Aircraft for sale

Want to buy the world’s oldest twin jet still flying, or perhaps a passenger aircraft where you can still see the pilot at work.  Mike Collett, owner of the Classic Air Force has decided to put his collection up for sale selecting international auction house Bonhams to offer five great 'planes from another era at the Goodwood 'Revival Meeting' sale, Friday 12 September. 

Mr Collett, a pilot himself and the benefactor of the collection has decided to retire.

Mike (72) certainly does not seem to be a candidate for slowing down. Slim, active and boasting a head of hair that plenty of 40-year-olds would envy, he is distinctly upbeat about the future. “I’ve known too many people who’ve worked themselves to death, and I don’t plan on joining them. I’d rather go for a less stressful life while I can still enjoy it.”

So what becomes of the Classic Air Force collection – probably the largest assembly of post-war classics outside the USA?

“The absolute essential is that they keep flying,” says Mike. “All other considerations being second to that, I’m open to suggestions. If a committed, well-funded organisation puts a convincing proposition to me then it may well be possible for the whole collection to pass into new ownership. In many ways that’s my favourite scenario.”  www.classicairforce.com

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