The ninth annual CockpitFest was held over the weekend of the 14th and 15th June at Newark Air Museum. Despite some showery weather the event was as successful as ever with no less than eleven Hunter cockpits (supporting the Hunter sub-theme) and an equal number of other cockpits in addition to countless instrument panel and other displays. CockpitFest was a truely international affair this time around with the attendance of the event's first overseas exhibitor. Several 'cockpiters' were there for the first time, with plenty of others sufficiently enthused to promise attendance next year.

CockpitFest 2008 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.

Cockpiters Award & 'Special' Award

CockpitFest went international this year with the attendance of Jan van Huuksloot from Holland and his Douglas 8A3N cockpit section. Eighteen of the type were acquired by the Dutch in 1939 but all were lost within a couple of days during the German invasion.

Jan's reconstructed cockpit is composed of parts from two airframes - No. 392 (which was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf110 and recovered by Jan during a dig) and No. 390 which belly landed after being hit by friendly fire.

The photo left shows the interior along with the glove found in the cockpit during the dig.

Best Cockpit Award (Joint Winner)

Mark Templeman's Hunter F.4 XF940  is still 'work in progress' but the excellent restoration work carried out on the interior, plus the supporting display, meant that it was one of three join winners in the Best Cockpit award category.

The interior of Mark Templeman's Hunter F.4 XF940.

Best Cockpit Award (Joint Winner) & Reader's Award

Simon Pulford's Tornado F.2 ZD938 only gained it's radome a short while before CockpitFest but the impressive result won both the Reader's Award (voted for by visitors to the event) and a share in the Best Cockpit prize.

Best Cockpit Award (Joint Winner)

The Boscombe Down Aviation Collection are regular winners at CockpitFest and 2008 was no exception, their rare Supermarine Swift F.7 XF113 taking one of the three Best Cockpit awards.

More details here.

'Spirit of CockpitFest' Award

The Hunter 'sub-theme' at CockpitFest 2008 was intended to celebrate the 22-Hunter loop performed by the Black Arrows display team of 111 Squadron at Farnborough in 1958. XE584, owned by Graham Sparkes, was part of that loop and Graham's continued support of CockpitFest was rewarded with the 'Spirit' award.

The ever-improving interior of Graham Sparkes' F.6 XE584

'Mentioned in Dispatches'

The Hunter 'sub-theme' at CockpitFest 2008 was the brain-child of 'fest stalwart Tony Dyer. In recognition of his efforts Tony was awarded a signed copy of Ken Ellis' 'Wrecks and Relics'. Tony displayed two Hunters - F.1 WT684 (right) and F.2 WN890 (left).

Photo: Mark Templeman

Tony Collins' Hunter F.1 WT684 is a regular visitor to CockpitFest and was as impressive as ever this time around.

In the relatively short time Mike Rolfe has owned Hunter F.5 WN957 he has been very busy. Mike has rebuilt the missing cockpit rear bulkhead and is in the process of extending the cut-off sides of the fuselage rearwards. Later plans are to extend the nose forward too.

The interior of Mike Rolfe's F.5 WN957.

A return visitor to CockpitFest, and the only T.7 on display, was Bill Fern's N-302.

Another of Bill Fern's Hunters, this time FGA.9 XG297 in it's very attractive 20 Squadron colour scheme.

An interior view of XG297.

Another regular at CockpitFest, and a previous prize winner, was FGA.9 XE597 displayed by Bob Dunn and Mick Boulanger.

Naylan Moore's WT741, the only GA.11 on display, was also a return visitor to CockpitFest, this time with the exterior paintwork complete.

The partly restored interior of WT741.

Mark Gauntlett's ex-Qatar Emiri Air Force FGA.78 QA12 was displayed for the first time since winning 'Spirit of CockpitFest' in 2006, the extreme nose and nose cone having been re-fitted for the event.

Project website here.

Harrier GR.3 XV806 was previously dismantled as part of fatigue index trials. Current owner Gary Deans plans to rebuild the interior of the cockpit but leave the skin off so that the inside can be seen.

David Baliki's Jet Provost T.5 G-BYED has been seen at CockpitFest before and generated just as much interest this time too.

Neil Airey's Lightning F.6 was a welcome return visitor to CockpitFest and generated much interest.

Max La Rue-Blood and his father Ritch displayed their Beagle Pup cockpit and a wonderful array of instrument panels. Among them were an Auster AOP.9, Beagle Terrier 2, Link Trainer, Percival Sea Prince, Victor B.2...

...Jet Provost T.3, Meteor T.7 and Folland Gnat.

David Collins' Vampire FB.5 VZ193 is currently under restoration. We saw it's intrument panel, in un-restored condition, at CockpitFest 2007 but this year it was displayed again showing the results of a beautiful restoration job.

On a slightly smaller scale than his award-winning Canberra PR.9 of last year, Ross McNeill displayed his Avro Anson II project.

Interior view of Ross' Anson II.

Steve Austin's Jet Provost T.4 XP558 was previously operated as part of the Macaws aerobatic dislpay team   - a fact proven when Steve discovered the team's logo while stripping off old paint.

See here for further details.

The superbly restored interior of XP558.

See here for further details of the project.

Photo: John Lathwell

Photo: The Stirling Project

Photo: Andy Blair