Built in 1944 as a Tempest Mk.V, this aircraft was test flown by test pilot Neville Duke after conversion for target tug duties in 1950. It served at 233 OCU, Pembrey, till 1955 when Meteors took over in the target towing role. NV778 was ferried for storage at Aston Down in July that year, when the RAF retired its last Tempests. In 1958 it was reconstructed to display standard from the remains of several aircraft lying at Shoeburyness ranges, 15% of the parts coming from other aircraft. Secured by the RAFM in 1998, it was placed on show at Hendon in 2003 and until recently hung from the roof.

This Meteor is painted in 616 (S Yorkshire) Sqdn colours but is really WL168, WK864 having been scrapped at 33MU Lyneham in 1963. It was built at Hucclecote as part of the last batch of the 1,090 F.8s and entered service with 111 Sqdn at North Weald in 1954, soon moving to 604 (County of Middlesex) Sqdn at the same airfield, until the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was disbanded in March 1957. For two years from 1959 it was with the Armament Practice School (Sylt, W Germany) towing banner targets, then becoming a display airframe at various stations, arriving at the YAM in 1996 from Finningley.

This Vampire arrived at the YAM in 2001 and is displayed in RAF College marks, consistent with the aircraft's service life at RAF Cranwell from 1955 to 1960. It then went into storage at RAF Shawbury and was later used as a ground instructional airframe. Using a high extension pole gives about the best view of the Halifax obtainable - I look forward to one of the rare occasions when she is rolled out into the open.

When restoration of this Halifax Mk.III composite was completed in 1984, it was the only complete example in the world, although a second has since been recovered from a Norwegian lake and restored for display in Canada. Based around large fuselage sections of Halifax Mk.II HR792, parts from LW687 and JP158 were also used, along with the wings from Hastings TG536. Painted on the port side as Mk.III LV907 of 158 Sqdn, the starboard side represents Mk.IV NP763 'H7-N' with French roundels, commemorating an aircraft of that country's 346 (Guyenne) Sqdn, which was based at Elvington.

Used for maintenance training at Cosford

Is in fact ex WL168.

Reds 50th Anniversary colours

From F3 OCU/56(R) Sqn, RAF Coningsby.

From RAF No 17 Sqn, Bruggen at the Photocall to celebrate 40 years of the Canberra in service.