29 November 2005 - Waddington

They seek him here, they seek him there, that elusive Sentinel... Still the aircraft avoids stopping at Waddington, despite its introduction having been scheduled for first July, then October. Latest thinking is for the first aircraft to arrive early in the new year, possibly to coincide with 5 Squadron's second anniversary at the base. Picture courtesy Graham Robson

28 November 2005 - Nottingham East Midlands

They don't come any bigger than this - the world's largest aircraft, the An-225 Mriya, arrived at Castle Donington for a week's stay. Designed and built in the late 1980s by the Kiev-based Antonov Design Bureau, the ‘Mriya’ (Dream) was developed to support the space programme of the former Soviet Union. The An225 made its first appearance in the Western world in June 1989 at the Paris Air Show, together with the Buran shuttle mounted on top of the fuselage. Picture courtesy Michael Hind

28 November 2005 - Lincoln

Dropping in at the University campus in the centre of town was Sea King HAS6 ZA135/705 from 849 NAS. The Sea King is on a round-robin series of visits to colleges in the area - its itinery for the rest of the week is: Tuesday 29 November The City School, Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln - 12.30; Wednesday 30 November Branston School, Station Road, Lincoln - 12.20; Thursday 1 December Queen Elizabeth School, West Street, Horncastle.

25 November 2005 - Lyneham

First sighting of a C-130J in the olive green paint scheme normally worn by the special ops aircraft - but with no pods, it would seem this one isn't yet being used for that purpose. Pic courtesy Tony Osborne

13 November 2005 - Limerick

Okay, so it's outside the UK, but we're always keen to know what our near cousins in the Irish Air Corps are up to. At the University of Limerick on Sunday 13 November, as part of Irish 'Science Week', a large exhibition was was held. As part of the various displays the Defence Forces brought along various items of military equipment.

The star of the science fair was the IAC's newest delivery - Eurocopter EC135P2 '271'. At the last minute the crew were given permission to take the new helicopter to the event. Delivered very recently, and with only a few hours 'on the clock' since its arrival, it was open for all and sundry to climb over, which they duly did! Picture courtesy Stefan Wright-Cole

13 November 2005 - Newark

On Sunday 13 November one of Newark Air Museum’s National Benchmark aircraft on the National Aviation Heritage Register (NAHR), the recently restored Hunter F1 WT651, made a brief journey out into the warm autumn sunshine as part of the latest aircraft moves on the museum’s Winthorpe Airfield site in Eastern Nottinghamshire.

This temporary move enabled Meteor NF12 WS692, a 'significant' aircraft on the NAHR to be transferred out of storage in Display Hangar 1 and onto full public display in Display Hangar 2. The Meteor NF12 underwent in-depth restoration during the 1990s and has been stored in a dismantled state ever since. The Meteor’s outer wings will be re-fitted during the coming weeks.

The final move in the complex puzzle will see the Saab Draken make a similar move into Display Hangar 2, which was funded with a grant of £453,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Placing these airframes on permanent under cover display was a major part of the justification of the grant award from the HLF. The status of the aircraft on the NAHR, which is published by the British Aviation Preservation Council, was a vital factor for the museum’s successful grant application to the HLF. Pictures & text courtesy Howard Heeley/Down to Earth Promotions

12 November 2005 - East Anglia

Providing the aerial element of the Lord Mayor's parade in Central London were nine Tornado F3s, in three vics of three. Aircraft were from Leuchars and Leeming and comprised a mix of squadron marks:

Tornado F3 ZE907/DA 25 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 1
Tornado F3 ZG780/XXV 25 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 2
Tornado F3 ZE793/TE 25 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 3
Tornado F3 ZE204/UJ 25 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 4
Tornado F3 ZE201/UL u/m c/sign SAVAGE 5
Tornado F3 ZE982/VV 25 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 6
Tornado F3 ZE810/XU 43 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 7
Tornado F3 ZG755/DL 11 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 8
Tornado F3 ZE161/GB 43 Sqn marks c/sign SAVAGE 9

Info courtesy Roger Smith, pics courtesy Gary Stedman

11 November 2005 - Bedworth

Among many Remembrance ceremonies happening today, perhaps the most spectacular and moving happened at Bedworth, in Warwickshire where nearby-based Air Atlantique from Coventry Airport provided three DC-3s, one of which performed a 'poppy drop' as it crossed the ceremony by the war memorial. With an RAF band playing the signature tune to the TV series 'Dad's Army', it was a particularly moving experience for many, young and old alike. Picture courtesy Rich Blencowe

8 November 2005 - Coventry

The RAF's last Canberra T4, WJ874, made its last ever service flight to Coventry Airport - she has been acquired by Air Atlantique, and will hopefully find her way onto the civil register. More news when we get it...Picture courtesy Damien Burke

8 November 2005 - RIAT 2006

Next week's BBC 'Children In Need' Appeal has been given a boost by organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo. For the second year running, the Air Tattoo's Fairford-based team has devised an incredible 'money can't buy' prize to be auctioned live on Terry Wogan's Radio Two Breakfast Show.

The three-day Battle of Britain package for two people will include a low-level flight in a private luxury Gulfstream jet along the historic Battle of Britain coastline - from Dover to The Wash - and over key Battle of Britain airfields. The winner and their guest will then spend a night in the RAF Officers' Mess at the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and enjoy a close-up view of the Royal Air Force's latest multi-role fighter - the Typhoon. They will then be taken to RAF Fairford to sample the build-up to Europe's largest and most exciting airshow.

Once there, they will enjoy a VIP, behind-the-scenes tour of the Air Tattoo including a chance to visit the Air Traffic Control Tower, meet the Red Arrows and attend the prestigious Air Tattoo Gala Dinner. The package, which will run from 13-15 July 2006, includes one night in a luxury hotel in the Cotswolds. Joining the winners during their visit to the Air Tattoo will be Wogan's Breakfast Show sidekicks Alan Dedicoat and Paul Walters.

Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said he was delighted to be able to offer a prize for the second year running and said he hopes it tops the £15,000 that was bid by a very generous lady from Broadway, Worcestershire last year. "The Royal International Air Tattoo is held each year in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust which, working with the Royal Air Force, aims to promote airmindedness in youngsters whilst at the same time providing welfare support to the wider RAF family. I hope that through our support of such a wonderful charity as Children in Need we can highlight just how exciting aviation is in the 21st Century."

5 November 2005 - Fairford

She’s a regular to Brize Norton, but not often photographed - HZ-124, an A340-211 of the Saudi Arabian Government and former Record Breaker, Airbus’ 'World Ranger' flying from Paris to Auckland non-stop in twenty-one hours. Picture courtesy Tony Osborne

2 November 2005 - Newark

The first 'Enthusiast Day' dates have now been fixed for 2006 - Tuesday 10 & 24 January and Tuesday 14 & 28 February (although a further date of Tuesday 13 December 2005 is still available). Additional dates will be confirmed for later in the year.

Places are only available by pre-booking and the all-inclusive entrance fee is £15 per person. On each day participants are greeted with a welcome snack before being taken in small escorted groups onto various museum aircraft including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom Simulator.

A special part of the each day is a behind the scenes tour to see 'missing airframes', i.e. those undergoing restoration or that are in long-term storage around the site. After the tour, participants are free to wander around the extensive museum site at their leisure. Each Enthusiast Day is limited to just twelve participants.

Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis, depending on the date on which booking forms are received. Possible participants can obtain further details and a Booking Form by sending a large SAE, emailing newarkair@onetel.com or telephoning 01636 707170. Pre-booking is essential.