CockpitFest 2006 was again sponsored by FlyPast magazine who generously awarded prizes in several categories - these are indicated alongside the photos below. In addition further prizes were awarded by Bruce Gordon of Great British Aircraft Spares.

On behalf of all attending cockpiters, sincere thanks are due particularly to Bill O'Sullivan of Newark Air Museum, and also to Ken Ellis and Key Publishing for organising yet another superb event.

In recognition of his continuing support and relentless enthusiasm for the CockpitFest event, a surprised Ken Ellis (right), editor of FlyPast, was presented with a special award on behalf of all involved. The award took the form of a model of a trolley-mounted Hunter cockpit section - pristine on one side and unrestored on the other.

Best Cockpit Award &
Cockpiter's Cockpit Award

Tony Collins' outstanding Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN651 has both the Pilot's and Observer's cockpits fully fitted out and features a fully working, hydraulically-operated retractable nose wheel.

Pilot's cockpit of Sea Vixen XN651.

Best Cockpit (runner-up)

Terry Parker's Swiss Venom FB.54 boasts operating instruments and a fully 'live' cockpit.

Interior view of Terry Parker's Venom.

Reader's Award

This was the second visit to CockpitFest for the Boscombe Down Museum's Jaguar GR.1A XX761 and the second time it's won a prize - a 100% record so far!

'Spirit of CockpitFest' - Youth Award

Max La Rue-Blood, at only 15 years old, has put together some superb instrument panels and was rewarded with a Special Award. His display included Jet Provost T.3, Auster AOP.9 and HS 748 panels.

Special Award

The huge effort and difficulty involved in sourcing and fitting out the cockpit interior of Mike Davey's Phantom FGR.2 simulator cockpit was recognised with a Special Award.

The immaculate interior of Mike Davey's award-winning Phantom.

'Spirit of Cockpitfest' Award

I won't ramble on too much about this one, because it's mine! Suffice to say I was surprised and delighted to receive the award for my Hunter FGA.78. See here for more details of the project.
That's not me in the photo by the way!

- Mark Gauntlett

Bill Fern's AV-8B showing the condition in which many projects start out.

Andy Blair's well presented instrument panel and supporting display from Avro XIX G-AGPG.

The very rare cockpit section and instrument panel from Balliol T.2 WN534 displayed by Alec Brew of the Staffordshire Aircraft Restoration Team (StART).

As always Aeroventure in Doncaster displayed several cockpits. Shown here are their Beagle Pup and Vickers Valleta.

Interior of Aeroventure's Valleta.

Frank Millar's Canberra PR.9 XH177 is a permanent resident at Newark Air Museum and is always enthusiastically shown off at CockpitFest.

At CockpitFest 2005 David Collins won an award for his de Havilland Hornet cockpit rebuild. This year David displayed the instrument panels from his Hornet alongside his other recently acquired project, a rare Vampire FB.5 - VZ193.

An unusual, but most welcome, visitor this year was Richard Parr's Aero L29 Delfin.

L29 Delfin interior.

Hunter F.4 WW664 owned by Ian and Jon Higgins made a welcome appearance again this year.

Hunter FGA.9 XE584 owned by Graham Sparkes. Also displayed was its superbly restored and kitted out Mk.2H ejection seat but, er, I forgot to take a photo of it...!

Another previous award winner making a return appearance was Hunter FGA.9 XE597 owned and displayed by members of the Wolverhampton Aviation Group.

Interior view of Hunter XE597.

Bill Fern's beautifully restored Jet Provost T.3 XN511.

Jet Provost T.5A making a first visit to CockpitFest and displayed by David Ballicki.

One of Neil Airey's many Lightnings! This time it's F.6 XS922. One of several first-time displays at the event.