Driving in to Coventry Airport on a grey and murky winter's morning it is not immediately apparent that the airport itself is going through a troubled time. Despite entering administration just before Christmas there is plenty going on and this is especially apparent as we wait for Classic Flight's Commercial Manager Steve Bridgewater to collect us from the security gate and show us inside. There is ongoing construction work, aircraft taxiing and the hangars are busy - which, when you've got a fleet of some 29 aircraft, is hardly surprising from Classic Flight's perspective.
The news had broken the night before our visit that a Swiss company was making headway with regard to purchasing Coventry Airport and had been given 30 days exclusivity to conduct due diligence - good news for all concerned, although nothing of course has been concluded. Safely ensconced in Air Atlantique's boardroom I begin by asking Steve how difficult things have been for them since the troubles came to light in December.
"It hasn't really affected us a huge amount to be honest. If you were going to choose a time for our landlord to call in the Receivers we'd have chosen December - it might not have been so good if it had been in August!
"We only had to cancel one pleasure flying day with the Prentice and the Rapide here at Coventry and although we did look at relocating that event to Wellesbourne we couldn't really justify it. The logistics were quite complicated and reliant on there being good weather.
"The airport was only completely closed for one week, it then reopened but is unlicensed and that is the stage we are at now. If we want to fly the aircraft we can, we just can't fly with any paying passengers."
Air Atlantique itself is a relatively convoluted group of companies so, going back to basics, what exactly is the Classic Flight, I ask?
"To coin a phrase, Classic Flight was once Mike Collett's train set," says Steve, "but not anymore."
"Mike started Air Atlantique about 30 years ago and there have been many different elements under that banner since. There has always been an interest in old aeroplanes though and Mike is as big an enthusiast as anyone, so when he got the chance to buy interesting aircraft he did so, and we have now built up a great deal of experience in operating them."
No one of course makes a great deal of money operating historic aircraft and over the years Atlantic Airlines helped in that some of the operating costs could be offset against the airline's success. With that part of the group no longer in existence, the Classic Flight stands alone, and this is the reason for the creation of the members club and the forthcoming visitors centre - more of which later.
"We have got almost 30 aircraft in the fleet to support, ranging from the Auster and the Chipmunk through to two Canberras and the DC-6. Other than the Shackleton which isn't actually directly in our possession anymore, each and every one of those is either airworthy now or that is the plan for the future."
That includes Canberra B.2 G-BVWC/WK163 and the breaking news is that a potentially suitable Avon engine has been found in the USA and, subject to further testing, there is "no good reason why you won't see the Canberra on the airshow circuit this year." Superb news I'm sure you'll agree and one that will be music to the ears of the UK's many Canberra fans.
The Classic Flight Club plays a vital role in helping to keep these aircraft in the air and Steve says he hopes that it gives members that "warm fuzzy feeling associated with knowing that you're helping directly to keep the aircraft airworthy and on display", but of course that's not all.
"When we first launched the Club you got vouchers which enabled you to get four discounted pleasure flights but we've actually changed that for 2010 and our members now receive an unlimited number of flights at a 25% discount - not bad considering membership starts at just £3 per month! Not only that, but when you join your family is automatically registered as well, so they can take advantage too."
The Classic Flight Club also delivers a quarterly magazine, The Meteor, and will also allow those members to enter the Visitors Centre free of charge when it opens later this year. In many ways though the pleasure flights have always been at the heart of what the Classic Flight does and they remain one of the most popular elements of the organisation's activity.
"They are an important revenue stream for us and this year we are also taking the aircraft on tour. We've had a lot of interest and there is no doubt that the Rapide is a key machine; for many visitors of a certain age they took their first flight in one of those aircraft and they want to experience it again. We took the DC-3 on tour a couple of years back and did a short tour with the Rapide last year, but we've got even more airfields interested for 2010 and will be going as far as Scotland, when pleasure flights will be added to a trip we are making for the airshow in Perth."
I love this; it's reminiscent of the inter-war years and the famous Cobham Flying Circus. The idea of aircraft arriving at an airfield and the local populace turning out for a flight is such a romantic one and fits perfectly with the Classic Flight ethos. Mention of the Dakota leads naturally to a query regarding this most iconic of aircraft and whether the situation regarding the DC-3 has changed, as has been rumoured.
"The situation has changed and we can now apply to add the Dakota to our air operator's certificate. We do need to make some modifications to the aircraft but not as extensively as was initially made out; the real problem we have is that the Dakota falls in to a certain weight category. Our current certificate costs around £1000 per annum plus £80 per month to retain and covers the Dove, two Rapides and the Prentice; that would change dramatically if we add the Dakota - to around £18,000 per annum!"
This is due to the size and weight of the aircraft and would also see the monthly charge to retain the air operator's certificate rising to around £1000. Steve confirms that they could add the Dakota if they so desired, but £18,000 is a lot of money to make back for the Classic Flight.
"Our focus this summer is on the Rapide tour and the bulk of other available funds are being put in to the visitors centre so I don't think we can justify forking out all that money on the Dak and hope that we get it back. I won't rule it out for 2011 though and we'll make a decision later this year."
It's interesting to note that should the DC-3 be added to the air operator's certificate, then the Twin Pioneer also falls in to the same category, although the aircraft is currently unavailable due to fatigue life problems with the struts which have been deemed "time-expired".
"Like so many parts for historic aircraft the main issue is not always locating them, but locating them along with the paperwork that allows us to trace their usage so a judgment can be made on fatigue life. Fortunately we are in possession of the Twin Pioneer's complete archive and, after a long search, we've managed to find the individual piece of microfiche which shows the details for the struts we need. This means that if necessary we can go ahead and get them made for us as new parts."
This kind of story illustrates perfectly the sorts of issues the Classic Flight faces. As Steve points out, while Spitfires are relatively rare historic aircraft, they exist in large enough numbers to warrant a run of parts being produced. With aircraft such as the Anson and the Twin Pioneer, the economies of scale just aren't there, so every option is explored before going down the route of producing what is required on a one-off basis.
Airshows of course offer additional opportunities to see the Classic Flight aircraft in action and they comprise another important string to the organisation's bow, not that they deliver revenue in any vast amount as Steve explains.
"We just about break even at some of the shows and at others we don't even come close! You look at the fuel burn of something like the Venom or the Meteor and really the revenue from airshows just about offsets some of our other costs. We've had a lot of interest so far this year though and a good number of bookings and requests for quotes."
When you start thinking about what the Classic Flight can offer airshows it's an impressive list, comprising, as Steve says, just about everything you see at Coventry - Chipmunk, the pleasure flying fleet, Percival Proctor (which will be added to the AOC this year), Pembroke, Anson, Dove, Devon, two Venoms, Vampire T.55 (awaiting a new engine but should be ready), Meteor NF.11, Meteor T.7 (hopefully ready for Kemble in June), two Jet Provosts, Canberra (hopefully), three Dakotas and so on.
"I think Mike looks at the airshow side of things and the aircraft he owns and thinks 'if we don't do it then who will?' Most collectors focus on the 'exotic' machinery such as Spitfires and Mustangs, but aircraft like the Anson and Prentice also need preserving and sharing. "They also offer other opportunities in that we can promote and recruit for the Classic Flight Club, sell merchandise and also conduct pleasure flights. We're also looking to have a Classic Flight enclosure at some airshows and it is very important to us that we maintain a close relationship with organisers."
The visitors centre - now dubbed AIRBASE - at their Coventry Airport HQ is a new development for the Classic Flight and one which will present further opportunities and possibly scope for new additions to the collection. Steve admits that the idea has been in place "for years" but with construction work now ongoing and new staff coming on-board, the centre is set to open at Easter.
"We've never really had the time, opportunity or staff to do this before and it should also be recognised as a commitment to Coventry Airport - this is where our long term future lies; this is home."
We're not short of aviation museums in the UK so what can the Classic Flight bring to the mix I wonder? What do they want people to experience when they come along to visit?
"Think Shuttleworth, but for the 1950s! We want people to see, hear and smell aircraft that can actually fly. It won't be a polished floor, carpeted experience and will be far more similar to Hangar 5 at Duxford or Old Warden than somewhere like the RAF Museum at Hendon for example. Ultimately we want it to be a real 'Fantasy of Flight' experience but that is a longer term aim. We want to include display boards and information but equally we need to move aircraft out to fly and such like. What that means is that if people come back then everything will probably look completely different from their last visit!"
Fencing is currently being erected which will actually make the site 'groundside', thus negating the unavoidable security issues with which being 'airside' at an airport presents, and the hard-standing adjacent to the hangar is being extended to give some more room. A little later in the day we find ourselves enjoying a walk round the Classic Flight collection and, immediately beyond the main area of construction, is the sight and sound of Shackleton WR963 running all three of her fitted engines. A real bonus sighting, despite the fact that she is now owned by a separate group dedicated to her preservation, and not part of the Classic Flight collection.
But it is this kind of ongoing activity which will undoubtedly appeal to potential visitors - the Classic Flight and the airport is a fascinating place and well worth a journey for anyone interested in aviation. A pilot will always be on call and an aircraft available for pleasure flights, and with the Midland Air Museum a matter of minutes away, along with Warwick Castle and Coventry Cathedral in close proximity, it's a compelling package for those maybe planning to visit the region for more than just one day. Why not visit Warwick Castle in the morning and then fly over it in the afternoon?
All in all the Classic Flight is a real success and in these days of financial woe and struggles elsewhere it's refreshing to be reporting on such a positive story. If you're an airshow goer in the UK you'll certainly see the Classic Flight in 2010, whether it be from a display perspective or from one of the many pleasure flight opportunities. If not, then the chance to visit the Classic Flight itself will be open to all once the visitors centre is up and running in a few short months. As you can see from the images here, there's plenty to see and it's full of fascinating aircraft, with the prospect of more additions on the horizon. As Steve says before we leave to walk around the collection, "it's better than working for a living!"
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