Britain’s Schneider Racers Page 32

The Timeless Texan

Page 44

The “Flying Tank” flies again Page 53

See page 60 for a great subscription offer to Aeroplane

As well as some great savings, we have a limited time offer where new subscriptions and renewals include this great Praktica monocular, with a 10x magnification – ideal for viewing your favourite aircraft even closer!

Regulars 6 NEWS

All the latest preservation news, compiled by Tony Harmsworth 26 AIRCREW

42 READERS’ ALBUM

A selection of pictures of civil aircraft taken in the summers of 1958 and 1959 at Coolidge Field, Antigua, by Mr Williams

James Kightly looks at the role of the air gunners on board a Short Sunderland, whose “aim was not to please”. Illustration by Ian Bott 30 HOOKS’ TOURS

This month’s selection of Mike Hooks’s photographs features Russian airliners of Tupolev designs, taken between 1956 and 1970 40 FROM THE ARCHIVES

59

WIN! WIN!WIN!

COMPETITION

Your chance to win a fantastic spending spree on products and services worth up to £500 at Aces High Aviation Gallery!

62 Q&A, LOST & FOUND

Your questions asked, and answered, with Mike Hooks, while Philip Jarrett asks for the date and location of pictures of a Second World War German aircraft dump

64 SKYWRITERS

A selection of readers’ letters 84 EVENTS

UK event listings through to spring 2012 85 FLYING VISIT

Melvyn Hiscock talks to John Hutchinson, former Concorde captain and RAF pilot, about his flying career 86 BOOK REVIEWS 88 GIFTS 97 SERVICES AND NEXT

MONTH IN AEROPLANE 98 HAIRY MOMENT

Our regular spot for your historic aviation close calls

MAIN PIC: Samuel Franklin Cowdery, widely known as “Colonel Cody”, aloft in his Circuit of Britain biplane at Hendon. Wilfred Parke was the first pilot Cody allowed to fly his aircraft and their friendship even withstood a crash of this aircraft on December 8, 1911. See page 90 for the story of one of Britain’s pioneer test pilots.