In service with Swiss since new in 2003, about to land on runway 14.

Little did I know at the time but this would be my last opportunity to shoot a Cobalt aircraft, as the airline closed down a few months later on 17th October after two years of operation. With services to all three main London airports, their strategy did seem rather over-ambitious.

Seen here about to land on runway 09L on the first of a short series of substitutions by British Airways on their Heathrow-Cairo route due to continuing Trent engine problems with their B789s. The aircraft then moved onto Abu Dhabi services and was still operating that route at the end of October 2018. Flying their first schedules in March 2018 to Hong Kong from Charleroi, Air Belgium have four A340s but this route was operated only briefly before suspension. Although the intention to fly to three mainland China destinations was announced, they now intend concentrating on charters.

Various Hunters have masqueraded as Neville Duke's unique record-breaking Mk.3 WB188 over the years, but here is the real thing in which he secured the world air speed record of 727.63 mph on 7th September 1953, taking off from Tangmere and flying a course between Bognor and Littlehampton. Just a month later, WB188 came to the end of its flying life and became an instructional airframe at Halton, later serving as gate guard at Melksham and Abingdon from 1961 to 1964 and displayed at Colerne until 1975, when moved to the RAF Museum at Cosford. Loaned, appropriately, to Tangmere since 1992.

Built by Vickers Armstrong in the mid-1950s, WK281 joined 79 Sqdn at RAF Gutersloh in 1959 and was operated in the tactical fighter reconnaissance role until 1961 when the squadron converted to the Hunter FR.10. After brief storage at Church Fenton the airframe was used by an ATC squadron in Uxbridge. From 1967, WK281 was placed on display at several different RAF stations before being moved to the RAF Museum at Hendon in 1989 and subsequently loaned to Tangmere in 1994. Of the 193 production Swifts manufactured, just four complete examples remain.

The current outdoor line-up at Tangmere is headed by this Meteor, which is a hybrid of at least at least two aircraft. Previously marked as VZ440, it is basically F.8 WA829, which was delivered to 245 Sqdn at RAF Horsham St Faith in late 1950 as one of 16 aircraft fitted with flight refuelling probes to conduct operational refuelling trials. This role continued until 245's Meteors were phased out in 1957.

Beautifully restored between 2002 and 2005 in the 4 FTS marks it carried throughout its service life from 1963 to 1979 as XR538, G-RORI gets airborne with G-MOUR marked as XR992 of the Yellowjacks team, although this one was really XS102.

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.

Delivered to the RN in 1961 and becoming a ground trainer at Lossiemouth in 1978, after transfer to Leuchars this Gannet was sold in 1986. Registered G-BMYP, it enjoyed a couple of years on the display circuit from 1987 following a ferry flight to Carlisle. After several changes of ownership and a final flight to Sandtoft in 1995, it was acquired by the YAM in 2005.

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.

Over 1,200 examples of the tri-motor SM.79 medium and torpedo bomber were built from 1934 onwards. Originally designed as a fast passenger transport, it picked up some 26 world records before seeing extensive wartime service. After WW2 three were passed to the embryonic Lebanese Air Force and after lying derelict for many years, this one (ex MM24499) was gifted back to Italy for restoration. It now forms the magnificent centrepiece of the Caproni Museum at Trento and is one of only two complete examples left in the world, the other displayed at the Italian Air Force museum near Rome.

One of 116 F-4Es converted to F-4G 'Wild Weasel' standard, replacing from F-105s in the SAM suppression role. After withdrawal from service with the 35th TFW, this example was employed as a ground instructional airframe at Nellis AFB

Looking immaculate while still in service with VT-27, this Trojan went on to a civilian life with the State of Alaska's Department of Forestry. Reported derelict at Fairbanks in 1990, it then underwent a seven-year restoration to airworthiness and remains active as N887N in USN colours, making an appearance at the 2018 Oshkosh show

Unusual visitor among all the biz-jets about to touch down on runway 24 after a flight from Vienna

The third Turkmenistan 717 for parting out for Delta Air Lines by ASI

My best result aviation-wise in Majorca this summer was this Canadair on stand-by at Pollenca. Couldn't get as near as I expected because the adjacent beach area is closed off for forces families only, but fortunately fine at 400mm as no heat-haze across the water

Zulu Sierra skims in to a touchdown on Heathrow's 09L. To BEA 5.5.72 and used at Teesside as a fire trainer having arrived there in May 1986

Starting out as NW's N373US in 3.67 and becoming Transair's C-CTAI in 1974, this 707 was bought by Bangladesh in 1977 and is seen here in the old colours. She was acquired by Aeronaves del Peru as OB-1400 in 1990 and went into store with the Fuerza del Peru at Lima from 1995. Remained in derelict and very dirty condition till 2012 when presumed b/u