2013-04-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Classic Air Force visitor centre – which has seen more than 11,000 people through its doors since it opened at Easter – is getting set to host a collection of “far from standard” vintage cars on Sunday April 21.
The new facility, which is located at Newquay Cornwall Airport, is playing host to the Standard Motor Club’s ‘Drive It Day’ event with owners of Standard Motor Company cars travelling from all over the country to attend.
The Standard Motor Company has a long and distinguished history of working with the aerospace industry, so the link with the flyable aircraft at the Classic Air Force is tangible.
The Standard Motor Club’s Brian Murrish explains: “During the 1914-18 ‘Great War’ the company built fighter aircraft and during World War Two they produced more than 1,000 de Havilland Mosquito fighter bombers for the RAF.”
Classic Air Force CEO, Group Captain Davie Paton OBE RAF (Retd) is particularly pleased to welcome the club to the airport. “Towards the end of the war Standard’s built the centre sections for the first four prototype Gloster Meteor jet fighters and by April 21 we are hoping to have both of our Meteors on site here at Newquay. One of these is Britain’s oldest flyable jet aeroplane and is now supported by the Classic Aircraft Trust charity.”
“We see a great synergy between classic cars, bikes and aeroplanes” explains Classic Air Force’s Media Comms Manager Steve Bridgewater. “We’ll be welcoming all manner of car clubs and groups to the hangar during the season and look forward to working with organisers from around the country.”
Post-war the Standard Motor Company also manufactured Avon jet engines under licence from Rolls-Royce and these were fitted to aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter, two of which are on display in the Classic Air Force hangar.
But it is the cars of the 1930s that will forever be associated with the Standard brand, with more than 50,000 produced before World War Two. The last one rolled off the production line at Coventry in 1963 before the company was rebranded as ‘Triumph’.
Included in those vehicles visiting Classic Air Force will be a Standard Flying Nine Saloon and a Standard Flying Twelve Drophead – both dating from 1938. These are pictured with one of our 1930s de Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes.
###
60 VINTAGE CARS TO CONVENE AT CORNWALL’S LATEST TOURIST ATTRACTION