Vertical Flight Society United Kingdom Chapter

14/08/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain attended Farnborough Air Show.

Innovation and high speed vertical flight was presence with the Eve Air Mobility update with Eve100 (which is the designation in the number sequence from the Brazilian ANAC Civil Aviation Authority).

UK based Vertical Aerospace chief test pilot Simon Davies flew their VA-1X demonstrator at the show while inside at the company booth was full mock up of their VX4 air taxi.

Bell brought their MV-75 Cheyenne II (formerly V-280 Valor) tilt rotor full scale mock up. As it is the program is on track for the first fielding next year with the 101st Airborne Division 'The Screaming Eagles' at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.. It was ten years ago when Bell brought the V-280 Valor for the firs time to Farnborough Air Show.

The Lockheed Martin chalet had their Sikorsky S-97 RaiderX on display. This second prototype demonstrating the X2 high speed technology for the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability study.

Airbus Helicopters brought their twin engine H160 while Leonardo exhibited their AW149 New Medium Helicopter (which will be delivered to the Royal Air Force in 2030 onwards) Leonardo also exhibited the Proteus Autonomous Uncrewed Helicopter.

United States Army brought their Boeing CH-47F while flying display was Army Air Corps Attack Helicopter Display Team flew their Leonardo AW159 Wildcat and Boeing AH-64E v6 Apache Guardian.

(All photos by Ian V. Frain)

11/08/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain had attended Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton Air Day 2011. The theme was 40 years of the Westland Lynx and G-LYNX from the Internstional Helicopter Museum was on static. (All photos by Ian V. Frain)

11/08/2026

On this day 40 years ago then Westland Lynx G-LYNX broke a record. The crew consisted of then Westland’s Chief Test Pilot, John ‘Trevor’ Egginton and flight test engineer Derek Clews.

11/08/2026

10/07/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain was at Turweston Aerodrome last weekend to see the airfield turn into the worlds busiest temporary heliport in support of the Grand Prix Formula 1 at Silverstone race track.

(All photos by Ian V. Frain, Helian)

10/07/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain was at Wattisham Flying Station , home of the British Army Army Air Corps (AAC), Attack Helicopter Force to see the the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Boeing AH-64E Apache Gaurdians stop for Refueling before trying to their home base at Glize Rijen.

Every summer, the RNLAF Defence Helicopter Command deploys their Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian and supporting CH-47F Chinook to the United Kingdom. They go up to Carlisle Airport in Northumberland to use the ranges at RAF Spadeedam.

The Defence Helicopter Command assets tend to stop to refuel at bases or airports en route there and back. This time the Apaches staged through Watrisham.

(All photos by Ian V. Frain)

10/07/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain was at RAF Marham to see the arrival and departure of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Short Take Off & Landing Vertical (STOVL) variant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Marines F-35B were in Finland on a NATO exercise and staging through Norway and the UK before flying across the Atlantic back to their base at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort in South Carolina.

Also there were movements of the Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B.


(All photos by Ian V. Frain)

17/05/2026

VFS UK Public Relations Officer and Vertiflite magazine contributor Ian V. Frain was at Private Flyer at Wycombe Air Park over the weekend.

Airbus Corporate Helicopters ACH125

Helx_Av Bell 206 Jet Ranger

Heliair Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven I and II and Cadet

(All photos by Ian V. Frain)

10/04/2026

Here is the result of the VFS Uk Chapter Awards for 2026.

10/04/2026