IN 1991, the scarlet-painted triplane of the infamous Red Baron swooped low over Rendcomb’s long-abandoned grass airfield. 

But rather than the terror those in the First World War would have felt, observers were excited. 

The Fokker plane was a 1976 replica on hand for the announcement that North Cerney based pilot Vic Norman had taken over the airfield, with the aim of restoring it as a base for vintage aircraft. 

“We hope to keep about two dozen aircraft here,” he said, “and we hope to open the airfield to the public, starting with September 15, the 75th anniversary of the RFC.”

Vic reassured residents that he had no intention of ruining the peace of the area. Instead, he said, “We are trying to recreate something of the World War I atmosphere.”

As well as refurbishing the officer’s mess, the grass was re-sown with the seed specified by the Ministry of Defence in 1914.

RFC Rendcombe is still connected with historical aviation, with the Breitling Wingwalkers, who perform on Boeing Stearman biplanes, being based on site.

The Cotswolds is renowned for its love of aerobatics and the world’s biggest air show, the Royal International Air Tattoo was held at RAF Fairford last weekend (see pictures here).