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!

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.

Part of the external display at the FAA Museum. Current with the Fleet Air Arm Reserve Collection in Cobham Hall in 2022.

The sole surviving Westland Wyvern, unflown. Part of the external display at the FAA Museum. Current with the Fleet Air Arm Reserve Collection in Cobham Hall in 2022.

Retained by Hawker Siddeley as a developmental test aircraft and also used by Rolls-Royce for evaluation at Filton, this is the oldest actual Harrier existing (ie not counting its predecessors, the P.1127 and Kestrel). By the late 1980s it had a GR.3 nose fitted and was transferred to the Royal Navy as a ground handling trainer, hence the tail marks it still carries.

One of the local Search and Rescue Sea Kings returning to its Prestwick base, HMS Gannet. Coded "19" and carrying markings celebrating "60 years, 1953-2013, of Royal Navy Search and Rescue", with the Navy's first dedicated helicopter unit having been established in 1953.

Operated by 801 Squadron from HMS Illustrious (R06). In formation with ZD612/005 and ZE690/003.

Operated by 801 Squadron from HMS Illustrious (R06). Formation take-off with ZD578/000 and ZE690/003.

Blue Herons display team

w/o 28 May 1992

'The seaplane 164 is put on the water off the Dardanelles.' See other photo for confirmation of RN serial number 164 (click here). The aircraft type was designated after the serial number of the last aircraft in the first batch of six. The Type 166 is sometimes referred to as the Short S.90 after the construction number of the first, s/n 161. Photo by: François Masnou / Bibliothèque nationale de France - Gallica