Based on the L-14 Super Electra, the Hudson maritime patrol aircraft was developed for Britain in 1938 and saw lots of action with Commonwealth forces, both in the European and Pacific theatres of WWII.

Interesting size comparison with the Gloster Meteor, on the left.

Built by Shorts in Belfast in August 1944, serving 201 Squadron RAF, wearing their 'NS' code. To France in October 1951. Now preserved at Hendon.

One of only two surviving Ju 87 Stukas is in the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon's Battle of Britain Hall. It appears to have been a Ju 87D, converted to Ju 87G-2 anti-tank aircraft. The wings were detached at this time but this does give a fine view of the fuselage.

A truly incredible exhibit at the RAF Museum, unfortunately preserved without wings. Designed by R J Mitchell, (the designer of the Spitfire) the Southampton first entered RAF service in 1925. Eighteen Mk 1s were built with the gorgeous all-wooden (cedar and mahogany) hull remeniscent of the contruction of a boat. Southamptons were in RAF service for 11 years. This is the world's sole surviving example. restored after being beached in Felixstowe for many years. The later MkII had an aluminium hull and 40 of those were built.

A delightful exhibit in the RAF Museum, this aircraft is a composite of several aircraft.

This Spitfire and Hurricane are at the entrance to the RAF Museum. Both are full scale replicas. They appear to have been recently repainted and the serial on the Spitfire is incomplete and the code has been changed. The Hurricane is Z3427, AV-R

With a five bladed propellor and a Griffon engine, more powerful than the famous Merlin fitted to most Spitfires, this was the final development of the Spitfire

DH-2 single-seat pusher fighter built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company for the Royal Flying Corps at Hendon in early 1916. The last figure '3' of the serial is not visible because film of the day could not distinguish between black numeral and red fin strip. Obtained from De Havilland over 50 years ago.

A slightly incongruous exhibit in the Battle of Britain exhibition hall of the Royal Air Force Museum

Of the 3,317 Typhoons built this is the sole surviving complete example. The type first flew in 1940 and was intended as a replacement for the Hurricane. In 1943 ground attack rockets were fitted and the type became extremely successful in that role. They must have been a magnificent sight in the air. This example was assessed by the USAF in 1944 and it was presented to the RAF Museum by the Smithsonian in 1967

No serial no is known for this, believed to have been a Merlin powered MkIIX, built 1941 or 1942. By 1966 it was known to have been in use as an instructional exhibit at the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield and was donated to the Museum in 1966

The Mohawk was one of the series of Miles Monoplanes including the Falcon, Whitney Straight, Hawk Trainer, and the Master and Magister trainers. It was a tandem two-seat cabin monoplane designed for Charles Lindbergh and this was the sole example built. It was written off in a landing accident in Spain in 1949 and the remains were found in a scrapyard in 1973. It was acquired by the RAF Museum in 2000 and has now been magnificently restored.

Thunderbirds are go? The Belvedere must be one of the quirkiest jet age aircraft to have reached operational service - 26 copies were built. Its impression of great size is mostly through clumsy design - it carried the same payload as a an early CH-46 Sea Knight or S-61.

Part of the Corpo Aereo Italiano that Mussolini sent to Belgium to assist the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, this Falco force landed on the beach at Orford Ness, Suffolk, on 11 November 1940.