All are welcome to attend a free event at Wight Aviation Museum, at Sandown Airport, on 21 September 2024, from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The Grand Open Day includes a double bill of talks by two authors, Sally Smith and Alison Hill, who have written books about women pilots. There will be free tours of the […]| solentaviatrix
There are artists and there are top flight artists. Isle of Wight artist Ivan Berryman is a master of detail who has executed this extraordinary painting of the Spartan bi-plane G-ABYN flying over Queen Victoria’s beloved home of Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight.The plane was built by Spartan Aircraft, a subsidiary of Saunders […]| solentaviatrix
The old saying is that behind every great man is a woman. Back in the pioneering days of aviation that was certainly true. Gladys Simmonds was the wife of Spartan Aircraft designer and engineer Oliver Simmonds. Oliver left the employment of Supermarine in Southampton in 1928 to start his own company, Simmonds Aircraft Ltd. He […]| solentaviatrix