The Classic Air Force visitor centre at Newquay Cornwall Airport is getting set to receive its latest star exhibit, an iconic British jetliner.
Tomorrow (Friday) the last flyable British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11 in the UK will make its final flight – and be preserved at the Classic Air Force hangar.
It joins an ever expanding list of classic British aircraft dating back to the 1930s, many of which actually fly as part of the memorial trust.
The aeroplane was designed as a short-haul jet airliner and is one of the most iconic British jetliners ever built. I
t was designed to replace the Vickers Viscount turboprop on short-range routes and first flew 50 years ago on August 20, 1963.
By the time the last BAC 1-11 had rolled off the production line, nearly 250 had been built and the type served with BEA, Court Line, Laker Airways and British Eagle.
They also scored export successes with US carriers such as Braniff and Mohawk flying the type in North America.
British Airways retired its last BAC 1-11 in 1998 but a small fleet survived in use with the British military and QinetiQ as trials platforms.
CEO Group Captain Davie Paton OBE RAF (Retd) said: "We are honoured and delighted that QinetiQ has chosen the Classic Air Force as the permanent home for Britain's last 1-11.
"This jet is one of the most iconic of all British jetliner and fits our 'Best of British' ethos perfectly.
"The 1-11 is a notoriously noisy aeroplane, so we're looking forward to her roaring overhead for one final time."
