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AeroGallerypaintingsandprints AeroGallery Collectors Limited Edition Giclée Prints are printed on heavyweight archival quality acid-free paper or canvas. Each is numbered and signed by the artist and limited to 250 worldwide. The image you choose (paper or canvas) is individually sized and priced. Prices range from $55 (£35) to $172 (£110). Please contact Bruce for a quote for either the original canvas or print (paper or canvas).
 Helping hand
Vampire T.11 and a HSL 68ft British Power Boat Company High Speed Launch Acrylic on board 510 x 410 mm. The de Havilland Vampire was the first single engine jet fighter to enter service in the RAF. The prototype made its maiden flight on 20th September 1943; over the next few years the Vampire claimed the following 'firsts' * The first jet aircraft to land and take-off from an aircraft carrier * The first crossing of the Atlantic by a jet * The first jet trainer on which student pilots could gain their 'wings' Air Sea Rescue. The 68ft HSL was very successful, with many serving into the 1950's, the only one type of 10 wartime HSLs to be retained by the RAF in the big sell-off after VJ day. With the war over, the role of the craft was changed to that of Rescue and Target Towing and several craft were given limited or full conversions to Rescue & Target Towing Launches. Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
  Starlight Express RAF C-17 Globemaster over Portland Oil on canvas board. 24 x18 inchesThe C-17 gives the RAF a long-range strategic heavy-lift transport aircraft that offers the ability to project and sustain an effective force close to a potential area of operations for combat, peacekeeping or humanitarian missions worldwide. The aircraft is a declared part of the UK’s Joint Rapid Reaction Force and the RAF is currently the only European force which can offer ‘outsize airlift’ assets from within its own inventory. In the distance is the Isle of Purbeck and its harbour where in 2012 Olympic Sailing will commence.
 White cliffs of Dover Supermarine Spitfire Oil on canvas board 20 x 16 inches (508 x 406mm) The 100-metre high White Cliffs of Dover require little introduction. These icons of England have been the sign of home for travellers over the centuries, immortalised during the Second World War in Dame Vera Lynn’s song ‘There’ll be Blue Birds over the White Cliffs of Dover’. Both Shakespeare and Wordsworth wrote about the cliffs, their beauty and their role in the nation’s identity. Rudyard Kipling's 1902 poem "The Broken Men" ends with the lines "How stands the old Lord Warden? Are Dover's cliffs still white?" to represent the English exiles' homesickness. There'll be blue birds over The white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow, just you wait and see. There'll be love and laughter And peace ever after Tomorrow, when the world is free. The shepherd will tend his sheep, The valley will bloom again And Jimmy will go to sleep, In his own little room again. There'll be blue birds over The white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow, just you wait and see. Words - Nat BurtonMelody - Walter KentPublished - 1941
Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 RAF Hamworthy (Poole) Short Sunderlands returning to Poole after a patrol Oil on canvas board. 18 x 14 inches (457 x 356 mm) The Short S.25 Sunderland flying boat was developed for the Royal Air Force (RAF) by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in northeast England. Based in part upon the S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the S.25 was re-engineered for military service. It was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War, and was involved in countering the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. RAF Sunderlands also saw service throughout the Korean War and continued in service until 1959. Sunderlands remained in service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) until 1967. In August 1941, production moved to the "Sunderland Mark II", which featured Pegasus XVIII engines with two-speed superchargers and 794 kW (1,065 HP) each. The tail turret was changed to an FN.4A turret that retained the four 7.7 millimeter guns of its predecessor, but provided twice the ammunition capacity, with a total of 1,000 rounds per gun. Late production Mark IIs also had an FN.7 dorsal turret, mounted offset to the right just behind the wings, and fitted with twin 7.7 millimeter machine guns, replacing the hand-held guns mounted in the fuselage ports. Only 43 Mark IIs were built, with five of the 43 manufactured by Blackburn. Production quickly went on in December 1941 to the Sunderland Mark III. This variant featured a revised hull configuration, tested on a Mark I the previous June, that provided improved seaworthiness, which had suffered as the weight of the Sunderland increased in step with new marks and field changes. In earlier Sunderlands, the hull "step" that allowed a flying boat to "unstick" from the surface of the sea was abrupt, but in the "Sunderland Mark III" it was a smooth curve. The Mark III would turn out to be the definitive Sunderland variant, with a total of 461 built. Most were built by Short Brothers at Rochester, Belfast, and a new plant at Lake Windemere, but 170 of the total were built by Blackburn. The Sunderland Mark III would prove to be one of the RAF Coastal Command's major weapons against the U-boats, along with the Consolidated PBY Catalina. U-boats sunk by Sunderlands1941 U-55 +, U-26 +. 1942 U-559 +. 1943 U-465, U-663, U-753 +, U-440, U-563 +, U-607, U-461, U-383, U-454, U-106 +, U-489, U-610. 1944 U-426, U-571, U-625, U-675, U-955, U-970, U-243, U-1222, U-385 +, U-270, U-107, U-297. (+ kill shared with another Sunderland) Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 Zapping Concorde English Electric Lightening vs Concorde. Oil on canvasboard. 14 x 18 inches. (350 x 450 mm) October 2004, an Archive Story The Lightning that once overtook Concorde was described as 'the best of the best' by Flt Lt Mike Hale at the roll-out ceremony for XR749 at Teeside Airport on September 28th 1995. Now an instructor with 56 Sqn at Coningsby, Mike flew 80 sorties in XR749 after the aircraft was allocated to 11 Squadron at Binbrook. He has a particular affection for the aircraft: "The Lightning was an exceptional aircraft in every respect, but XR749 was one of the best of the best. It is probably the best aircraft that I will ever have had the privilege to fly. Because of her tail code BM, she was known as 'Big Mother', although the tail code changed to BO for her last few months on 11 before joining the LTF in January 1985. She was a very hot ship, even for a Lightning. She remained my aircraft for all her time on 11 Sqn despite my being entitled to an F6 as I moved up the squadron pecking order. I invariably asked for her to be allocated to me for the major exercises such as MALLET BLOW, OSEX, and ELDER FOREST despite her being a short range F3 - there were invariably plenty of tankers about!" His memories include the time in April 1984, during a squadron exchange at Binbrook, when he and XR749 participated in unofficial time-to-height and acceleration trials against F-104 Starfighters from Aalborg. The Lightnings won all races easily, with the exception of the low level supersonic acceleration, which was a dead-heat. This is not surprising when the records show that the year before on one sortie XR749 accelerated to Mach 2.3 (1500 mph) in September 1983. It was also in 1984, during a major NATO exercise that he intercepted an American U-2 at 66,000 ft, a height which they had previously considered safe from interception. Shortly before this intercept, he flew a zoom climb to 88,000 ft and, later that year, he was able to sustain FL550 while flying subsonic. In April 1985, British Airways were trialling a Concorde up and down the North Sea. When they offered it as a target to NATO fighters, Mike and his team spent the night before in the hangar polishing XR749 which he borrowed from the LTF for the occasion, and the next day overhauled Concorde at 57,000 ft and travelling at Mach 2.2 by flying a stern conversion intercept. "Everyone had a bash - F-15s, F-16s, F-14s, Mirages, F-104s - but only the Lightning managed to overhaul Concorde from behind". Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 D-Day. Return to base RAF Christchurch. Captain Curran piloting 'Kansas Tornado' a Republic P-47 returning to
base after their first sortie of the day over Normandy, France. June 1944.
Oil on canvas board. 16 x 12 inches (406 x 305 mm) Giclée prints available. Later in September 1944, Captain Curran in 'Kansas Tornado' led 11 P-47's of the 510th FS - a support mission near Pont-a-Mousson. While diving on the target, they were attacked by 20 Luftwaffe fighters. An air battle ensued. Curran struggled with two ME-109. One Messerschmitt is shot up, it dives and crashed. While manoeuvering to get behind the second, he did not notice that a third aircraft was on his tail. Captain Curan eventually claimed his fifth victory having had two already assigned. After sustaining critical battle damage he eventually bailed out and landed safely. A week later Captain Curran passed through enemy lines and rejoined his unit at Saint-Dizier. Christchurch Airfield was located southeast of the A337/B3059 intersection in Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset, England.Christchurch civil airfield started around the year 1926. It was then used during World War II by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force. After 1945 the airfield returned to civilian use and the airfield complex was demolished in 1966. In 1940 the Airspeed factory was built on part of the original airfield and began production of Horsa Mk I gliders, AS.10 Oxfords, and de Haviland Mosquitos for the RAF. (Top left of painting) USAAF Ninth AF were based in and around the woods at Bure Homage and used the more diagonal smaller landing strip. Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 Wave hopper Tupolev TU-20 and Avro Shackleton MkIII over the North Sea. Oil on canvas 20 x 24 inches. Giclée prints available. ''On the morning of 16th June 1967, Crew 2 of 120 Squadron, equipped with Shackleton MkIII phase 3 aircraft (the airframe number of the particular aircraft was not recorded, but the aircraft letter was B - Bravo), based at RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, Scotland, were briefed to fly a surveillance exercise of the Russian Fleet, which had sailed around the North Cape of Norway and was heading for the Iceland/Faeroes Gap in the North Sea, to commence their "Summer War" Exercise in the Atlantic. They had specific instructions, not only to shadow the fleet, but also to get up to date photographs of a new model of Russian Cruiser believed to be (NATO) codenamed "Kresta". The fleet was found without difficulty (it's a big object on the radar screen) and the surveillance commenced. The weather was atrocious, low cloud, rain, high wind - so lots of spray, the visibility was very poor. Eventually the Kresta Cruiser was identified, in amongst the myriad of ships, and a decision was made to get as good a photograph as possible under the circumstances. Normally a photographic run was made along the port side of the target, giving the photographer in the beam plenty of time to focus and arrange the image with bow on the left of the picture and the stern on the right. The first run was from about half a mile away from the target at a height of about 500 feet above see level. The beam photographer called over the "intercom" that the visibility was so bad that he could not get a decent image. So the run was abandoned and commenced again. This takes a Shackleton Mk III quite a long time as the airspeed was kept to 167 -170 knots, the wind was howling and gusting in various directions and the fleet were changing course every few minutes (anti-submarine tactics). The next run was commenced so as fly by the cruiser about 600-700 yards away. This run was again aborted mainly due to visibility, so a third run was commenced. By this time the Russian Navy was getting quite agitated, the radio and E.C.M. traffic had increased violently, and the aircraft was constantly being followed about the sky by the fleet's armourment. It is not recorded how close to the cruiser the third run was or how high above sea level the aircraft was flying, but it was considerably nearer and lower than previous runs. On this occasion the photographer called on the intercom from the beam that he thought he had satisfactory images and was immediately followed by a cry of "What the ......that !" from the same area. On being asked to explain he stated that he had seen something move below the aircraft travelling on the same course as the Shackleton but slightly faster. Eventually the moving object was seen to appear in front of the Shackleton's nose and was identified as a Russian aircraft (NATO) codenamed "Bear". The Russian pilot was either an ace flyer or an idiot, as to get below the Shackleton he must have been about "wavetop" height. He obviously had orders to deter the Shackleton from getting too close to the cruiser - it worked - the Shackleton crew gave the cruiser a very wide berth for the rest of the sortie and landed safe and sound back at Kinloss (Scotland) some ten hours later, with some super photographs"
Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 Lucky Break
Deutsche Luftstr eitkräfte Fokker Triplane attacking a Bristol F.2b over the
battlefields of theSomme
Oil on canvas 24 x 20 inches
Giclée prints available.
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker (triplane) was a World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918. It became renowned as the aircraft in which Manfred von Richthofen gained his last 20 victories, and in which he was killed on 21 April 1918. Here another triplane is attempting to bounce a Bristol F.2 Fighter over the battle churned mud around the River Somme in France.The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft that was able to hold its own against opposing single-seat fighters. Having overcome a disastrous start to its career, the F.2B's solid design ensured that it remained in military service into the 1930s, and surplus aircraft were popular in civil aviation.
Super A3 Gicleé print £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
 Hornet Frenzy
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a supersonic carrier-capable
fighter/attack aircraft.
Oil on canvas 24 x 20 inches
Giclée prints available.
Survivability is an important feature of the Super Hornet design. The US Navy took a “balanced approach” to survivability in its design. This means that it does not rely on low-observable technology, such as stealth systems, to the exclusion of other survivability factors. Instead, its design incorporates a combination of stealth, advanced electronic-warfare capabilities, reduced ballistic vulnerability, the use of standoff weapons, and innovative tactics that cumulatively and collectively enhance the safety of the fighter and crew.
The versatility of the F-18 Super Hornet has led the aircraft to be used in such missions including; day/night strikes with precision-guided weapons, anti-air warfare, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defense, maritime strikes, reconnaissance, forward air control (Airborne) (FAC(A)), air-to-air refueling as well as leaflet drops with payload delivery unit 5 (PDU-5) containers
 My sort of fellow.
Winston Churchill greets Alex Henshaw.
Colorful Chief Test Pilot at Castle Bromwich where Spitfires and Lancasters were manufactured.
Oil on canvas. 31.5 x 15.75 inches (800
Giclée prints available. i
Alex Henshaw, who died aged 94 in 2007, was an outstanding test pilot whose name will forever be associated with the Second World War's most famous aircraft , the Spitfire; between 1940 and 1945 he test flew some 2,360 individual Spitfires and Seafires (the naval version of the aircraft), amounting to more than 10 per cent of the total built.
By 1939 Henshaw was already celebrated as a pilot, having won the King's Cup Air Race and broken the record for a flight to Cape Town and back. When war broke out he volunteered for service with the RAF but, while waiting for his application to be processed, was invited instead to join Vickers at Weybridge as a test pilot.
At first he was put into Wellingtons and the Walrus; and, frustrated by the amount of administrative work, he was about to leave the company when he met Jeffrey Quill, the chief test pilot of Supermarine, who offered him a job. After test flying Spitfires at the company's Southampton factory, Henshaw moved in June 1940 to the Vickers Armstrong (Supermarine) factory at Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham, where he was soon appointed chief production test pilot for Spitfires and Lancasters.
It could be dangerous work. Henshaw suffered a number of engine failures, and on one occasion, while flying over a built-up area, he crash-landed between two rows of houses. The wings of his aircraft sheared off, and the engine and propeller finished up on someone's kitchen table. Henshaw - who sustained only minor injuries - was left sitting in the small cockpit section, which fortunately remained intact.
Only on one occasion was he forced to bale out, when the engine of his Spitfire exploded. Henshaw was thrown out of the aircraft by the blast and became entangled in his parachute, which was badly torn and held together by a single thread on its perimeter; the thread held, and he landed safely.
Once he was asked to put on a show for the Lord Mayor of Birmingham's Spitfire Fund by flying at high speed above the city's main street. The civic dignitaries were furious when he inverted the aircraft, flying upside down below the top of the Council House.Often he would be called upon to demonstrate the Spitfire to groups of visiting VIPs. After one virtuoso display Winston Churchill was so enthralled by his performance that he kept a special train waiting while they talked alone. Henshaw, for his part, considered Churchill "the greatest Englishman of all time, the man who saved the world".
Henshaw also tested other aircraft, including more than 300 Lancasters (the four engined heavy bomber) - he once famously barrel-rolled the big bomber, the only pilot to have pulled off this feat. But his great love remained the Spitfire, which he described as a "sheer dream".
Daily Telegraph
 Digital Mayhem Eurofighter Typhoon Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 inches. The original oil painting is sold.
Giclée prints are available.. The Eurofighter is a highly maneuverable multirole fighter developed by a four nation consortium consisting of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The EFA program began in 1983 when France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK agreed to develop a common air superiority fighter for the 21st century. France eventually pulled out of the program, as Germany almost did in 1992. The result of this effort is the Typhoon built by British Aerospace, DASA, CASA, and Alenia. The airframe is built of about 50% composite materials by weight and about 70% by surface area, with substantial use of titanium and lithium-aluminum alloys elsewhere. Metals only make up 15% of the materials used in the Eurofighter. Although comparable in dimensions to the Tornado, the EuroFighter has an empty weight only about 70% as great, while being more capable in almost all regards. The advanced construction techniques also reduces the parts count of the airframe, with the EuroFighter having about 16,000 structural elements to 36,000 for the Tornado.
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|  Conquer or Perish
15.75'' x 31.5'' Oil on canvas Giclée prints are available.
'All the world thought our end had come. Accordingly we prepared ourselves to conquer or perish' Winston Churchill 'We shall defend our island, whatever
the cost may be, we shall fight on
the beaches, we shall fight on the landing
grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender'.
Winston Churchill.
House of Commons 4th June 1940 June 18, 1940, Winston Churchill, barely six weeks in office as Britain's prime minister and confronted with the threat of invasion from Nazi-occupied France, rose in the House of Commons and, in 36 minutes of soaring oratory, sought to rally his countrymen with what has gone down in history as his ''finest hour'' speech. The speech* — ending with the words ''Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ''This was their finest hour'', — has resonated ever since. On both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, it has been hailed as the moment when Britain found the resolve to fight on after the fall of France, and ultimately, in alliance with American and Russian military might, to vanquish the German armies that had overrun most of Europe. Battle of Britain At the end of June 1940, following the fall of France, the majority of the RAF's 36 fighter squadrons were equipped with Hurricanes. The Battle of Britain officially lasted from 10 July until 31 October 1940, but the heaviest fighting took place between 8 August and 21 September. Both the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane are renowned for their part in defending Britain against the Luftwaffe — generally the Spitfire would intercept the German fighters, leaving Hurricanes to concentrate on the bombers, but despite the undoubted abilities of the "thoroughbred" Spitfire, it was the "workhorse" Hurricane that scored the highest number of RAF victories during this period, accounting for 1,593 of the 2,739 claimed | |
| |  'Ascalon'
The Avro York and personal transport to
Winston Churchill Oil on canvas. 15.75 x 31.5 inches (400mm x 800mm)
Giclée prints are available. Prime Minister Winston Churchill arriving at Castell Benito near Tripoli, Libya having left Gibalter on May 28th June 1943 in his tranport the Avro York 'Ascalon' with an escort of Spitfires. For security Churchill travelled under the pseudonym of Mr. Bullfinch.
Later he inspected the Officers and men of 38 Squadron at RAF Castel Benito, Libya where it's Vickers Wellingtons were based. On board with Prime Minister Winston Churchill were Anthony Eden, Generals Alexander, Ismay and Allenbrooke, plus Air Marshal Tedder and General Marshall (USAAF) all heading out on a tour of North Africa 'Ascalon' was the Lance (some say his sword) of Saint George, the patron Saint of England who slayed the dragon. The York was furnished as a VIP transport to the special requirements of the Prime Minister, who at last had his own British built aircraft in place of the uncomfortable Liberator previously at his disposal. The Avro York LV633 'Ascalon', the third prototype, was the first with triple fins. Later King Georg VI used it for flights to Northern Africa. It had square windows instead of the usual round ones and was equipped with conference section. Allocated the civil registration G-AGFT, it was never applied. Other early production Avro Yorks became the VIP transports of Lord Louis Mountbatten (MW102 ), Field Marshall Smuts ( MW 107 ) and HRH The Duke of Gloucester ( MW 140 ) Castell Benito, Libya Originally an Italian airfield where later the first units of Italian parachutists were trained and formed shortly before the Second World War. The first Italian Military Parachute School was located here and trained two Libyan battalions, the Libyan Parachute Battalion and the 1st National Libyan Parachute Battalion of the Royal Colonial Corps. After it was captured by the British the airfield was renamed RAF Station Castel Benito and was used by a number of operational squadrons involved in the desert war, sometimes for only a few days or weeks at a time.
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| |  Dawn. The Final Push. Sopwith Camel Oil on canvas. 40 x 16 inches. The original oil painting is sold.
Giclée prints are available. By mid-1918 the Camel was becoming obsolescent as a fighter, limited by its slow speed and comparatively poor performance at altitudes over 12,000. It found a new lease of life as a ground-attack and infantry support aircraft. On 29th Sept 1918 Australian Corps attacked towards the Hindenburg Line, along with two American Divisions from the American II Corp (the US 27th and 30th Divisions), supported by approximately 150 tanks of the 4th and 5th tank brigades (including the newly trained American 301st Heavy Tank Battalion). During the German offensive of March 1918, flights of Camels harassed the advancing German Army, inflicting high losses (and suffering high losses in turn) through the dropping of 25lb (11 kg) Cooper bombs and ultra-low-level strafing. The protracted development of the Camel's replacement, the Sopwith Snipe, meant that the Camel remained in service until the Armistice.
Archival quality Gicleé print (40 x 16 inches plus 2'' border)
£110 GBP / $235 US plus shipping. | |
| |  Blue Stocking Loner F.8.DH (de Haviland Mosquito Mk XVI)
653rd Squadron, 25th Bomb Groupe, 8th Air Force. USAAF.
Oil on canvas 40 x 16 inches
Giclée prints available.
Completely unarmed they relied on their speed and altitude to keep out of trouble. Their missions were not flown in groups but as lone aircraft with a pilot, and a navigator trained in meteorology for weather reconnaissance. The 653rd flew 1,131 'Blue Stocking' meteorological flights. They would penetrate the far reaches of East Germany, Austria and points south. Later they undertook weather scouting missions in advance of the bomber formations, visual coverage of target strikes and photo reconnaissance sorties by day and night. Later duties included 'chaff' screening flights for heavy bomber missions.
The 652nd BS originated as a provisional weather reconnaissance unit which was formed at St. Eval with B-17Fs on 8 Sep 1943 for conducting Atlantic meteorological flight. Moved to Bovingdon in Nov. 1943. They had flown 231 weather sorties when reorganized as 8th WRS (H) (P) on 28 Mar 1944. Two other squadron were established at the same date for special reconnaissance operations in enemy air space. Equipped with Mosquitos, WRS(L) (P) was engaged chiefly in weather flights over occupied Europe. Later weather scouting missions were in advance of bomber formations and visual coverage of target strikes. WRS(Sp)(P) flew photo reconnaissance sorties by day and night. Later duties included 'chaff' screening flights for heavy bomber missions. Nucleus for both Mosquito squadrons came from ex P-38 pilots of 50 Fighter Squadron who were transferred from Iceland in February 1944.
Archival quality Gicleé print (40 x 16 inches plus 2'' border)
£110 GBP / $235 US plus shipping.
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| |  Rainbow Warrior Avro Vulcan B2
Oil on canvas. 40 x 16 inches.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available.
Combat missions involving the RAF Vulcan took place in the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina, when Vulcans, in the Black Buck operations flew the 3,889 mi (6,259 km) from Ascension Island to Stanley in the Falkland Isles. There were three missions to bomb the airfield at Stanley, two to attack Argentine radar installations with missiles, and two missions were cancelled.
After the Second World War the Delta wing was an unknown quantity, Avro began scale prototype testing in 1948 with the single-seater Type 707 aircraft, and despite the crash of the first prototype work continued. The first full-scaleprototype Type 698 made its maiden flight piloted by Roly Falk on 30 August 1952, shortly before it appeared at the Farnborough Airshow. Since the Bristol Olympus engines were not ready the aircraft was launched with the Rolls-Royce Avon. These were replaced by Armstrong Siddeley Sapphires, before the Olympus engines were ready. The Vulcan name was not chosen until 1953. The two prototypes initially flew with a straight leading edge, which was subsequently modified to have a kink further out towards the wingtip. The RAF Vulcan bomber in service was not fitted with pure Delta wings; but the prototype models were the first jet bomber design to use a wing of that shape, which was modified in development to give the service machines better flying characteristics than a pure Delta could supply. RAF Vulcans frequently visited the United States during the 1960s and 1970s to participate in air shows and static displays, as well as to participate in the Strategic Air Command's Annual Bombing and Navigation Competition at such locations as Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and the former McCoy AFB, Florida, with the RAF crews representing Bomber Command and later Strike Command. RAF Vulcans also took part in the 1960, 1961, and 1962 Operation Skyshield exercises, in which NORAD defences were tested against possible Soviet air attack, the Vulcans simulating Soviet fighter/bomber attacks against New York, Chicago and Washington. The results of the tests were classified until 1997. Archival quality Gicleé print (40 x 16 inches plus 2'' border)
£110 GBP / $235 US plus shipping.
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| |  Close Encounter B-17G. "The Ragged Irregulars" 91ST Bomb Group (H)
8th Air Force.
Oil on canvas : 40 x 16 inches.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available.
"Ask any man who went to war in a Fortress which was the worst crew position on the aircraft and the chances are he will immediately reply "The ball turret". Indeed, this tight little glazed sphere buttoned to the underside of the fuselage needed a stout-hearted occupant, immune from claustrophobia and bolstered against the thought of being without a parachute if the aircraft was suddenly stricken. So cramped was the gunner's position that an early British assessment of the turret considered it quite untenable for long flights - there were many American airmen who would have agreed." Five Fickle Fingers of Fate In its 34 months of combat operations over Europe, the 8th Air Force alone suffered more casualties than all the combined forces of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force in ten years of Viet Nam. On some ruinous days the 8th lost 40, 50, 60 bombers and scores of fighters in one mission. And few of those that managed to return to base escaped heavy battle damage.
Archival quality Gicleé print (40 x 16 inches plus 2'' border)
£110 GBP / $235 US plus shipping.
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| |  Eagles Swap Kites No. 66 Squadron RAF. No. 133 Eagle Squadron RAF. Spitfire Vb. Oil on canvas. 16 x 40 inches.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available.
Leroy Gover* over-flies in his Spitfire Vb as a newly arrived P-47 C is 'fed and watered' at dispersal. Gover was recruited by the Clayton Knight Committee, an organisation formed to recruit American pilots to fly for the RAF, signing him up in May 1941. Britain had lost half its fighter force during the Battle of Britain and badly needed experienced pilots. After passing an intense RAF refresher program at Bakersfield, California, Leroy Gover graduated in September, he remained as an instructor for the next class, and finally sails to England in November 1941. The British people welcome Gover and his fellow Americans with open arms as they received many invitations to dinner. Gover remarked about the pleasant times he has in London, both with his fellow airmen and with English ladies. In fact, his diary entries frequently refer to his “R&R”—humorous, entertaining vignettes that provide the needed breaks from the frequent accounts of combat. Gover is a work-hard, play-hard type of person—a talented and responsible pilot who takes his job very seriously but frequently lets his hair down at the American Eagle Club, Cracker's Club, or the Regent Hotel, and other nightspots the American pilots frequent in London. In August 1942, Gover received orders to (Eagle) No 133 Squadron at Martlesham Heath. The RAF had established three fighter squadrons as mainly American units, and most of the Americans flying for the RAF hoped they would eventually transfer to these. Life as an American Eagle had its advantages, such as higher pay, $10,000 in free life insurance, and the privilege of being some of the first Americans to fly World War II combat. However, life in other ways did not change much. Gover flew out of an RAF base in his Spitfire, normally served under an RAF officer, and often remained under RAF radar control. Americanization of these three squadrons progressed slowly. He flew his first operational mission as an Eagle on 9 October 1942 during a mission involving five hundred fighters escorting 118 B-17s over Lille, France. As the three Eagle Squadrons were absorbed into the 4th Fighter Group USAAF Gover continued flying Spitfires until January 1943 because of the paucity of new P-47 Thunderbolts. He made a quick transition to the P-47, flying solo on his first flight, with little ground school or other preparation. Gover obviously enjoyed flying the much larger and more sophisticated Thunderbolt. He finished his combat flying in the P-47 in January 1944, when he returned home for leave and was reassigned as a flight instructor in the United States. Leroy Gover earned one Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and eight Air Medals; achieved the rank of major; and earned the respect of his fellow airmen, commanders, and subordinates. Gover achieved his dream of being a fighter pilot while valiantly serving Britain and then his own country-and survived it all. Of the 43 pilots in his operational training unit (OTU) class, 33 were killed, and six others were wounded so badly that they could no longer fly. Leroy Gover retired from the USAF having achieved the rank of Colonel with 17,500 flying hours under his belt and flew 257 combat sorties. Archival quality Gicleé print (40 x 16 inches plus 2'' border)
£110 GBP / $235 US plus shipping.
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| |  Dam Busters Raid. Third Wave Avro Lancaster 617 Squadron RAF. Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 inches.
Giclée prints available.
Operation Chastise- the Dambusters Raid, as it became Known- undertaken by 19 Avro Lancaster's of 617 Squadron on the night of May 16 1943, was the most audacious bombing raid of the Second World War. For the loss of 11 aircraft the Mohne and Eder dams in Germany's industrial heartland were breached by Barnes Wallis' 'bouncing bomb', and a famous if controversial victory won.
Five minutes after the first attack by Wing Commander Gibson on the Mohne Dam the Lancaster of Hopgood (A-JM) was hit by flak during the second attack and in the confusion released their 'spinning' Upkeep mine early which bounced over the dam and exploded in the vicinity of the power station beyond.
At 0038 Martins Lancaster A-JP carried out the third attack on the Mohne Dam, precisely ten minutes after Gibson (A-JG).
At this point, with evidence of Hopgood's ( A-JM ) failure burning fiercely, Gibson's charismatic leadership and Martin's courage ensured that the operation would not disintegrate. As Martin attacked, Gibson flew slightly ahead of him to starboard to distract the German gunners and perhaps silence some of the guns on the dam and beyond before Martin came into range. Gibson received the Victoria Cross for his bravery and leadership. Threatened by angry flak, Gibson felt his aircraft 'very small' and vulnerable. He experienced spasms of extreme fear, but resolutely flew on.
As Martin was attacking the right hand sluice tower was clearly visible but smoke from Hopgood's mine partly obscured the left hand one as A-JP approached at a ground speed of 217 mph. The aircraft was hit by flak though Whittaker, the flight engineer, knew that none of the full tanks had been holed; the extent of the damage remained obscure until the aircraft landed back in England at Scampton. Although this 3rd wave did not breach the dam more attacks followed by 617 Squadron. By the fifth attack the dam walls had been breached in the centre. Flying closer, Gibson noticed water pouring though the shattered dam: even as he looked it surged down the valley. Gibson later wrote: 'This was a tremendous sight, a sight which probably no man will ever see again'. | |
| |  North Sea Patrol Panavia Tornado ADV Interceptor. Armed with 4 Skyflash and 2 Sidewinder missiles and long range fuel tanks. Oil on canvas. 36 x 24 inches.
Giclée prints available The Panavia Tornado ADV is the air interceptor variant of the successful Tornado series. The Tornado was one of the few " Swing Wing " designs developed during the Cold War-era. The system was able to field a variable swing-wing assembly that would allow for increased drag and lift on landings and take off but become more streamlined in straight out flights where speeds up to 1,480 miles per hour could be reached. The strike fighter version went on to become a highly-versatile and accurate weapon system, able to carry a variety of drop bombs, runway denial munitions, rocket pods, laser-guided bombs and missiles. The system proved its worth in the Gulf War of the early 1990's and solidified the Tornado as a frontline operative for the next decade. | |
| |  Dawn Patrol Nieuport 11 Bébé. Morning patrol at first light somewhere over the trenches, Northern France. Acrylic on canvas board. 18 x 22 inches.
The single-seated fighter Nieuport 11 was one of the well-known French planes of WWI. The Nieuport was probably one of the more successful fighters of the war and had a longer career than most others.
The plane first entered service on Western front in August 1915. In spite of it's small dimensions the fighter had good technical characteristics: a high speed, excellent maneuverability and high climbing speed. Just for its mobility it was named Bébé (baby) at the same time it confirmed its popularity among the WW1 Ace aviators.
With its manoeuvrability and high climbing speed, it surpassed the enemy's aircraft flying envelope. The French and British were not the only operators or builders of the design; Belgians, Italians and Russians also flew it. The Nieuport 11 was also built on license in Italy, Holland and Japan and even the Germans copied it!
It was named the WWI Allies best fighter in the first years of the conflict the company literature claimed, ''They have been known to come back from air battle in good flying order with bullet holes in the crankcase and cylinders. Rifle and machine-gun bullets are ordinarily deflected by the revolving engine, which makes a good shield for the pilot when flying head-on at the enemy'' At 1100 rpm, the cruise speed was about 85 mph. while the climb rate was less than spectacular, the Nieuport was fairly agile; a lot of control input being necessary, though, and coordination was a must. As with many WW1 types, the Nieuport was tail heavy and required a fair amount of forward stick to maintain level flight and 'blipping' the ignition button to lower engine speed when landing.
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| |  The Duck P-51 Mustang VF-B. Capt. Donald R. Emerson. 7 e/a
destroyed. 336 Squadron 4th FG. Oil on canvas. 30 x 28 inches.
Original oil painting at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon. UK
Giclée prints available from the artist.
Pilots combat report - I told the squadron that the aerodrome (Stendal) was at ten o'clock and we went in for the attack from north-east to south-west. On the first pass I covered a Ju 52 with strikes and then moved my sights on to an Fw 190. I would not have claimed the "190, but Lt Carlson - my No 3 - says that I set it on fire. I pulled up and watched the others sweep across. I saw that about ten enemy aircraft were burning, and that there was no flak, so I ordered another pass and lined up on three Ju 88s parked wing tip to wing tip on the south-west corner. As I passed over, two were blazing but at least one was shared with Lt Emerson.
Under the skilled leadership of 26-year-old Col. Donald J.M. Blakeslee 336 squadron under the commanding officer Jim Goodson was dubbed "King of the Strafers" by the press. Depicted here is 'The Duck' piloted by Lt. Donald R. Emerson strafing Stendal aerodrome and claiming a share in a Ju88.
During his eight months of active duty with the 4th FG, Emerson completed at least 89 combat missions, including D-Day operations and the Russia Shuttle missions. He most often flew into battle in his P-51 Mustang VF-B #413317, emblazoned with the fearless image of Donald Duck - dukes up and fighting mad.
"This new P-51 is really a flying engine with all that horse power. The P-47 may have more H.P. but it's also twice as heavy. The P-51 is a very small plane. I'd fit into it nicely (Ha). It has a little sign in the cockpit which says - Do not exceed air speed of 500 M.P.H. ' Hot Dog!" -- Donald Emerson in Basic Flight Training, July 26, 1943. | |
| |  Eagles High
Spitfire Mk 9b of No 71 Eagle Squadron Oil on canvas. 30 x 24 inches. Spitfire Mk 9b of No 71 Eagle Squadron. One of the fighter squadrons formed in September 1940. The squadron included many American volunteers already serving with the RAF.
The Eagle Squadrons were a Royal Air Force unit composed mostly of foreign volunteers. They had 240 pilots whom were Americans, and other personnel of various nationalities, who defended Britain against Nazi Germany from 1940-1942. Their fame and heroic actions during battle has been overlooked by many, yet none forgotten by the British themselves. The Eagle Squadrons were composed of three Squadrons, 71, 121, and 133. The majority of the Eagles were recruited by the Clayton Knight Committee, an organization whose sole purpose was to recruit Canadian and American volunteers to fly and fight for Britain. The ''Eagles'' deactivated as a fighting unit, on September 29th 1942. Many of its members were commissioned as Army Air Force Officers and served in the newly formed U.S. Army Air Force Fourth Fighter Group. | |
| |  Detroit Miss
Lt. Urban "Ben" Drew (6 e/a destroyed), P-51 Mustang E2-D. 8th AF 361st FG. Oil on canvas. 30 x 24 inches.
The sole completed BV 238 was strafed and sunk while docked on Schaal Lake, Germany in September 1944 by three P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group. The lead Mustang "Detroit Miss" was piloted by WWII ace Lt. Urban "Ben" Drewand another was piloted by William D. Rogers.
The prototype Blohm & Voss BV 238 flying boat was physically the largest and heaviest aircraft produced in WWII, even bigger than the B29 Superfortress. This painting represents the largest single aircraft to be destroyed during the war. | |
| |  'Balls Out' from Christchurch
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Oil on canvas. 30 x 28 inches.
Giclée prints available. 'Balls Out' D30-RA of Captain Milton W. Thompson of the 509th Squadron, 405 th Fighter Group USAAF were initially based at RAF Christchurch, now in in the County of Dorset during their support of the Normandy landings.
D-Day+. By August the 405th FG were based in France when the Normandy bridgeheads became more established and flew a total of 28 missions and lost 11 pilots. By early September the front had shifted to the east of France near the Cotentin. The 405th FG evacuated the forward airfield A-37 and between the 11th, 12th and 13th September they established base close to Saint-Dizier, midway between Reims and Nancy at an abandoned Luftwaffe airfield (coded A-64) The men quickly established base near the town of Saint-Dizier where the local hotel was very quickly transformed into Officers' Mess. During the early weeks of September mission followed mission with only the bad weather allowing the pilots to relax.
19th September 1944. The 405th FG participate in Operation Market.
24th September 1944. The 'routine' is broken. XIX TAC (Commanded by Major General Otto P Weyland) called for volunteers to bring relief to 5 tanks of the 4th Armored Division under attack by a mixed bag of some fifty German tanks. Despite a hard days combat, the 509th and 510th Fighter Squadrons once again took to the air and stop only after an intensive aerial bombardment that halts the enemy attack. For this heroic action the 405th Fighter Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) | |
| |  First Me262 Downed
Republic 47D. Major Joseph Myers and Lt. Croy. 82nd Fighter Squadron. 78th Fighter Group. 8th Air Force. Oil on canvas 39'' x 24''. Original oil painting and Giclée prints available. 28th August 1944. Claimed by Major Joseph Myers P47D coded MX-S s/n 42-27339 and Lt. Croy's P-47D coded MX-M, s/n 42-75551 of the 82nd Fighter Squadron. 78th Fighter Group. 8th Air Force. Haaltert, about 10 miles northwest of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. ''I was leading Surtax Blue flight and, in conjunction with Yellow flight, was providing top cover for the rest of the Group, who were engaged in dive bombing and strafing. While stooging around west of Brussels at 11,000 feet, I caught sight of what appeared to be a B-26, flying at about 500 feet and heading in a southerly direction and going very fast. I immediately started down to investigate and although diving at 45 degrees at 450 IAS, I was no more than holding my own in regard to the unknown aircraft. When approximately, 5,000 feet above and very nearly directly over the aircraft, I could see that it was not a B-26, although it had the general overall plan of the B-26. It was painted slate blue in color, with a long rounded nose, but I did not see any guns at this time, because at this point he started evasive action, which consisted of small changes in direction not exceeding 90 degrees of turn. The radius of turn was very great and, although I was diving at around 450 IAS, I had very little difficulty cutting him off and causing him to change directions. He made no effort to climb or turn more than 90 degrees at any time. I closed to within 2,000 feet above him and directly astern and had full power on in a 45-degree dive in an effort to close. At this distance I could readily see the similarity between the aircraft and the recognition plates of the Me262. With full power on and the advantage of altitude I gradually started closing on the enemy aircraft and drew up to within 500 yards astern and was about to open fire when the enemy aircraft cut his throttle and crash-landed in a plowed field. He hit the ground just as I fired, so I continued to fire until within 100 yards of him, observing many strikes around the cockpit and jet units. It skidded over several fields and came to rest and caught fire. The pilot hopped out and started to run. The rest of my flight came over and strafed the plane and No. 4 man hit the pilot running away from the plane. The enemy aircraft was burning brightly, giving off great clouds of black smoke. There were no propellers on the plane or on the ground near it. I claim one Me-262 destroyed, shared with Lt. M.D. Croy, Jr., my No. 4 man' | |
| |  Vesuvius Rendezvous
North Americvan B25 Mitchell. 447th BS, 321st BG. Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 inches. Original oil painting and Giclée prints available. B-25s from the 447th bombardment squadron, 321st bombardment group on their way to bomb Monte Cassino used the volcano as an assembly point and passed the erupting Vesuvius, with it's snow and dust covered lower slopes. The eruption on March 22nd 1944 caused more physical damage to the 340th bombardment group than the Germans ever did. 88 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were covered in hot ash which burned off the fabric control surfaces and grazed the Plexiglas. Planes were tipped onto their tails from the weight of the ash. All 88 B-25s from all four squadrons were complete write-offs. | |
| |  Screamin Demon P-51 Mustang. Major Ray Wetmore. 359th Fighter Group. Eighth Air Force.
Oil on canvas. 30 x 24 inches.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available. 15 th March 1945 was an memorable day for the 359th Fighter Group, and for Ace Ray Wetmore (Screamin Demon was not his regular mount) scored the only kill made by the entire VIII Fighter Command that day - a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Me163 near Wittenberg, South West of Berlin, Germany - which also happens to be the third Me163 destroyed by the 359th FG, on mission No 318. ''South West of Berlin, I saw two Me 163's circling at about 20,000 ft some 20 miles away,in the vicinity of Wittenberg. I flew over towards them,and while at 25,000 ft started after one below me. When I got to within 3000 yards he saw me, turned on his jet and went up in a 70-degree climb. At about 26,000 ft his jet quit and he split-essed. I dove with him and leveled off at 2000 ft at his ''six o'clock'. During the dive my IAS (Indicated Air Speed) was between 550 and 600mph. I opened fire at 200 yards. Pieces flew off all over. He made a sharp turn to the right and I gave him another short burst. Roughly half his left wing flew off and he caught fire. The pilot bailed out and I saw the craft crash into the ground.' Wetmore had fired off 222 rounds of API for his last kill, and it was the only enemy aircraft shot down by the entire V111 Fighter Command that day. Wetmore ended the war as the 359th's top ace with 21.5 aerial kills and 333 strafing victories. He was also the top-scoring active duty ace in the Eighth Air force come VE-Day - Aviation Elite Units. 359th Fighter Group by Jack H. Smith published by Osprey Publishing.
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| |  Lockheed P-38 USAAF. Major Richard (Dick) Ira Bong. 9th Fighter Squadron, ("Flying Knights"), 49th Fighter Group. Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 inches.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available. November 5th 1943. Lt. Bong shoots down two Zeros over the enemy airfield at Rabaul, British New Guinea bringing his score to 21 kills. Rabaul became famous during World War II because it was the main Japanese forward operating base for the south-eastern Pacific. The Japanese dug 300 kilometers of tunnels into the volcanic soil around Rabaul and put barracks, clinics, maintenance facilities, and ammunition dumps underground. Bong described combat flying as fun and a great game that made life interesting. Some pilots were only concerned with their scores, almost to the point of recklessness. Bong relished in the actual flying of combat, not how many enemy aircraft he could shoot down. Bong often referred to his gunnery skills as being lousy, perhaps the worst in the Army Air Force, and this was after breaking Eddie Rickenbacker's record of 26 kills! However, his skills were very adequate, and estimates were that he had a 91 percent hit rate. Bong also knew how to get the most from the aircraft he was flying. He loved flying the P-38, and many pilots who flew with him commented on his mastery of it. He was not a flashy pilot, and knew the limitations of the P-38 and never pushed it beyond its capabilities. His analytical nature was valuable when flying combat, and he always analyzed the situation before going in with guns firing. Most importantly, he felt no shame in breaking off an engagement when the odds turned against him. America's No. 1 Ace Given British Award.
San Francisco, June 21, 1945 — (AP) — Major Richard Ira Bong, of Poplar, Wis., America's No. 1 ace of this war, was awarded the Distinguished Air Medal by King George, according to a Melbourne broadcast monitored by the American Broadcasting Company.
The award was made by the Duke of Gloucester, Governor-General of Australia, the broadcast said, on behalf of the King.
Bong, who holds America's highest awards, piled up most of his amazing record of shooting down 40 Japanese planes while flying over British New Guinea.
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| |  Feeding Time for Miss Lace and Friends
Republic P47 D Thunderbolts. 48th Fighter Group 492nd Fighter Squadron. D-Day+. France. 1944. Acrylic on canvas. 30 x 24 inches.
P-47's were among the most numerous Allied aircraft in the Normandy area after D-Day. One of the first groups to fly into France was the 48th FG (from Ibsley, England), which occupied Deaux Jumeaux (A4), inland from Omaha Beach, on 28th June 1944. They bombed bridges and gun positions on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, and attacked rail lines and trains, motor transports, bridges, fuel dumps and gun positions for the rest of the Normandy campaign.
Pilots faced many hazards in fighting a war in these previously quiet rural backwaters, not least of which was livestock, which had a penchant for wandering around dispersals when the pace was less hectic. Fuel bowsers and constant human activity generally prevented accidents however. Miss Lace, of the 48th FG's, has had her fill of fuel and ammunition and is ready for her next mission.
Millions of rounds of fifty caliber and serried rows of Jerrycans support these invasion-striped P47-D fighter-bombers of the 9th Air Force. The ammunition feeds explain why the guns where staggered.
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| |  Royal Air Force Harrier GR3.
Oil on canvas 30'' x 24''
Giclée prints available. The Harrier's lineage began with the Hawker Siddeley P.1127. Design began in 1957 by Sir Sydney Camm (designer of the WW11 Hurricane), Ralph Hooper of Hawker Aviation and Stanley Hooker (later Sir Stanley) of the Bristol Engine Company . Rather than using rotors or a direct jet thrust the P.1127 had an innovative vectored thrust turbofan engine and the first vertical takeoff was on 21 October 1960 . Six prototypes were built in total, one of which was lost at an air display.
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 was the first production model derived from the Kestrel, it first flew on 28 December 1967 , and entered service with the RAF on 1 April 1969 . Construction took place at factories in Kingston upon Thames in southwest London and at Dunsfold, Surrey. The latter adjoined an airfield used for flight testing; both factories have since closed.
The AV-8As of the United States Marine Corps were very similar to the early GR.1 version, but with the more-powerful engine of the GR.3. The aircraft was powered by a 21,500 lbf (95.6 kN) thrust Roll-Royce Pegasus Mk 103 (F402-RR-402) turbofan engine. The AV-8A was armed with two 30 mm ADEN cannons (podded under the fuselage) and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles . A total of 113 were ordered for the US Marines and the Spanish Navy.
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| |  Spitfire Mk 9. No. 64 Squadron RAF
Oil and acrylic on canvas. 36 x 24 inches.
Giclée prints available. The battle for Britain 's skies. A brace of triumphant Royal Air Force No. 64 Squadron Spitfire Mk9's and a Luftwaffe Messersmitte 109G in it's last throes!
One of the most famous military aircraft of all time and one of the most beautiful ever built, the Spitfire is perhaps chiefly remembered as the symbol of the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was developed by Supermarine's brilliant chief designer, R.J. Mitchell, and was the only British type in continuous construction throughout World War II. The RAF's first Spitfires were delivered to No 19 Squadron at Duxford in 1938 and by July 1940, on the eve of the Battle of Britain, nineteen RAF squadrons were equipped with the new fighter. During WWII, thanks to constant improvements and modifications, the Spitfire was never outclassed as a short-ranged piston-engined interceptor apart from a brief period in 1941-1942, when it first encountered the Focke-Wulf FW-190. The first Spitfire 9s went to 64 Squadron (Hornchurch) in July 1942. It was put through its paces against the captured FW190 and was found to compare favorably.
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| |  Merlin's Web
31.5'' x 15.7'' Oil on canvas.
Original oil painting and Giclée prints available.
The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy (now merged as AgustaWestland). The name Merlin is used for AW101s in the British, Danish and Portuguese militaries. The AW101 Merlin is well known for its extensive use of composite materials. The modular aluminium-lithium alloy fuselage structure is damage and crash resistant, with multiple primary and secondary load paths. Active vibration control of the structural response uses a vibration-canceling technique to reduce the stress on the airframe. The AW101 is rated to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to +50 °C. High flotation tyres permit operation from soft or rough terrain. The main rotor blades are a derivative of the BERP rotor blade design, which improves the aerodynamic efficiency at the blade tips, as well as reducing the blade's noise signature. The cockpit is fitted with armoured seats for the crew, and can withstand an impact velocity of over 10 m/s. Dual flight controls are provided, though the EH-101 can be flown by a single person. The pilot's instrument displays include six full colour high-definition screens and an optional mission display. A digital map and Forward-Looking Infrared system display can also be installed.
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AutoGallerypaintingsandprints
AutoGallery Limited Edition Giclée Prints. Archival quality inks on archival acid-free paper. Limited to 250 worldwide, numbered and signed by the artist. $55 or £35 plus shipping. If your wish is for original art work don't hesitate to contact for a quote.
 Ferrari. Drop dead gorgeous.
Ferrari 365 GB4 Spyder top left
Acrylic on canvas. 22 x15 inches (560 x 380 mm)
Gicleé prints are availabe
The Spider was no doubt a continuation of the iconic 250 GT California Spyder and 275 GTB/4 Spyder which were made at the request of Luigi Chinetti. Unfortunately, The 365 would end this trend as the next round of Ferraris were mid-engined, leaving little room for a soft top and a V12 in the same space. Not until the nineties was the idea revived with the 348.
Ferrari 750 Monza top right
Acrylic on canvas 19.75'' x 15.75''. (500 mm x 400mm)
Giclée prints are available.
The 750 Monza was powered by a 3 litre 4 cylinder engine. It gave plenty of torque which was a major departure in engine design for Enzio Ferrari whose preference was for V12's. The 2999 cc engine gave 260 horsepower but reliability was not its strongpoint. Three were built by Sergio Pinin Farina and a further twenty seven by Scaglietti from a sketch by Enzio's son Dino.
Acrylic on canvas 22'' x 15''. (560mm x 380mm)
Gicleé prints are available
Styled by Sergio Pininfarina and introduced at the 1965 Paris Salon, it featured a longer nose to counteract front-end lift at high speeds which had been experienced with the shorter nosed version. Powered by a derivative of the Colombo designed 60-degree V12, and with all-independent suspension, it gave stunning performance. An all-time classic.
Ferrari 750 Monza & Alfa Romeo 8C 2.6 bottom rightAcrylic on canvas board 22'' x 15'' ( 500mm x 480mm).
Giclée prints are available.Top left of paintingStyled by Pininfarina in the 1950's the Ferrari 750 Monza was the last of the line of open two seaters sports racing Ferraris.Tuscany, Italy. Bottom right of paintingIn the 1930's Scuderia Ferrari managed the racing activities of Alfa Romeo. The Alfa was powered by a glorious 2.6 litre straight eight with twin choke Ferrari carburettors and had a top speed of around 130 mph. All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
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 Ferrari. Very sexy.Ferrari 250 GTO top right
Acrylic and oil on artboard 22'' x 15 '' (560mm x 380mm).
Giclée prints are available
Introduced in 1962 the Ferrari 250 GTO became the quintessential road car. A rare beast with a beautifully proportioned body that was built by Scaglietti based on a concept by Ing. Giotto Bizzarrini. Only thirty six 3-litre and three 4-litre examples were built.
Ferrari 275 GTB Twin Cam top left
Acrylic on artboard 22'' x 15''. (560mm x 380mm) Giclée prints are available Styled by Sergio Pininfarina and introduced at the 1965 Paris Salon, it featured a longer nose to counteract front-end lift at high speeds which had been experienced with the shorter nosed version. Powered by a derivative of the Colombo designed 60-degree V12, and with all-independent suspension, it gave stunning performance.
Ferrari 308 GTS QV bottom
Acrylic on canvas 19.75'' x 15.75''. (500 mm x 400mm) Giclée prints are available
The Pininfarina designed 308 QV (QuattroVavole translates as four valves) was announced by Ferrari in 1982. Four-valves per cylinder coupled to the Bosch K Jetronic fuel-injection system and Marelli Ddigiplex injection system gavea healthy 240bhp on European market cars.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |  IRL Indy Racing League The original paintings and Giclée prints are available.
A.J Foyt Celebration
Top Left Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28'' Commissioned to celebrate A.J.'s 50th Anniversary of involvment with American automobile racing.
Celebration 2
Top Right
Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28''
A. J. Foyt (born January 16, 1935, in Houston, Texas), is a retired American automobile racing driver. He raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes USAC Champ cars and midget cars. He raced stock cars in NASCAR and USAC. He won several major sports car racing events. He holds the all-time USAC career wins record with 159 victories, and the all-time American championship racing career wins record with 67.
He is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (which he won four times), the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Foyt won the International Race of Champions all-star racing series in 1976 and 1977. Foyt's success has led to induction in numerous motorsports halls of fame.
Since his retirement from active racing, he has owned A. J. Foyt Enterprises, which has fielded teams in the CART, IRL, and NASCAR.
The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Tony Kanaan
The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Bottom Left Indy Racing League (IRL) Champion 2004
Acrylic paint on canvasboard. 28'' x 20'
In 2004 Tony Kanaan IndyCar Series Champion earned 15 consecutive top five finishes including 3 victories. 2 pole positions and six seconds. Tony Kanaan was the first driver to complete every possible lap in a season. 3,305 laps of which he led 889.
Days of Thunder
The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Bottom Right Dan Wheldon. IRL Champion 2005
Painted in acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28''
27 years old Dan Wheldon raced into the history books on Saturday the 25th Sept 2005 at Watkins Glen by becoming the first Brit to win both the Indy 500 and the Indy Car Championship in the same season. Winning the Indy 500 made him only the fourth Brit and the first since Graham Hill in 1966.Indy Racing League (IRL)
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |  Nascar. Racing for real men.
History in the making. top left
Daytona 500®
Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28'' Giclée prints are available Feel the heat! Jimmy Johnson No.48 on pole as he heads for the green flag. 2004 Daytona 500 No 43. Richard Petty 'The King ' driving a Plymouth with Pearson alongside in this historical rendition of a NASCAR ® Grand National event in 1968.
Smoke top right #20 Tony Stewart, Home Depot, Joe Gibbs Racing. Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28'' The original painting and Giclée prints are available. He is the first and only driver to have won championships in stock cars, Indy cars and open-wheel Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown cars. And his two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships made him one of just 15 drivers who have scored multiple Sprint Cup titles. Along the way, Stewart has won some of the biggest races in motorsports. He is a two-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (2005 and 2007), a three-time winner of the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2005, 2006 and 2008) and a two-time winner of the famed Chili Bowl, an all-star Midget race at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway (2002 and 2007). He's also notched wins in such famed USAC races as the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway (2000), the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway (2000) and the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (1995). Eyebrows were raised on July 10, 2008 when Stewart announced that after spending his entire NASCAR career with Joe Gibbs Racing, he was leaving to become a driver/owner in the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. The last driver/owner to win a Sprint Cup race was Ricky Rudd at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Sept. 27, 1998, NASCAR® Motorsport Images and Archives. NASCAR is a registered trademark of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.
Daytona Days bottom left
The glory of Nascar® and the Daytona 500®. The famous race tracks history in the making captured on canvas.
Acrylic on canvas. 36" x 28" The original painting and Giclée prints are available. At the top of the painting Jimmy Johnson's no.48 on pole as he takes the green flag for the 2004 Daytona 500®.
And at the bottom of the painting 1950's racing at The Beach from the North Turn grandstands, we look south as the racers hurtle over the sand with the sea beyond, then turning towards the road section during a NASCAR® Grand National Series Daytona Beach and Road Course race.
In the inaugural 1959 Daytona 500 Lee Petty in his Oldsmobile shaded Johnny Beauchamp's T-Bird for victory, thus establishing the great competitive tradition at the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR® Motorsport Images and Archives.
NASCAR is a registered trademark of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
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 American Muscle Cars
Ford GT40 Roadcar
top left The sensational GT40 Roadcar Acrylic paint canvas board. 14'' x 18 ''
The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Normally aspirated V8 dohc two-valve alloy head on an iron block. 300bhp @ 6250rpm with a power to weight ratio of 330 bhp per tonne.
'66 and all that
right Kicked Ferrari where it hurt. Ford GT40. 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours. Acrylic on canvas board. 18'' x 14'' The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Le Mans 1966. The winning Shelby-American entered Ford GT40 MKll of Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren which broke the 3000 mile/125mph barrier for the first time at Le Mans in 1966. This was the first of four Le Mans wins the last being in 1969 thus bringing to a close Ford's GT programme with a unexpected sensational swansong victory. Shelby Cobra 427
bottom The automotive pin-up Acrylic paint on a quality deep sided canvas. 24'' x 20'' x 1'' The original painting and Giclée prints are available. The automotive pin-up the Cobra married the AC Ace with a hot-rod Ford V8 back in 1962. In big block guise and with Halibrands filling out those arches the 1965 Guinness Book of Records stated that it was the fastest accelerating production car. 0-60 mph in 4 secs. and 0-100 in 9.8 secs.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |  MotoGP
Valentino Rossi Top left Yamaha's 50th Racing Anniversary 2005 Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28"Giclée prints are available. Giclée prints are available. Giclée prints are available.
Bottom Right
Nicky Haydon Acrylic on canvas. 36'' x 28''Giclée prints are available.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |
 Harley-Davidson.
All American Hero
The immortal V-twin Harley-Davidson. Bottom left.
Acrylic paint on canvas board. 22'' x 14.5''
Giclée prints are availabie
Harley's first V-twin was introduced in 1909 but its first really successful one was marketed in 1911. The first overhead-valve big twin was introduced in 1936 but production was interrupted by WW II.
Heritage Softail Nostalgia
Top Right.
Acrylic paint on canvas board. 28'' x 20''
Giclée prints are available. The legendary American motorcycle company was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by William Harley, the Davidson Brothers-Walter and Arthur- and their father, William.
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Shovelhead powered Electra Glide
Top Left.
Acrylic paint on canvas board. 28'' x 20" Giclée prints are available.
The shovelhead-powered Electra Glide was born in 1966 and stayed in production through the period of AMF's ownership of Harley-Davidson and into the company's return to private ownership. The model is now powered by the Evolution engine.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
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Caroll Shelby A portrait of Caroll Shelby
Far Left Painted with acrylic on canvas board. 30'' x 20'' (762mm x 508mm) Giclée prints are available. rs. Ford GT40 5 years of glory at Le Mans
Left Acrylic on quality canvas board. 30'' x 20'' (762mm x 508mm) Giclée prints are available.
Right Acrylic on quality canvas board. 30'' x 20'' (762mm x 508mm) Giclée prints are available.
Revealed in 1970 it had a 4.5 litre 12 cylinder boxer engine which went on to win the World Championship of Manufacturers and the Endurance World Championship. Porsche 911 Targa.
The Porsche 911 was launched in 1963 at the Frankfurt International Automobile Show and it retained a flat four engine overhanging the rear axle. Porsche 356A Speedster.
Production of both the 356 coupe and the speedster was between 1948 and 1958 with an air-cooled flat four for power. Enzo Ferrari A portrait of Enzio Ferrari and the Ferrari 412P
Far Right Acrylic on quality canvas board. 30'' x 20'' (762mm x 508mm) Giclée prints are available. Enzio Ferrari. The Ferrari prancing horse emblem was given to Enzio Ferrari by the Countess Baracca who saw in him a kindred spirit of her First World War fighter pilot son killed in the conflict. The emblem adorns every Ferrari perhaps the greatest name in both race and road cars. The very first Ferrari was announced in late 1946, and was first raced in 1947. The first road car car to bear the name Ferrari did not appear until Enzio Anselmo Ferrari was 47 years old. Shown here is the achingly beautiful 1967 Ferrari 412 P. Its V12 4-litre engine gave it a top speed of 190 mph. Just four of these spectacular prototypes were built and each was entrusted to Ferrari's most successful private teams of which one was North American Racing Team. The yellow 412P Ecurie Belge painted here being another.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
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Jaguar XK120
The Jaguar XK120 - Jaguar's most successful & famous rally car
Top Left
Acrylic on quality canvasboard 19.75'' x 19''
Giclée prints are available. The Jaguar XK120 was launched by Sir William Lyons at the Earls Court Motor Show, London in 1948. It was to lead on to the famous C-type, D-type and E-type. Here Ian Appleyard and wife Pat take a famous victory in the 1950 Alpine Rally which was followed in 1951 by the Tulip Rally. Lucky fellow. (and girlie) Jaguar E-Type
The E-Type blew the minds of a generation
Top Right
Acrylic on canvas.19.75'' x 13.75'' Giclée prints are available. A child of the swinging sixties it became known as the 'King of the Road' with its breathtaking looks and a reputed top speed of 150 mph.
With little or no growing pains it went from 3.8 to 4.2 to V12 5.3 litre. It is little wonder the E-type blew the minds of a generation. Mini
The baby from the swinging sixties. Austin Seven Mini
Bottom Left
Acrylic on acid-free paper 11'' x 16'' Giclée prints are available. Another child of the swinging sixties but at the other end of the spectrum to the E-type.
Front wheel drive, transverse four-cylinder engine, gearbox in sump, side radiator, 10 inch wheels, rubber suspension, space for four adults, all in a 10ft-long sedan. The Mini was revolutionary on its launch in 1959 and its miracle of packaging that will never be matched, modern safety regulations have seen to that.
Aston Martin DB4
Symphonic class act. Coasting the Emerald Isle
Bottom Right
Acrylic paint on high quality canvasboard 20'' x 15''. Giclée prints are available. The classiest of British sports cars and a true motoring icon the Aston Martin DB4 was introduced in late 1958 with a 3.7 litre engine and Dunlop disc brakes.Hand built, exclusive and blessed with a combination of svelte Italian-inspired styling and stonking twin-cam six-cylinder power. ''Symphonic on command, it delivers a noise that rumbles up, a crescendo of induction roar that could bring a tear to the eye of the most jaded driver'' -Classic Car
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |  Formula 1
Michael Schumacher
Five Times Champ
Left
Acrylic on quality canvas board'. 30'' x 20'' (510mm x 760mm) approx
Giclée prints are available.
Michael Schumacher wins the F1 2002 championship equalling the record set by the great Argentinian Fangio. Many other records were also broken - the greatest number of wins in a season - and in the quickest time within a Grand Prix season. Great driving.
Jenson's farewell to Renault Jenson's farewell to Renault
Right Acrylic on canvas. 17.75'' x 23.75'' (455mm x 605mm). Giclée prints are available.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
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| |  Formula 1
Great Move
Juan Pablo Montoya
Top Left Acrylic on canvas. 47'' x 16'' (1020 x 410mm). Giclée prints are available. Great team Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt
Bottom Left Acrylic on canvas. 47'' x 16'' (1020 x410mm). Giclée prints are available.
Top Right Acrylic on canvas. 47'' x 16'' (1020 x 410mm). Giclée prints are available.
Great Win
David Coulthard wins the Austrian Grand Prix
Bottom Right
Acrylic on canvas. 47'' x 16'' (1020 x410mm)
Giclée prints are available.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping
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| |  Classic CART & F1
Lancia P50 c1953
Lancia P50 c1953
Top Left
Acrylic on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. Giclée prints are available. When Lancia withdrew from Formula One the cars were given to Ferrari for the 1956 season. Its V8 engine was perhaps the first to be a stressed member of the chassis. Ferrari fared-in the side pannier tanks and it became known as Lancia-Ferrari D50V8. Mario Andretti Mario Andretti
Top Right Acrylic on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. Giclée prints are available. In the 1952 Italian Grand Prix, while the excited Monza crowd cheered on the Ferraris, a slight, shabby 12-year old boy pressed up against the fence and marvelled at what he saw. From humble immigrant beginnings he later lived and drove the American dream. He returned to Europe for 4 years joining Colin Chapman and Lotus and in 1978 became Formula One World Champion. Sir Stirling Moss. '61 German Grand Prix
Rob Walker private entry Lotus 18
Bottom Left
Acrylic on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. Giclée prints are available. At the 1961 German Grand Prix, Stirling ran his Lotus 18/21 on grippy wet weather tyres; the risk paid off and the race delivered his 16th and last Grand Epreuve win. Sir Stirling Moss. '61 Monaco Grand Prix
Wins '61 Monoco GP in Rob Walker's private entry Lotus 18
Bottom Right
Acrylic on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. Giclée prints are available. The Monoco Grand Prix of 1961. Stirling Moss and his famous victory in Rob Walkers private entry Lotus 18.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping | |
| |  Classic Formula 1 Gentleman Jim Clark Indy 500. Lotus 29 at the Brickyard in 1963
The original painting and Giclée prints are available.
Left Watercolour sketch on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. 10'' x 7.25'' approx Jim Clark was a natural genius in whatever car he enjoyed driving. In Formula One he always drove for Team Lotus and along with founder Colin Chapman he became World Champion in 1963 and 1965. Ayrton Senna
McLaren
Right Gouache and watercolour sketch on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. 12'' x 8'' approx.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping. | |
| |  Juan Manuel Fangio 1911-1995. - Left Watercolour on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. 12'' x 16 '' approx. Giclée prints are available. In seven full seasons in Formula One, Fangio was World Champion five times, and runner-up twice. No one, before or since, has demonstrated that kind of superiority over that length of time in Formula One. That he raced a Alfa Romero in the worlds first Formula One Race at Silverstone, England at the tender age of 39 years old speaks volumes. He retired in 1957 aged 46. Tazio Nuvolari
1892-1953 - Second from Left Watercolour and Acrylic on 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. 12'' x 16'' approx
Giclée prints are available.
It is said he was Enzio Ferrari's favourite driver and he spent the rest of his life looking for someone as good. Tazio Nuvolari, who before the second world war had trounced the factory teams of both Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, aboard an ageing (and appararently uncompetitive) Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romero. At the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring so confident were the German organisers of that race of a German victory that they had neglected to equip themselves with a recording of the Italian national anthem! Ayrton Senna
1960-1994 - Second from Right Acrylic 300 gsm acid & chlorine free cotton Grana Fina paper. 12'' x 16 '' approx
Giclée prints are available.
Richard Lee Petty
Born July 2, 1937 - Right
Bockingford Watercolour Paper. 140 lb (300g/m2) 20 x 16 inches max.
Giclée prints are available.
Petty is widely considered the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. He raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "The King", as he is nicknamed, is most well-known for winning the Nascar Championship seven times (Dale Earnhardt is the only other driver to accomplish this feat), winning a record 200 races during his career, winning the Daytona 500 a record seven times and winning a record 27 races (ten of them consecutively) in the 1967 season alone. He also collected a record number of poles (127) and over 700 top-ten finishes in his 1,185 starts, including 513 consecutive starts from 1971-1989.
All Super A3paper Gicleé are priced £35 GBP ($57US) plus shipping.
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