Cockpitfest 2005

The sixth annual Cockpitfest was held over the weekend of the 18th and 19th June 2005 at Newark Air Museum. Scorching weather and a fine turnout of cockpits, especially Hunters in line with the intended Hunter 'theme', made for another outstanding and very enjoyable event.

Sadly, a few of cockpits were unable to attend due to last minute problems, but the presence of twenty full cockpits plus numerous other interesting displays and copious visitors proves that the event is as popular as ever.

As usual presented here is a photo review of the cockpits and other exhibits on display.

Lightning F.1A cockpit finished in the style of 5 Sqn F.6 XM191 'AA' based at Binbrook in the mid to late 1980s.

SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 on display from the Boscombe Down museum. This award-winning cockpit features a working in-flight refuelling probe which can just be seen in the extended position on the starboard side of the cockpit.

Another award-winner. This time David Collins' impressive de Havilland Hornet project. No complete Hornets are still in existence today and David plans to rebuild one from scratch incorporating as many original components as possible. See here for more details.

de Havilland Vampire T.11 XD602 owned by Karl Edmondson.

Tony Collins again displayed two cockpits this year - Hawker Hunter F.1 WT684, and English Electric Canberra B(I).6 WT319.

Hawker Hunter FGA.9 XE597 owned by members of the Wolverhampton Aviation Group.

Note: due to a camera fault the photograph from Cockpitfest 2005 is not available - this picture is from 2004.

Hunter FGA.9 XE584 owned by Mike Davey and Graham Sparkes of the Hooton Park Centre. XE584 is of particular interest as forming part of the famous 22 Hunter loop performed at the Farnborough Airshow 1958 and being one of the aircraft that bombed the Torrey Canyon oil tanker.

Hawker Hunter FGA.9 XG297 owned by Bill Fern and normally on display at Aeroventure in Doncaster.

The impressive Hunter F.6A simulator displayed by Robert Archer and Richard Tallent of 1986 (Wymondham) Squadron ATC. The simulator operates using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and customised Hunter add-ons. The simulator proved very popular throughout the Cockpitfest weekend finally winning two of the Flypast-awarded prizes.

This Hunter F.4, displayed by Ian and Jon Higgins, was identified via Cockpitfest as WW664. The cockpit was removed in 1958 when the airframe was converted to the prototype Hunter T.8B and is in 100% original condition apart from a missing nose cone and a few instruments.

Hawker Hunter F.2 WN890 recently changed hands from Naylan Moore to Tony Dyer. Tony has maintained WN890's 100% record though as the only cockpit to have attended every Cockpitfest so far!

The impressive Hunter T.7, also on display courtesy of Aeroventure, in the colours of N-302 of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force).

Unable to attend with the cockpit of export Hunter FGA.78 QA12, Mark Gauntlett displayed it's unusual instrument panel plus flying kit relevant to the Qatar Emiri Air Force of the period and Martin Baker Mk.2H ejection seat.

Stuart Gowans' impressive Spitfire Mk.IX reconstruction uses a mixture of newly manufactured and original parts and again won a well-deserved prize this year.

Karl Edmondson's English Electric Canberra B.2 WJ676 was the second of two cockpits displayed by Karl. The cockpit also appeared at Cockpitfest 2004, at that time owned by Simon Pulford, in a silver colour scheme.

Canberra T.17 owned by Aaron Braid and a permanent Newark Air Museum resident.

Frank Millar's Canberra PR.9 XH177, also a permanent Museum resident.

Peter Grieve and Robin Byers displayed these two beautifully restored Rolls-Royce Merlin engines throughout the weekend. Both were run up at regular intervals and a wonderful sight and sound they made, especially when running together.

The photo above shows Robin Byers' Merlin 24...

...and this is Peter Grieve's Merlin XX.

Further details of both engines, plus others, can be seen here.

McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom simulator currently undergoing restoration by Mike Davey.

Making it's second appearance at Cockpitfest was this Jet Provost T.4 displayed by 1940 (Levenshulme) Squadron ATC from Manchester.

Supermarine Swift simulator/ground procedures trainer displayed by Ian and Jon Higgins alongside their Hunter F.4 (see above). Little is known of the history of this cockpit, even whether it was built as a simulator or removed from a 'real' airframe.

Hawker Typhoon instrument panel and supporting items displayed by Tony Dyer alongside his Hunter F.2 cockpit.

Simon Pulford displayed the instrument panel from his Tornado F.3 nose section.

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