Cockpitfest 2007 - Page 1
The eighth annual Cockpitfest was held over the weekend of the 16th and 17th June at Newark Air Museum. The event continues to go from strength to strength and featured almost 30 cockpits, cockpit 'rigs' and instrument panel displays over the course of the two days.
Cockpitfest 2007 was again sponsored by FlyPast magazine who generously awarded prizes in several categories - these are indicated beneath the photos below. In addition further prizes were awarded by Bruce Gordon of Great British Aircraft Spares.
On behalf of all attending cockpiters, sincere thanks are due particularly to Bill O'Sullivan of Newark Air Museum, and also to Ken Ellis and Key Publishing for organising yet another superb event.
Best Cockpit Award & Reader's Cockpit Award
Ross McNeill's impressive Canberra PR.9 was awarded the Best Cockpit Award by the judges and was voted the winner of the Reader's Cockpit Award by visitors to the event.
Pilot's cockpit of Ross' Canberra PR.9.
Best Cockpit (runner-up)
Ron Fulton of the Boscombe Down Museum again walked away with a well-deserved prize for Harrier GR.3 XV784.
'Spirit of CockpitFest' (joint winner with Frank Millar)
In recognition of his unfailing support for Cockpitfest, Simon Pulford, and his mighty Tornado F.2 cockpit, received a share of the Spirit of Cockpitfest Award.
The interior of Simon Pulford's Tornado ZD938.
Cockpiter's Cockpit
David Collins' de Havilland Hornet cockpit reproduction was by far the favourite amongst the other cockpiters, and deservedly so. It's a very impressive achievement and shows off the wooden de Havilland construction techniques perfectly.
The interior of David Collins' Hornet cockpit.
See The Hornet Project website for more details.
'Spirit of CockpitFest' (joint winner with Simon Pulford)
Frank Millar has been a staunch supporter of Cockpitfest with his Canberra PR.9 from the very start. In recognition of that effort and enthusiasm the judges presented Frank, jointly with Simon Pulford, the Spirit of Cockpitfest Award.
One of Neil Airey's impressive collection of Lightnings (F.6 XS922) made a return visit to Cockpitfest 2007.
Max and Ritch Blood's Beagle Pup cockpit and...
...beautifully restored instrument panel display.
Jet Provost T.5A of David Ballicki making a welcome return visit to Cockpitfest.
Interior view of David Ballicki's Jet Provost.
Another welcome return visitor was Bill Fern's immaculate Jet Provost T.3 XN511.
Support for Cockpitfest from Aeroventure via Bill Fern and Naylan Moore never wavers. This year they transported no less than 3 cockpits from the museum - in this case a recently aquired Jaguar...
...with it's currently stripped interior. Bill is currently seeking parts to complete it's restoration.
Aeroventure's third exhibit was Hunter GA.11 WT741.
John Hoole's very impressive and imposing Buccaneer cockpit section...
...and it's immaculate interior.
Richar Parr of Retro Aviation returned with his Aero L29 Delfin.
The interior of Richard Parr's Delfin.
Richard Parr also displayed this Short 360 - a most unusual visitor to Cockpitfest but a welcome representative of this often forgotten type.
The as yet unrestored flight deck of Richard's Short 360.
The rare cockpit section and instrument panel from Balliol T.2 WN534 was a welcome return visitor and was displayed by Alec Brew of the Staffordshire Aircraft Restoration Team (StART).
This Folland Gnat simulator was a big hit with visitors while raising money for worthy causes.
Tony Collins' lovely Vampire T.11 XK627.
Interior view of T.11 XK627.
