Recent Articles :

RAF Leeming Base Tour - December 2004
- A group of lucky Air North members had the opportunity to look around the Hawks from 100 Sqdn during September 2004.

Death of a Spitfire: Part Six - December 2004
- A lack of oxygen was assumed as the cause of the crash of Spitfire F.22 PK315 off the Farne Islands in December 1949. This article tells the story of what happened that day.

The Berwick RNLI Fete 2004 - November 2004
- A Sea King HAR.3 from A Flight/202 Sqdn gave a SAR demonstration that made this local event one to remember. All in a good cause, too!

46 Meets 15 on the QE2 - November 2004
- Helicopters and floatplanes were the order of the day as two members meet and see interesting aeroplanes along the Norwegian coast whilst taking a cruise on the famous QE2.

The Kielder Festival Air Show - October 2004
- Although only a small event, the display held over the Kielder Dam proved to be a rather interesting affair, with the Red Arrows, the Falcons and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight adding to the party atmosphere.

RAF Leuchars Battle of Britain Airshow 2004 - October 2004
- A look at what turned up for the annual Battle of Britain airshow in Fife.

Bowes Railway Museum Annual Children's Day 2004 - September 2004
- Take 12 military helicopters from seven different air arms and five different countries, add an extremely hard-working organiser, his little army of helpers (including two Air North members!) and countless bus-loads of happy children. Mix well, and you get what was probably the best ever aviation event held in the North East so far. This is probably our most comprehensive look at the arrivals and departures for an event in addition to the day itself, profusely illustrated and packed with memories of the event.

Sunderland International Airshow 2004 - September 2004
- Our largest annual event was covered in the usual comprehensive detail.

Northumberland County Show 2004 - July 2004
- A Hawk, a Hercules and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight all contributed to the small air display held at Corbridge on 31/05/04 - this article describes each of the acts.

641 Gliding School - June 2004
- The various airframes serving with 641 VGS at RAF Ouston come under the spotlight in this rather comprehensive article.

Four Engines, Three Tails, Two Wings and One Hell of a Sound! - June 2004
- In May 2004 Lockheed Constellation N73544 turned up at Prestwick Airport en route from California to the European airshow circuit. The Connie's departure from Prestwick was captured in this article.

Lockheed's Nostalgic Warning Star - June 2004
- Prestwick's relationship with the Connie is again examined with a look at US Navy WV-2 visitors in 1961.

A Dragon Down at Simonburn - May 2004
- DH.89 Dragon Rapide G-AFMF crashed on moorland near Simonburn in Northumberland in February 1954 - this article tells the story of the incident and the history of the aeroplane involved.

Magister Madness - April 2004
- Five Magisters took off from Kingstown at Carlisle on 26/10/40 - and all crashed soon afterwards. This article tells the story of what happened.

Fire Fighting and Safety School: Part3 - April 2004
- Our look at the FF&SS at Catterick ends with a round-up of airframes such as the Shackleton, Swift, Valetta, Valiant and Vampire.

Evolution not Revolution - April 2004
- A look back at 2003's output in the Air North magazine.

Bombs, Guns and Missiles: The Holbeach Ranges - April 2004
- The RAF gunnery and bombing range at Holbeach near Kings Lynn comes under the spotlight with this account of a single day's movements.

The History of Boulmer Aerodrome - March 2004
- The little-known WW2 aerodrome at the site of the modern-day helicopter station is covered in detail in this article.

Fire Fighting and Safety School: Part 2 - March 2004
- Continuing our look at the FF&SS at Catterick, dealing with Hunters, Javelins, Jet Provosts, Lightnings, Meteors, Mosquitoes, Pembrokes, Sea Hawks, Sea Princes and Sea Vixens.

February 2004: "The Region's Second Presidential Visit"
- the full story of the aviation assets employed during George Bush's visit to Teesside Airport in November 2003, including the run-up to the visit and the aftermath. Liberally sprinkled with photos and descriptions of the various aircraft involved, this article is arguably the most detailed account of the aviation assets used during this historic event.

February 2004: "The Cullercoats Whirlwind"
- the story of how the crew of an air-sea-rescue Whirlwind from RAF Acklington needed to be rescued themselves, following a crash near Tynemouth in August 1961.

February 2004: "The Havaclilik Muzesi - Istanbul"
- an account of how one member managed to combine a holiday in Dalaman with a visit to the Air Force Museum at Istanbul Airport.

January 2004: "No Frills From Newcastle"
- two Air North members describe their visits to two different European capitals, Dublin and Prague, via low-cost airlines from Newcastle Airport.

January 2004: "A Demonstration in Disaster"
- this article recalls a crash involving a Wellington navigational trainer at an airshow held at RAF Middleton St George (now Teesside Airport) in 1949.

December 2003: "Death of a Spitfire Part 5"
- a description of how a Czech pilot crashlanded his Spitfire during a snowstorm at RAF Boulmer in December 1944.

December 2003: "From Model Ts to Learjets"
- a history of the Automobile Association's aircraft fleet.

December 2003: "The Allendale Halifax"
- the story of how a Halifax from a North Yorkshire airbase came to grief in a quiet valley south of Hexham during WW2.

December 2003: "To The Land of the Midnight Sun With Wideroe"
- a very descriptive and evocative tale of island-hopping and fjord-crossing in northern Norway.

November 2003: "Northern Crusader"
- a brief look back at the French helicopter 'invasion' of the Otterburn Ranges during March 1994.

November 2003: "Charting the Charters at Newcastle"
- a comparison of the charter airlines and airliners visiting Newcastle in 1983 and 2003.

November 2003: "Fire Fighting and Safety School, RAF Catterick"
- part 1 of a look back at the airframes destined for funeral pyres down the road at Catterick airfield.

October 2003: "East Fortune and the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter"
- an update of activities up at the Royal Scottish Museum of Flight.

October 2003: "The PFA North East Strut Fly-In, Yearby Airfield"
- an account of an event held at one of the region's smaller strips; one with a small number of aircraft but made up for by a big welcome by the Strut organisers and local pilots.

September 2003: "2003 Sunderland International Airshow"
- a look back at both days of the region's largest aerial event, including full lists of participants and descriptions of the flying displays.

September 2003: "The PFA Solway Strut Fly-In, Kirkbride Airfield"
- a look at what was surely the largest gathering of civilian aircraft in the region during 2003 - at least 88 aircraft!

September 2003: "The 2003 Thirsk Balloon Meet"
- one Air North member's account of a pleasant weekend spent as a member of the Pennine Balloon Association, at their yearly meet held at Thirsk racecourse.

September 2003: "DC-7C PH-SDN"
- a brief look at an airliner that lost an engine (quite literally!) over the Atlantic Ocean in June 1961.

August 2003: "RAF Boulmer Families Day Display"
- an appreciation of the station's 'private' airshow that provided some excellent display flying.

August 2003: "Bowes Railway Museum Open Day 2003"
- no, we haven't taken up train-spotting - this is an account of the Helicopter Day held at the museum, which attracted foreign military participation.

August 2003: "RAF Morpeth Postscript"
- additional information about one of the region's wartime airfields, including aerial photos and reports of post-war flying activities.

August 2003: "North East South Atlantic - Part 3"
- an eye-witness account of aerial activity around the Falklands, as seen from HMS Exeter - including accounts of helicopter activity and SAM launches.

August 2003: "6 FTS and the Provost T.1"
- a look at the various Provost aircraft used at RAF Acklington between 1961 and 1962.

August 2003: "An Exercise in Disaster"
- the loss of a No.612 Sqn Spitfire near Stanley in September 1948.

July 2003: "Smithsonian"
- a quick look at the 'other' Washington's famous aviation museum.

July 2003: "The Italian Job"
- no, not Michael Caine and a trio of Minis but a look at the airliner visitors at Manchester Airport for the UEFA Cup Final held at Old Trafford.

June 2003: "The Richard Hillary Memorial"
- describes the memorial erected to the memory of Flight Lieutenant Richard Hillary, author of 'The Last Enemy', at Charterhall airfield near Coldstream.

June 2003: "Free Northumbria Air Force"
- a look at a Chipmunk with aspirations to independence for the region!

June 2003: "Oscar The Grouch"
- a look at the Newcastle Aviation Academy's first aircraft - Boeing 737 C-GWJO c/n 20299 (ex HR-SHO).

June 2003: "The Black Widows of Scorton"
- charting the all-too-brief stay by Northrop P-61 Black Widow night-fighters at RAF Scorton in 1944 - one of the strangest sights in North Eastern skies during WW2.

May 2003: "Northern Nostalgia - 30 Years Since The 'Strat'"
- an affectionate look at the Stratocruisers to visit Newcastle and Prestwick airports thirty years ago.

May 2003: "Durham Cathedral's Hurricane"
- the story of why a Hawker Hurricane was parked on Cathedral Green back in May 1960.

May 2003: "The North East's Gyroplanes - Part 2"
- the second instalment of the story of the region's less well known fliers.

January 2003 Escape From Eight Miles Up
The amazing story of a mid air collision between two RAF Javelin all- weather fighters over Hartlepool in May 1960.

January 2003 Concorde - A Death and Re-Birth
Waxing lyrical about Concorde and the type's visits to the region since the first visit to Teesside in 1972.

January 2003 Northern Nostalgia: Surveyors and Stingers
Memories of odd tails and photographic machines at Woolsington in the 1950s and 1960s.

January 2003 The Silloth Lincoln
An undercarriage collapse led to the loss of an Avro Lincoln at RAF Silloth in April 1950 - this is the story of that event.

February 2003 Disaster at 32,000 Feet
The year's second article about the famous 'flat iron', this one describes how Javelin FAW.9 XH755 was lost off the mouth of the Tyne in May 1962.

February 2003 Beauty Wears a Shroud: The Loss of a Sabre
The story of how Sabre XD733 came to grief near Sutton Bank back in September 1954.

March 2003 From Safe Haven to Radio Station: The History of Anthorn Airfield
The story of RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch) with plenty of anecdotes from former personnel who served there between 1944 and 1958.

March 2003 Northern Nostalgia: Stateside Skymasters
A look at the history of two DC-4 airliners that visited Newcastle and Prestwick in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

April 2003 Death of a Spitfire - Part 4
A further instalment of the series looking at Spitfire losses in the region, this chapter details a mid air collision with a Beaufort near Longhorsley in June 1944.

April 2003 Down Under 2002 - Part 2
More upside-down tales of an aviation enthusiast's holiday to Australia.

April 2003 The Spirit of Dan Air - Part 5
The conclusion of our series on the history of Dan Air, viewed through a North East perspective.

April 2003 AN522: The Fractured Fortress
The story of how a RAF-crewed B-17C 'Flying Fortress' broke up in mid air over North Yorkshire in June 1941.

April 1999 Shipborne Visitors to the River Tyne, 1996-1998
A list of the aircraft found onboard various vessels making visits to the Tyne.

May 1999 No.1 ARDU at HMS Nuthatch, 1944-1957
A brief history of No.1 Aircraft Receipt and Dispatch Unit, based at RNAS Anthorn, Cumberland in the forties and fifties.

May 1999 Spitfire Gate Guardians in Northumberland
A brief article about Spitfires placed on the gates of various RAF stations located in Northumberland.

June 1999 The Blackburn Botha at RAF Thornaby
No.608 Sqn's operations with the generally unloved Botha in 1940, at one of the region's lesser known airfields.

June 1999 No.1 SLAIS at RAF Milfield
The history of the exotically-named No.1 Special Low Attack Instructors School, located at an airfield near Wooler in 1943-1944.

August 1999 Hurricane Mark IIB Z3150: Fifty-Eight Years On
The story of a Hurricane that crashed in the hills above Kielder, plus a visit to the site to see what remains today.

November 1999 The Aerial Defence of the North East, 1914-1918
A look at how the region defended itself against the Zeppelin menace during WW1.

December 1999 Felixstowe F.3 Flying Boats at South Shields, 1918-1919
The story of how flying boats were erected and tested in the harbour at South Shields at the end of WW1.

December 1999 Air Mail
Brief history of the UKs inland air mail service and details of the present day Royal Mail Skynet operation.

January 2000 Cotton Wool Sheep.
Recollections of flying in open cockpit gliders as seen by a wide eyed cadet in the Air Training Corps.

April 2000 RAF Lakenheath Base Tour.
The American Air Base open its doors to Air North and provided a fascinating insight into its aircraft and operational role.

May 2000 Newcastle's "Lynx" with the Royal Navy
An account of Air North's visit onboard Type 42 destroyer HMS Newcastle, to see its Lynx helicopter and talk to the Ship's Flight personnel.

May 2000 A Seagull in Difficulties over Newcastle
The story of how a Supermarine Seagull flying boat racer came to grief in the Newcastle area during a race in 1924.

June 2000 Elvington/RAF Linton on Ouse Base Tour.
The article profiles the guided tours that Air North enjoyed at both airfields, detailing the aircraft and the current RAF training syllabus.

June 2000 Exercise Elder Forest 1980.
During the NATO exercise, Newcastle Airport was home to a detachment of point defense Hawker Hunter aircraft.

June 2000 Newcastle Balloon Festival 2000
The now annual balloon festival at Gosforth Park is reported upon, with details of the balloons which were launched.

July 2000 Elvington Epilogue.
A follow-up article of the previous visit to this museum, providing more detail on the exhibits as well as news on a donation from the Canadian Armed Forces.

Please e-mail: andy@airnorth.demon.co.uk for availability and further details.

May 2001 Air NORTH's Tour of HMS Illustrious An exhaustive account of the society's private tour of the aviation side of one of the Royal Navy's three aircraft carriers.

April 2001 The Sopwith Cuckoo's Association with No.9 Aeroplane Acceptance Park, Gosforth An account of the activities of No.9 AAP, Gosforth, concentrating on the flights of the Sopwith Cuckoo torpedo bomber.

August 2001 A History of the Otterburn Training Area's Aircraft Targets An exhaustive history of the various airframes to have wound up acting as targets for bombs and rocket projectiles on the Otterburn Ranges.

April 2002 A Forgotten Airfield: RAF Morpeth The story of RAF Morpeth, sixty years after the first aircraft officially landed there.

June 2002 The 2002 Newcastle Balloon Festival An exhaustive account of the balloons participating in the Festival, together with details of the various flights made over the weekend.

July 2000 Winfield - a Forgotten Borders Airfield
A brief history of RAF Winfield, located to the west of Berwick.

August 2000 Death of a Spitfire
How a Spitfire from No.57 OTU, RAF Eshott, met its end in 1944.

August 2000 The Saga of the Red Cross Heinkel, 1st July 1940
The story of how three Spitfires from No.72 Sqn shot down an air-sea- rescue floatplane off the coast of County Durham.

August 2000 From Spitfire to Sabre, 'Tiffie' to Trident: The Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
An account of what can be found at the Museum.

August 2000 Not All Pilots Have The Right Stuff
Memories of De Havilland Chipmunk flights, interlaced with life in the Air Training Corps.

September 2000 Air North's tour of HMS Invincible
An exhaustive account of the society's private tour of the aviation side of one of the Royal Navy's three aircraft carriers.

September 2000 Northumberland's Treasure Trove: the Bamburgh Castle Aviation Artefacts Museum
A brief look at the finds on show in this Museum.

October 2000 No.80 (French) Operational Training Unit at RAF Morpeth and RAF Ouston, 1945-1946
A brief history of No.80 OTU, which was based at two Northumberland airfields at and just after the end of WW2.

November 2000 Fortune Favours The Bold.
Brief history of East Fortune Airfield and a detailed look at the present day exhibits.

November 2000 Breaking Their Duck with a Lion: No.43 Sqn's First Success in WW2
How No.43 Sqn shot down its first enemy aircraft in WW2, off the coast of Northumberland.

November 2000 Sheen's Third off the Northumberland Coast: The Coquet Island Ju88, March 1941
How a famous Australian fighter ace shot down a Luftwaffe raider off Coquet Island.

December 2000 Prelude to Black Thursday: No.79 Sqn in Action with the Luftwaffe, 9th August 1940
How the Luftwaffe received a rude awakening off the North East coast prior to receiving a bloody nose on Black Thursday, 15th August 1940.

December 2000 The Broomhill Hampden, December 1939
An account of how a returning RAF bomber crashed into a church located in a Northumberland village.

December 2000 A Night to Remember: Captain Eric Brown
A comprehensive account of famous test pilot Eric Brown's talk to Air North in October 2000.

January 2001 Death of a Spitfire: Encore
The loss of another RAF Eshott-based Spitfire in 1943.

January 2001 Royal Naval Historic Flight Update
Ex Fleet Air Arm and Air North Member Andrew Linsley dedicates his time to fundraising for the Historic Flight. This article provides an update to his work.

January 2001 The Delta Blues Part 1
History of the Avro Vulcan and its association with our region, profiling XM610's crash at Wingate, County Durham.

February 2001 The Delta Blues Part 2
Details of the Vulcans Black Buck operations during the Falklands campaign and its subsequent tanker conversion.

February 2001 The Ilyushin Il-18 at Newcastle Airport
A look at the Il-18 transport and its visits to Newcastle Airport.

March 2001 Gardening at Night
How a Hampden bomber from No.49 Sqn came to grief in the region during April 1940.

March 2001 The Oboe Station: Cleadon's Role in Bomber Command's Orchestra
How Cleadon helped in the bombing campaign against Germany during WW2.

March 2001 The Delta Blues Part 3
Further eye witness report of the Wingate Vulcan crash and details of the UK surviving Vulcan airframes.

April 2001 The Loss of the Fighter Catapult Ship HMS Patia, April 1941
The story of how a specially designed aircraft-carrying vessel was sunk off the Tyne in April 1941.

May 2001 Death of a Spitfire: Part Three
The loss of another No.57 OTU Spitfire, this time in March 1945.

May 2001 The Spirit Of Dan Air (Part 1)
Profiling the history of UK charter and scheduled airline Dan Air 1953-1965.

June 2001 North East Aircraft Museum Update.
Taking a look at the current situation and the exhibits on display at the museum.

June 2001 Tragedy at Catterick: October 1939
The story of how a Whitley bomber crashed at Catterick in the second month of WW2.

June 2001 The Windy Rigg Hampden
An account of a crash in the Border Hills.

June 2001 Twice Unlucky in Northumberland: F/O Rigg and the Parnall Panther, August 1924
The story of how the same pilot crashed two of his squadron's aircraft in Northumberland on two seperate occasions in 1924.

June 2001 No.40 Sqn's Double Tragedy in the North East: September 1933
An account of how two Fairey Gordon aircraft crashed in the region on the same day in September 1933.

October 2001 The Spirit Of Dan Air (Part 2)
Profiling the history of UK charter and scheduled airline Dan Air 1966-1976.

October 2001 Tragedy at Otterburn
The story of how a Chipmunk crashed into a group of spectators during a display on the Otterburn Ranges in 1955.

October 2001 The Boulmer Venom
An account of how a Venom was force landed on one of the disused runways at Boulmer in 1953.

November 2001 The Solway Aviation Museum
A look at what can be found on display at the Museum.

January 2002 Failed to Return: Meteor VZ498, Feburary 1951
The story of how a jet fighter crashed near Rothbury in 1951.

February 2002 A Short History of Greatham Airfield
'Just like it says on the tin.'

February 2002 Evolution Not Revolution.
Detailing the changes to the Air North magazine since the inception of the current A5 sized standard, introduced back in 1993.

March 2002 Par Avion
Night-time runway re-surfacing at Newcastle Airport brought a temporary move to Teesside Airport for Royal Mails Skynet operation.

March 2002 The Spirit Of Dan Air (Part 3)
Profiling the history of UK charter and scheduled airline Dan Air 1977-1983.

March 2002 Greatham - A Postscript
Further stories about a forgotten airfield near Hartlepool.

March 2002 The Hadston Vampire
The story of how a Vampire jet fighter was bellylanded on the beach at Druridge Bay in 1951.

March 2002 From Clockwork Mouse to Scarecrow: The Airco DH.6 in the North East, 1918-1919
How an unloved and unwanted aircraft was used successfully in the anti- submarine role in the region at the end of WW1.

April 2002 North East South Atlantic (Part 1)
First in a series of article on the 20th anniversary of the Falklands conflict - part one details aircraft from both sides that had previously visited the our region.

May 2002 The Kirknewton Twelve
A look at the accidents which claimed the lives of the twelve airmen buried in a graveyard nestling in the foothills of the Cheviots.

June 2002 Otterburn's Aircraft Targets: A Postscript
Further jottings about the airframes consigned to oblivion at Otterburn.

June 2002 Seaton Carew's Kangaroos
A look at the anti-submarine aircraft used at Seaton Carew airfield during WW1.

June 2002 Forced Landing near Embleton
How a Blenheim aircraft force landed in Northumberland in 1941.

July 2002 North East South Atlantic (Part 2)
Memoirs of a northeast service man serving aboard HMS Fearless, who witnessed many of the pivotal moments in the air war.

August 2002 Bowes Railway Museum Open Day
The aircraft and the personalities of the 2002 Bowes Railway Museum Open Day.

August 2002 The Spirit Of Dan Air (Part 4)
Profiling the history of UK charter and scheduled airline Dan Air 1984-1989.

October 2002 The PFA Solway Strut Fly-In, Kirkbride Airfield
An account of a PFA Fly-In held at Kirkbride in August 2002.

October 2002 Tractor versus Tempest
The story of how a humble tractor managed to destroy one of the RAF's finest fighter aircraft.

October 2002 A Sorcerer Of Many Guises EH101 Visits.
Profile of the EH101/Merlin/Cormorant helicopter now entering service and a look at its first visits to the northeast region.