The September 2021 issue of FlyPast features a newly painted British warbird on its cover. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc PZ865 may be a familiar sight at airshows, but it’s now flying in a distinctive new night-fighter scheme. In another FlyPast exclusive, former BBMF boss Clive Rowley explores the history of the fighter, which was famously the last of over 14,500 Hurricanes built. His words are supported by stunning air-to-air photography by Darren Harbar.

Flash of Lightning
Few aircraft truly deserve the overused epithet ‘iconic’ – but the English Electric Lightning is surely a worthy exception. In the latest of our regular Classics series, Bertie Simmonds reflects on the jet’s against-the-odds rise, while artist Andy Hay provides lavish colour artwork.

Great War survivor
The Shuttleworth Collection’s Bristol F.2B Fighter has emerged in new livery. Darren Harbar looks back on this storied machine’s long history

Supersonic ‘Charger’
Piotr Butowski relates the story of the Tupolev Tu-144 – the legendary supersonic airliner that challenged Concorde

Final sting
Concluding a two-part special, former editor Ken Ellis reflects on the last days of a British aviation legend – the de Havilland Mosquito

The Spitfire letters
Prior to the Spitfire’s first flight, designer R J Mitchell received a letter telling him the aeroplane needed redesigning. Hans Seeberg reveals the correspondence – and we look at what might have been…