Classic Air Force
| Formation | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Mike Collett |
| Extinction | 2016 |
| Type | Non-Profit Organisation |
| Location | |
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Key people
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| Mission | 'Classic Air Force exists to acquire and save rare aircraft and to operate them safely for the benefit of the public and act as ambassadors for the UK’s rich aviation history' |
| Website | www |
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Formerly called
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Air Atlantique Classic Flight |
Classic Air Force was a charitably-based aircraft preservation organisation sited in Coventry, West Midlands. Specialising in classic aircraft from the period between the end of the Second World War and the close of the Cold War, it preserved – in flying condition where possible - notable and rare aircraft from the period. CAF was the public face of The Classic Aircraft Trust, which was set up in 2012 specifically to manage the preservation and museum activities. Classic Air Force closed down in early 2016.
The organisation's main site between March 2015 and February 2016 was Coventry airport (Baginton) which hosted the organisation's main maintenance and restoration facilities as well as the majority of the airworthy fleet. Previously (between 2013 and March 2015) the main site was at Newquay.
Classic Air Force closed its Coventry museum in October 2015, and since the fleet has been up for sale. Classic Air Force retains a hangar at Coventry Airport for maintenance of its fleet while sales take place.
The Classic Air Force was a charitably-based continuation of Classic Flight, which in itself was a development of Air Atlantique. Originally set up as an air taxi operation in 1969, the company adopted the Air Atlantique brand in 1977 when it began charter operations with the Douglas DC-3s that were to become its signature. In 2006 the classic aircraft operation was turned into an entity in itself with the creation of the Air Atlantique Classic Flight.
In 2012 it was decided to apply for charitable status to allow the preservation of historic and rare aircraft beyond the lifetimes of its founders. The Classic Aircraft Trust was established, and it is this body that managed the operation. The Trust secured a lease on a large curtelage of land within Newquay Cornwall Airport's growing Aerohub. Most of the aircraft of the Classic Flight were donated to the charity, and several additional machines were obtained.
The Newquay site opened as an aviation museum on 31 March 2013 and closed during March 2015.
Most of the former Classic Air Force aircraft are still flying but have now been sold or awaiting sale. Up until the end of the 2015 season, the aircraft participated regularly in flying displays and airshows around the UK.
The trust also operated pleasure flights for members of the public, in the de Havilland Dragon Rapide and Percival Proctor, and also aerobatic flights in the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. A new type was added to the pleasure-flying fleet in May 2015, the de Havilland Dove, more commonly known as the Devon in Royal Air Force (RAF) service.
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Wikipedia