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Welcome to the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust

Our Vision

The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust  is a registered Charity (1156699) set up to provide an enduring flying collection of World War I Allied and German aeroplanes. Our goal is the education of current and future generations as testimony to the aircrews of the Great War, their planes, and their sacrifice.

Keeping the Aviation Legacy of World War One Alive!

The WW1 AHT Collection will:

Advance your understanding of the history of the evolution of military aviation during the Great War by flying displays, dioramas and educational courses.
Demonstrate at air shows in the UK how the aircrews, technology and tactics evolved during WW1.
Support flypasts and static displays at commemorative events.
Offer apprenticeships in vintage aeroplane preservation, restoration and reproduction.

 

WW1AHT on YouTube

An air test in a BE2
BE2e Check Flight edited
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Recent Posts
  • Have WW1 Simulator with VR, Will Travel!

    STEM for All Youth Organisations and Private Events Earlier this month, the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust rolled out its first School STEM Day at Shoreham College. It was aimed at Year 6 focussing on the history of the inventor of the Simulator in 1915, Major Lanoe Hawker VC, DSO, RFC, and D&T pupils studying his engineering concept to provide a 3-axis motion aeroplane simulator. Thus allowing the pilots to practice firing at moving targets from a moving platform on a range. Unable to rehearse in the same way for obvious reasons, the Trust has fitted a VR Game to the simulator which quickly brings home all the challenges of early flight not to mention combat in such frail machines. For schools, we can provide a programme integrating flying missions with briefings on WW1 aviation history and the charismatic legend that was Major Hawker – a man with incredible engineering and flying skills as well as an inspirational leader. If you would like to know more contact Dick Forsythe (dick.forsythe@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk or 0870 9191914) All this has only been possible through the generous grants provided to WW1 AHT by the DCMS through the NLHF during the pandemic lockdown.

  • Rotary Engines – Operations and Technical

    The WW1 AHT pilots and friends invite you to join a chat session on rotary engines as they developed in WW1. JeanMichel Munn will be leading the chat having been the Trust’s pilot flying the Sopwith Snipe when it was in the UK 2015 – 2017.  The Snipe is powered by the Bentley BR2a – W O Bentley’s finest design. With the cylinders rotating a round a fixed crankshaft, the gyroscopic effect requires some unexpected  control inputs to maintain the chosen flightpath.  It has no throttle and could be a challenge to slow down for landing or catch up in a formation for the newly arrived pilot.  The power weight ratio was much improved over the inline engines of the time even if it did consume massive amounts of Castrol R when running – leaving most of the oil on the fuselage. Join the WW1 AHT pilots and friends for a chat session on Thur 3rd Mar 22 at 1930 to find out more

  • Did You Miss It? Find out What Makes the Albatros Tick

    Our chat session about the Albatros is now available to watch at your leisure. Click here to watch

  • Under the Skin of the Albatros DVa – Thur 3 Feb 22 1930

    The WW1 AHT will gather for their 9th chat session this time looking at the most famous Fighters to emerge from the Albatros FlugZeugWerke – the DI through to the DVa that the Trust operates. We will be joined again by Dodge Bailey from the Shuttleworth, John Lanham from TVAL and Scout Builder David Bremner. The evolution of the Albatros Fighters gives a fascinating insight into how the early German aircraft designers identified and solved problems. Few would argue that the DIII was the most successful of the type arriving at the front in late 1916 ahead of the DH2 replacements like the SE5, F2b, and Sopwith Pup. The DIII’s performance was responsible for huge allied losses in the Battle of Arras in April 1917. Want to know more, join us on Thur 3 Feb 22 at 1930 and help us keep our aeroplanes flying.

  • Under the Skin of the BE2

    In this Chat Session on Thur 6th Jan 22 at 1930 (UK), the WW1 AHT pilots will be joined by experts on the BE2, Paul Hare and Andrew Willox, to discuss the evolution of the very early flying machines into the BE2. It was first aircraft to be designed with production and assembly in mind. Although we perhaps diminish its stately level flight speed of 55 mph and its reliance on many bracing wires for rigidity, it was way ahead of its time and more than half of the fledgling RFC element of the BEF that deployed to France on 13th August 1914 were BE2s. As well as the early history, the pilots will dissect the aeroplanes technical and operational performance. These Chats help the Trust to keep our BE2 flying so if you would like to join us in the New Year, please click on this link.

  • Hear It From the Experts – As Flying Was Then and Now!

    The WW1 AHT Pilots and friends met on Zoom on 2 Dec 21 to discuss the challenges of Operating 100-yr-old Aeroplanes Today. From landing grounds to runways, to the wind effect on little tail fins then and now, wing walkers, prop-swinging, no radios or brakes, all the fun of the fair. If you missed it, the recording is now available as a recording at https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/index.php/product/operating-100-yr-old-aeroplanes-today/

  • Operating 100-year-old Aircraft Today

    If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. On Thur 2 Dec 21 at 1930, the WW1 AHT Team lead by JeanMichel Munn and Stu Goldspink will be discussing the challenges of operating aircraft designed when aviation was in its infancy. Many of the quirks of powered flight were learnt the hard way as the science was not always understood. Most things modern pilots take for granted were not available to the early aviators – brakes, starter motors, reliable engines, and radios as a starter for 10. We are delighted to announce that John Lanham (Chief Pilot – TVAL) and David Bremner (Bristol Scout) will be joining the Panel for this and future sessions. If you would like to join us and help keep our aeroplanes flying, please follow the link.

  • Excellent! Interesting! Top Stuff!

    Yesterday (Thur 4th Nov at 7.30 pm [UK]), the pilots of the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust chatted about their experiences flying WW1 aeroplanes. The title reflects the feedback that we received. We were joined by David Bremner who built and flies a reproduction of his grandfather’s Bristol Scout and John Lanham who is the Chief Pilot at the Vintage Aviator in Wellington NZ. Between them, the pilots had flown all the aeroplanes under discussion – Bristol Scout, DH2, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 17, Bristol Fighter, SE5a, Sopwith Camel,  Albatros Dva, Sopwith Snipe, Nieuport 28. Our thanks to Darren Harbar and Allan Udy of HAFU for providing lots of great video. If you missed it, you can listen to the pilots’ pearls of wisdom by clicking this link.

  • 4 Hours to go – Thur 4th Nov 7.30pm. WW1 Fighters Compared

    On Thur 4th Nov at 1930 on Zoom, the WW1 AHT Pilots led by JeanMichel Munn and Stu Goldspink assisted by David Bremner will talk about the different WW1 Fighter that they have flown. This will be the first in the new programme of chat sessions that the Trust will run monthly for the winter months on the last Thursday of each month after the first one. Get the dates in your diaries. The Full programme can be found here. While the chats are fascinating in their own right, you will be contributing to the Trust’s continuing efforts to keep their WW1 aeroplanes flying. In this session, they will discuss the Bristol Scout, DH2, Sopwith Pup, Nieuport 17, Bristol Fighter, SE5a, Sopwith Camel,  Albatros Dva, Sopwith Snipe, Nieuport 28. If ever an aeroplane owed its place in history to the men who flew it, then that aeroplane was the Nieuport 28. Surely one of the most elegant-looking warplanes of the war, the Nieuport 28 was enjoyable to fly but was far from outstanding in the performance stakes and plagued by serious design problems. Passed over by the French, it became the first operational fighter to equip the American Expeditionary Force in 1918 mainly because there was a shortage of SPAD XIII fighters at the time. Its wing fabric-shredding tendencies and volatile Gnome-Monosoupape engine notwithstanding, the Type 28 was generally well-liked by its American pilots; several of them, such as Eddie Rickenbacker and Douglas Campbell, scored a number of victories flying these aeroplanes. Each Chat will cost £5 per head (ex VAT) and last approximately 1 hr 15 mins. If you would like to book a ticket, pse click on the link.

  • An Air Test in a BE2

    With a speed range of 36 mph (stall) and a Vne of 105 mph, an air test in a BE2 is not quite like any other. JeanMichel Munn (WW1 AHT’s Chief Pilot) explains the flight testing regime in this video.

About WW1AHT

WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust Ltd

We intend to provide an enduring flying collection of World War I Allied and German aircraft based in the UK flying from heritage sites like Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome.

Company No 8753767

Registered Charity No 1156699

Contact:

+44 870 9191914
info@ww1aht.co.uk
rockingnacelle@ww1aht.co.uk

Photography

With thanks to Darren Harbar, Huw Hopkins, Leigh Smith and Russell Savory for their magnificent photographs

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