LouIV in grey camouflage at the warbird area of AirVenture 2018

Tony Lloyd photo

The P-39 Airacobra was sent to the Soviet Union through the US Lend-Lease program in huge numbers, with roughly 5,000 aircraft delivered via a trans-Siberian air route or shipped in crates via Iran. The Soviets found it effective as a low-to-mid altitude fighter and ground-attack aircraft. Over 2,500 of them were flown from the US to Alaska, then across the Bering Strait to Siberia as part of the ALSIB route, a dangerous but fast delivery method. This one, which must have been recently restored at the time, still stands as a monument on that supply route

Ex N81FC and VH-CRQ, later PK-BRU and PK-USA

Newly registered to BCal Helicopters just a month before this show appearance, this B214 ditched 12nm NE of Frazerburgh on 15th May 1986 following collective control failure on a return flight from Sumburgh to Aberdeen. It was recovered, repaired and sold to Bristow Australia as VH-LHT, changing to VH-BEE. After reverting to G-BKFN with Bristow in 1995, to LZ-CAW but again returned with UK reg. In 2007 became N727HT then C-GDYZ in 2010 with Helicopter Transport Services Canada. Crashed on 7th June 2021 during fire suppression ops near Nipigon in Ontario after tail rotor failure. Repaired again

Delivered to London City Airways as G-BOAX in 1988. To the Natural Environment Research Council in 1990 then to the British Antarctic Survey as VP-FBQ in 1991. Still operational in 2025.

2006-build example of the popular Echo two-seater as Ultralight