15 January 2013
Newquay Airport’s Classic Air Force (CAF) visitor attraction is “moving along very nicely” according to Chairman Tim Skeet, and should be open to the public by the end of March.
A significant milestone was reached on January 5 when the first airworthy aircraft arrived at the new facility at the former RAF St Mawgan. Amongst the aeroplanes expected to make their home at Newquay is the world’s oldest flying twin jet (ex-RAF Gloster Meteor T.7) and three de Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes, which will be available for pleasure flights across the South West.
The first flyable aircraft to arrive was Auster J1 Autocrat G-JAYI, flown down from its previous home at Coventry by experienced vintage aircraft pilot Trevor Bailey. It takes its place alongside two static Hawker Hunters and a newly acquired Hawker Sea Hawk which have already moved into the hangar. The fuselage of Vickers Varsity WJ945, recently acquired from Duxford, has also arrived and will be joined shortly by the wings and engines. Depending on weather, serviceability and pilot availability, other aircraft from the combined Classic Aircraft Trust and Air Atlantique fleets will be flying in or being moved by road over the coming weeks and couple of months.
The Trust announced its move to Newquay in July 2012, when development plans at Coventry made a move to a new location inevitable. Considerable time and money has now been spent by the local council and the Trust to upgrade and renovate the former RAF St Mawgan facilities at Newquay, where Hangar 404 offers 70,000 square feet of display and engineering space.
Work continues towards the CAF’s official opening at the end of March.
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