looking so much better than the grey colours in which it was previously displayed, this is really ex-Saudi Lightning ZF583. It was first flown in 1968 as G-27-51 and delivered in July of that year to the Royal Saudi Air Force at Jeddah. Served as 53-681 with 6 Sqdn and 2 Sqdn and with the type's withdrawal from Saudi service, BAe bought it back (as part of the deal to sell Tornados) in January 1986. After hopes to sell on the ex-Saudi machines proved fruitless, they were offered to various museums.

XJ823 is the only complete example of the B.2(MRR) maritime reconnaissance variant that has been preserved. Retired to Carlisle Airport in 1983 and now looking splendid after a repaint almost finished, complete with 27 Sqdn badge. My third Vulcan in as many days while on a long weekend in the north.

Pictured on very short final for rw07R.

Pictured departing from rw18. Gone are the days of having the fire station in the background from this location. As you can see, the area has been redeveloped and is now has aircraft remote parking stands.

Pictured on very short final for rw07C.

The very small script below the cockpit window says "Koh-i-Noor Aviation" - which tallies with the aircraft's registration.

Operated by Voluxis Ltd.