Aircraft Restoration Company

The Lizzie is ready for her debut at The Goodwood Revival ...
8 busy days on from the Lizzie's first flight and we are very excited to announce that the test schedule is now complete. We hope to see lots of you in the Freddie March Spirit of Aviation Concours at Goodwood Aviation Airfield over the weekend!
#engineeredtoinspire

The Lysander has felt the wind beneath her wings and taken to the skies once more!!
After 14 years of meticulous restoration work, the Lizzie took off this evening for her first flight... We would just like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our team and everyone else who has been involved in this mammoth project over the years, you all know who you are and you should all feel immensely proud!
Now the first flight has taken place we can begin working through the rest of the air-test schedule before finishing off the last few aesthetic touches ready for her public debut at The Goodwood Revival 2018!

The next Lysander update is here!
From the weigh-in and engine runs, to the adding of our own personal touch in the form of a roundel red spinner and wheel covers. The Lizzie is gathering pace and character with every passing moment as we begin to close down on that first flight!
Here are some of the defining moments in the restoration over the past week, Enjoy!
... #engineeredtoinspire
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The Lizzie is alive...
At 6 o'clock this evening, under a perfect summer sky, the Lysander's 9 cylinder Bristol Mercury engine burst into life for the first time!
From the short first run we learn enough about how the engine is behaving to begin making the necessary setup adjustments to things such as fuel mixture, which will now be finely tuned until they are just right. But before all that begins in the morning, we'd just like to share this amazing moment with you all... W...hat a milestone!
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Ash earns his ARCo wings and becomes our youngest engineer-pilot...
After joining our team as an engineer last year, we soon discovered that Ash was not only handy with tools but was also a budding young pilot who had logged a respectable number of hours flying tail wheel aircraft.
We launched Ash in the Chippy with our chief pilot, Chris Carder, who consequentially checked him out on his first ARCo fleet aircraft! The Chipmunk is a fantastic flying machine and one of the bes...t trainers to begin any flying career. The sky is no longer the limit bud, it's the training ground! 😉
Engineer-pilots are a huge asset in what we do, they have the unique ability to understand any abnormalities, diagnosed whilst flying, from an engineer's prospective. This heightened engineering understanding is particularly helpful when setting an aircraft up following restoration / maintenance and also ensures a mechanically sympathetic approach to flying aircraft where engine management is so important.
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The Lizzie ventures out into the big wide world for the first time...
With a further full Lizzie update not due to land until next week we decided we just couldn't go home for the weekend without posting at least one snap of her beneath the sunny Summer's sky! So, here she is, making her way round the bench area and all the way to the Stephenson hangar, her longest journey yet...
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
... #engineeredtoinspire
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With engine runs getting ever closer, we felt that it's about time we brought you up to speed on all things Lizzie! ...
An in-house project that has been bubbling away in the background for many years, the Lysander has now taken shape and is only a few corners away from the finishing straight of her long, meticulous restoration.
Bringing you up to speed on this project actually ended up taking us on a journey of our own all around ARCo, from Building 66 to see the legendary ...'tin basher' John 'Smudge' Smith, to the machine shop to find out what the team in there had been producing using our Hurco Companies Inc. CNC milling machine.
With the paint now fully applied, and the codes on, we just have the last few bits of systemising left to complete before it'll be time for Lizzie to roll out of the hangar doors and burble into life once more!
#engineeredtoinspire
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Sit back... Relax... And take off into the warm summer sky with Lars Ness as he gets airbourne in P-51 Mustang 'The Shark' and begins positioning the aircraft into formation for the first pass of the 2018 Flying Legends Balbo...
This is the prequal to anouther video posted on the Aircraft Restoration Company page last week, so if you are interested in seeing more of Lars's Balbo sortie then you can find the second half there!
#engineeredtoinspire

Some absolutely amazing news has been dropped by the fantastic team over at the Mosquito Pathfinder Trust this weekend...
All the Information is in their post below, however, let's just say that there are some super exciting times ahead!
#engineeredtoinspire

Behind the scenes with the ARCo team during Legends 2018...
A weekend of good people, great stories and beautiful flying machines!
#engineeredtoinspire

Immerse yourself in the Flying Legends Balbo through the eyes of a particularly toothy P-51 #Mustang ...
Ride over the shoulder of Mustang pilot Lars Ness as he flies alongside the the beautiful P-47 Thunderbolt 'Nellie', operated by the great guys at Air Leasing (Ultimate Warbird Flights).
The P-51D canopy offers some of the best visability of any fighter and was therefore the perfect option for our GoPro 360 camera over the weekend. So strap in, turn up the volume and enjoy... immersing yourself into the Shark's cockpit for a completely new Balbo experience!!
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There is a new Chief in town...
We are very excited to announce that ex Red Arrows pilot and all round great guy, Chris Carder, has been appointed as our new Chief Pilot...
...And what better way to start his new role at ARCo than to be launched in Spitfire PL983 'L' for an afternoon of display practise!
... Welcome to the team Chris!!
#engineeredtoinspire
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Spitfires watching #Spitfires...
To all of our inspirational service men and women, both past and present, celebrating #ArmedForcesDay today, we would just like to say a huge thank you to you all! 💂‍♂️
#engineeredtoinspire

Merlin Country...
This sunny weather seems to be enticing the fighters out of their hangars and there is nothing like the sight of 10 Rolls-Royce Merlins all huddled together on a summer afternoon.
8 #Spitfire s ... A P51 #Mustang ... And our Mighty Buch all enjoying the blue skies! Just another day in Merlin Country👍🌞
... #engineeredtoinspire
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We were recently asked by a good freind at the The Royal Air Force Museum, London whether we could help them out by supplying a 360 degree film of a #Spitfire Sortie.
With 'L' fresh out of the HFL restoration bay, and the evening sun shining over Imperial War Museum Duxford , we got to work in setting up the shoot!
Make sure you drop by the RAF Museum in London after it re-opens in July for the full 360 experience, and for all those that can't wait till then, here is a little... teaser of what's to come... Enjoy!
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Buchies Back from Wanaka, New Zealand after an epic...
50 days at sea traveling there, 4 days of preparation, 2 days of flying in the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow,... 2 days of being re-packed into the container, And a further 50 days at sea travelling home...
What a winter holiday!!
We just want to say a massive thank you once again to all the guys at Twenty24 Ltd who gave up both their time and hangar space to look after us whilst we were in NZ. See you in a couple of years for the next one guys!!
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A Spitfire lineup that had us all a little mesmerised...
As the mist hung only feet off the Imperial War Museum Duxford runway, we optimistically moved the Mk.9 and 4 two-seat Tr.9 Spitfires, due to depart that morning, out of the Stephenson Hangar and onto the grass.
Although the low visibility delayed them setting off that day, the opportunity to see the 5 of them poised there together, their nose's all pointing out towards the fog burdened sky evoked something that a sunn...y morning never could...
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Cruising in the Bristol Blenheim from a different perspective...
Whilst returning home to Imperial War Museum Duxford from the Torbay Airshow on Sunday afternoon we decided to try and capture somthing a little different to the Blenheim videos we have posted in the past.
It was also good practise in crawling through the bomb well to the rear of the aircraft in flight, somthing the in-flight engineer needs to be able to do when flying as a 2 man crew.
... Sorry the camera isn't as stable as normal, there isn't much room in the turret, especially when facing the wrong way, but it certainly offers a different prospective of flying in this remarkable machine.
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, Enjoy!
#engineeredtoinspire
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Take a virtual sit in the pilot's seat of the Mk1 Bristol Blenheim as she shelters from the rain in the Stephenson hangar this evening.
We have some pretty exciting plans for the new 360 cameras this season... You're going to be able to fly along with us like never before!
#engineeredtoinspire

merci a tous les restaurateur , qui on décider de restaurer , sais magnifique appareil ,

great seeing the Blenheim over St Albans today June 3 . lovely sight and sound.

What a great venue to host the Blenheim Society meet. Fantastic place with very good facilities!! A great time had by all and look forward to many more at such an interesting and fun venue � Thanks ARC!

Very beautiful restoration.

Is it in flying condition?

Congratulations to the team.

This Company is simply, Aviation Awesomeness!

NICE TO SEE THERE IS A COMPANY THAT DO UP SOME/ALL THE OLD AIRCRAFTS...nice one

Love their special offers, like buy two Spitfires and get an Me109 for FREE!



Only kidding! �

Just got home from a stupendous day out at ARCO organised through Ady shaw SBNT. Hopefully be able to visit again soon.

Just a great effort into keeping these iconic warbirds flying!

I love it, this is my job jet engine technician of the Philippine Air Force

I have been following the ARC for many years now and had the pleasure of meeting John Romain a few years ago at an airshow at Duxford. The work John and his team do is of the highest standard and of the upmost importance. It is so important to remember the contribution that past generations did for us in the dark days of the war. Keeping such aircraft alive and flying for all of us to enjoy does this to great effect. To see and hear these planes is just amazing and the years of hard work and dedication the team put in can not be matched anywhere else. A fantastic company.

Fantastic organisation keeping Warbirds in the skies.

Fantastic company. Duxford Airshow are always blessed with Spitfires, Blenheim, Buchon at the hands of hero’s like John Romain... Keeping our heritage airborne

Beautiful ! ����

merci a tous les restaurateur , qui on décider de restaurer , sais magnifique appareil ,

great seeing the Blenheim over St Albans today June 3 . lovely sight and sound.

What a great venue to host the Blenheim Society meet. Fantastic place with very good facilities!! A great time had by all and look forward to many more at such an interesting and fun venue � Thanks ARC!

Very beautiful restoration.

Is it in flying condition?

Congratulations to the team.

This Company is simply, Aviation Awesomeness!

NICE TO SEE THERE IS A COMPANY THAT DO UP SOME/ALL THE OLD AIRCRAFTS...nice one

Love their special offers, like buy two Spitfires and get an Me109 for FREE!



Only kidding! �

Just got home from a stupendous day out at ARCO organised through Ady shaw SBNT. Hopefully be able to visit again soon.

Just a great effort into keeping these iconic warbirds flying!

I love it, this is my job jet engine technician of the Philippine Air Force

I have been following the ARC for many years now and had the pleasure of meeting John Romain a few years ago at an airshow at Duxford. The work John and his team do is of the highest standard and of the upmost importance. It is so important to remember the contribution that past generations did for us in the dark days of the war. Keeping such aircraft alive and flying for all of us to enjoy does this to great effect. To see and hear these planes is just amazing and the years of hard work and dedication the team put in can not be matched anywhere else. A fantastic company.

Fantastic organisation keeping Warbirds in the skies.

Fantastic company. Duxford Airshow are always blessed with Spitfires, Blenheim, Buchon at the hands of hero’s like John Romain... Keeping our heritage airborne

Beautiful ! ����