FlyPast July 2020

The July 2020 issue of FlyPast profiles one of the most exciting warbird formation teams to have arisen in UK skies for many a year. Based at Sywell, Northamptonshire, the Ultimate Fighters team operates four different World War Two-era aircraft, evoking memories and comparisons with Old Flying Machine Company’s legendary Breitling Fighters. Darren Harbar speaks to the pilots involved and captures some stunning air-to-air views of the quartet in their natural environment. Let’s look forward to the return of airshows and seeing these wonderful aircraft with our own eyes.

B-17 Flying Fortress
As the legendary US bomber chalks up its 85th anniversary, we present three exclusive features covering different aspects of the aircraft’s service.

Flying Barrel
Our popular Classics section focuses on the unique SAAB J 29 Tunnan, the so-called ‘Flying Barrel’. Flown for the first time in 1948, the long-lived jet served its home nation until 1976.

Restoration in focus – F-104 Starfighter
A former Royal Netherlands Air Force Starfighter is being returned to flight, reports Bob Fischer.

Cosford by night
Some of the RAF Museum’s most popular exhibits were recently the subject of a special night photo shoot.

Gallic flair
Frédéric Lert pays tribute to an extraordinary French aviator – Dassault Aviation test pilot Jean-Marie Saget.

Elsewhere, Mick Britton explores the essential photo-reconnaissance role of the RAF’s 34 Wing during World War Two, while former USAF pilot Jon Goldenbaum reflects on a memorable tour as an aggressor pilot flying F-5Es in Europe. We take a visit to France’s National Air and Space Museum in the company of Babak Taghvaee, and report on a remarkable flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to celebrate the 100th birthday of fundraising hero Capt Tom Moore.