While the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland continues to loom over airline operations in Britain, I was curious to learn how the recent airspace closures affected operations of vintage aircraft.

The flight ban did not only affect the airlines. Red Arrows, who suffered a collision between two aircraft whilst practicing in Crete in March, had to interrupt the training programme of the pilot drafted in to replace the one injured in the accident.

I have contacted Steve Burt from Action Stations, a company which offers regular pleasure Spitfire flights over the Dover area. Steve was pleased to report that the regulations didn’t have any impact on their business, with weekend flights of their helicopter and Spitfire performed as usual.

The closure of Europe’s air space had no precedent in history. Heathrow, the world’s busiest flight hub, and other UK airports went graveyard quiet, while millions of passengers have had their travel plans foiled or delayed. The calm, dead quiet atmosphere of Heathrow approaches, usually thundering with the sound of climbing jets, made many London inhabitants reflect for the first time upon the level of noise pollution inflicted by continued air traffic over the city.

However, the closure of air space wasn’t absolute. “Some” low-level flights were being allowed throughout Britain, and that included both the Long Ranger helicopter and the Duxford-based Spitfire operated by Action Stations!.

Passengers of the Fly With A Spitfire event on a weekend of 17-18 April must have had an extraordinary experience of having the sky all for themselves… with a lone Spitfire formating with their helicopter in the air.

Do you know about the other cases of vintage and airshow flying having been suspended or conducted as usual? Please add your comment below to share.