ENGINEERING SERVICES

Aircraft Restoration Co. (ARCo) is a family owned organisation which specialises in the restoration, maintenance and operation of vintage aircraft. The company which evolved to become ARCo as we know it today was founded in 1989 upon the aspirations of John Romain MBE, who remains the managing director to the present day.  A former Hawker Siddeley apprentice and BAE aero engineer.  John has also become a highly experienced pilot over the years, with dozens of interesting aircraft types in his logbook including over 1000 hours in various Mk of Spitfire alone.

We grew from humble beginnings in a small workshop here at Duxford named Building 66 - or ‘Blenheim Palace’ depending on who you ask - steadily building up both experience and reputation.  Today we are still proudly based at Duxford Airfield, though our facility has grown somewhat over the years and we now operate out of two purpose built hangars at the Eastern end of the airfield, housing both our restoration and maintenance facilities respectively.  So not to forget where we came from, Building 66 remains a fully functioning ARCo workshop where currently the wings and tailplane to our Mk.I Fairey Firefly project are being built…  This beloved old workshop is steeped in nostalgia and if those walls could speak, they would have some wonderful tales to tell of the early trials and triumphs.

Today we undertake a variety of work, from ground up re-builds and major servicing through to minor repairs, routine maintenance and day-day operations of vintage aircraft for their custodians both in the UK and around the world.

‘Engineered to Inspire’ was born as a way of communicating our values to the world.  Never taking for granted the bygone days of the aircraft under our care, or the importance of them continuing to inspire and educate the generations of tomorrow.  They are working pieces of mechanical art and every bit as precious.  To be the custodian of one of these remarkable machines is a painstaking but rewarding honour, and we hope to be able to share the joy they bring with as many of you as we can as they adorn the skies above for many years to come.

Aircraft we have maintained or restored in the past includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Aero L-39 Albatros

• Auster variants

• Avro 504

• Avro Lancaster

• Beechcraft ‘Beech 18’

• Boeing Stearman

• Bristol Blenheim

• Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann

• Consolidated PBY Catalina

• Curtiss-Wright P-40 Kittyhawk

• Curtis Pitts Special

• de Havilland DH.104 Dove / Devon

• deHavilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

• deHavilland DH.80 Puss Moth

• de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth

• de Havilland Vampire

• de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

• Douglas DC3 Dakota

• Fairey Firefly

• Fieseler Fi 156 Storch

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190

• Focke-Wulf Fw 189

• Grumman F4F Wildcat

• Hawker Fury

• Hawker Hurricane

• Hawker Nimrod

ARCo would be open to discuss the feasibility of working on any vintage aircraft with you, no matter the rarity.  The list above is certainly not limiting, just an example of the aircraft we have worked on, but we are adding to this list all the time.  Our teams within both the restoration and maintenance hangars thrive on a challenge, especially when it comes to unique ‘last of a kind’ projects.  From the worlds last remaining Mk.I Bristol Blenheim, to the only flying British-built Westland Lysander… within these hangar walls, restoring and maintaining the unusual is business as usual.

For more information on restorations specifically please visit the Restoration Department.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Over the years we have been fortunate enough to enjoy wonderful relationships with collectors and event organisers from all around the world.  Fulfilling the needs of international clients has resulted in us developing a wealth of experience in specialised aircraft transportation via land, sea and air.

As with any international boarder crossing, it is not just the physical shipping that can be a daunting process, but also obtaining the necessary paperwork required to export / import something of this nature, especially in the case of an ex-military asset.  Fortunately, we have also built a wealth of experience on this side of the logistics and are confident in our ability to source export licenses and HSE classification coding for vintage aircraft / warbird movements.

Over the years we have shipped a variety of highly valuable aircraft to a number of countries.  These include the United States of America, Bahrain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and mainland Europe.

We have transported many vintage aircraft to a variety of global locations over the years, below is a list of some of these:

• Avro York

• Beech Staggerwing

• Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann

• de Havilland Vampire

• de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk

• de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

• Fairy Battle

• Fairy Firefly

• Fieseler Storch

• Focke-Wulf Fw 190

• Hawker Hurricane

• Heinkel HE 111 (CASA 2. 111)

AIRSHOW, EVENT & FILMING SERVICES

Film and Television

Over the years we have been involved with a variety of film work including big screen feature length movies as well as television / streaming provider series and documentaries. We can provide aircraft, pilots, aerial scene coordination as well as historical advice on authenticity and on camera rigging when working with unique vintage aircraft.

Film and broadcast titles we have provided pilots, aircraft (flying or static for set) or aerial coordination services to over the years include:

• BBC SAS Rogue Heroes - 2022 - Buchón as Bf109 for set design

• James Bond No Time To Die - 2021 - Stunt pilot

• Dunkirk - 2017 - Stunt pilot, selection of flying aircraft

• BBC’s The One Show - Multiple Features - Variety of flying aircraft and pilots

• Guy Martin's Spitfire - 2014 - Twin Seat Spitfire and pilot - Spitfire Mk.Ia N3200 in restoration facility

• Ewan McGregor’s ‘Bomber Boys’ - 2012 - Various aircraft and pilots

• Colin & Ewan McGregor’s ‘Battle of Britain’ - 2010 - Twin Seat Spitfires and Pilots

• Valkyrie - 2008 - Buchón as Bf109 and stunt pilot

• Top Gear ‘Arriving in Style’ - 2008 - Twin Seat Spitfire and Pilot

• Dark Blue World - 2001

• Memphis Belle - 1990

Airshows and Events

Over the years the events landscape of the vintage aviation industry has changed dramatically.  We remain passionate about displaying these wonderful flying machines with those of you who love to see them, and for that reason we will always support the airshow scene to the best of our ability.  We have flown at all manner of shows, from small airfield displays right though to the largest flying events in the calendar.  Our selection of aircraft is extremely unique and is backed up by one of the most experienced roster of pilots you’ll find anywhere in the world.  If you are an airshow organiser, and haven’t yet received a brochure of aircraft we have available for this season, then please get in touch via the contact page to discuss what we can provide.

Unlike in years gone by, airshows are no longer alone in providing opportunities to see these beautiful machines up close.  More and More we are finding ourselves taking aircraft to events not necessarily built around aviation but where a flypast, display or static aircraft can provide the perfect accompaniment to other goings on.  Events such as the magnificent Goodwood Revival, picturesque Heveningham Concours and wildly energetic Malle Mile Festival are perfect examples of this.  Every bit as important as airshows, it’s events such as these which show the world of vintage aircraft to new audiences, helping to capture the imagination of fresh demographics, and will in turn, helping to protect the fleets flying future.

So, if you are hosting an event of any kind, and think that something from our stable of aircraft here at Duxford Airfield could be the finishing touch, we’d love to hear from you to discuss the feasibility of making it happen.