Cockpit-Fest 25 – Over & Out!
Over the weekend of 21st and 22nd June, 2025, we hosted our twenty-fifth (25th) annual Cockpit-Fest event.
During the Sunday Awards Ceremony, the museum trustees made the sad announcement that this was to be the last time that NAM was hosting Cockpit-Fest. Museum member Bill O’Sullivan originally came up with the Cockpit-Fest idea back in 1999, and was its main organiser for several years; a role eventually taken over by museum trustee, Colin Savill.
Cockpit-Fest became a fixture on the aviation calendar and each year attracted visiting cockpits and associated displays. This year there were more than forty (40) visiting cockpits attending the event, including military jet cockpits, helicopters and civilian aircraft types. In addition, nineteen (19) visiting aviation related exhibits will be displayed inside; with twenty (20) special displays outside in different parts of our 16-acre site. Cockpit-Fest has always provided the owners the chance to display their prized exhibits to their fellow enthusiasts and to the general public.
The winning entries this year were announced in a short ceremony on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd June.
Grand Champion (Visitors Cockpit Award) – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Newark Air Museum Special Awards – Bill Fern’s Air Force (display of 18 cockpits)
Visitors Non-Cockpit Award – Scott Bouchard, Lightning interactive display
Cockpiteers Non-Cockpit Award – Martyn Steele, Ian Hodgkiss & Joe Blackburne, control column display
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Marcus Cordran, Buccaneer XN979
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Bob Sloan, Blackburn Botha
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Matt Gilby, Sea King ZG875
“Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Cockpit-Fest over the years. It was a conscious decision not to advise in advance, that this year’s event was to be the last.” commented museum trustee, Howard Heeley, he continued. “We are proud to have finished on a high with the most visiting cockpits ever displayed; a record number of visiting displays and with combined visitor figures over the weekend in the top five that we have ever recorded.”
“Various factors have combined to guide us toward deciding to stop running Cockpit-Fest. These include: museum volunteer organisers retiring; indications from some cockpit owners that this was to be their last event; and ever more onerous Event Safety Planning guidelines.”
He concluded, “At the moment the museum’s plan is to continue with single day events like Aeroboots, and perhaps specific aircraft related events and gatherings. However, we are mindful and watchful, that the ever increasing wave of regulations around Organised Events, could impact on plans for future events.”
2025 Participant List
Cockpits & Cockpit Rigs
Lightning – XS922
Jet Provost – XW302 / G-BYED
Lightning F6 – XR757 (Resides at museum)
Buccaneer S2 – XX899 (Resides at museum)
Phantom – XV490 (Resides at museum)
Harvard II.B – KF532
Buccaneer S1 – XK533
Hunter F1 – WT684
Buccaneer Mk2B – XW541
DH Venom FB.1– ‘WK418’
Scimitar F1 – XD235
Sea Vixen – XN652
Lightning F6 – XS898
Harrier GR3 XV810
Provost T.1 cockpit
Westland Scout – XT640 on trailer
P-51 Mustang
Westland Scout XV130
Jaguar GR1 XX745
Buccaneer S.2 – XX888
Hunter FGA9 – XG297
Jaguar GR1 – XX736
Meteor F8 – WL131
Canberra T.4 – XH584
Auster MK.9 – XR238
Chipmunk T.10 – WK626
Cadet TX3 – XN238
Cadet TX3 – XA293
Misfire W,F
Tornado sim
Meteor sim
Cessna 140 – G-BTYX
Cessna 150 – G-BBNJ
Starduster T00 – G-BNNA
Beagle pup 150 – HB-NAV
Beagle Airdale – G-ARXB
Slingsby Swallow B.J.P
Buccaneer S2 cockpit rig (known as XN979)
Avro Anson MK.2 – 7432
Schleicher K8B – GGA522
Slingsby Dart – 15404
Jaguar sim
Sea King HAS.6 – ZG875/WA1004
2 x Chipmunks & other panels display
Lightning F6 – XS933
Aircraft Panel Displays
Tornado table top display
Gloster Meteor T.7 panel display + items
Spitfire, B17 & P51 Sim instrument panels & Desktop Sim
Spitfire Vampire & Strikemaster panels (Sat only)
Display of aircraft control handles various airman for the use of
Swift F2 cockpit rig (Sat only)
Meteor NF14 cockpit rig and display
VC10 panels etc. display
Lightning Interactive Display
Indoor Guest Displays
Mainly Military Models display
Stephen Dring – 3D display/sales
Airfield Research Group display
Lancaster W4270 display
RAF Balderton Group
XS420 Lightning display
Remote control Tank models
Newark Air Museum model display (Hangar 1)
Marine craft and ASR display
WW2 military weapons and equipment (Hangar 1)
Akari models – diecast & kit sales
Outdoor Guest Displays
BPAG Phantom display
The Children's Air Ambulance charity stall
Foden recovery vehicle & Spartan
English forces ME conflicts – equipment display
Waddington Radio Group
1950 Vincent Comet
1/6 Jaguar model, Flying suits, Tornado column & panels
Ferret Scout Car
Belgian Army Minerva (L.Rover) + trailer+ weapons & Cold War items
RAF Austin K9 Truck + display
4 x Landrovers
2 x Landrover & Pinzgauer
1971 Marshal Landrover ambulance
Wessex Helicopter
Landrover + trailer, 9x9 tent & cam net weapons & equipment
Cold War Get Together – 4 Landrovers, DAF, Motorbike, Ambulance
Landrover, trailer & Rapier Missile set
RAFA Balderton Wings appeal
Cold War Get Together – 4 Landrovers, DAF, Motorbike, Austin K9
In Country’ Vietnam Living History Display 1968-1969 air cavalry battalion headquarters
Chevy ambulance & 2 Landrovers & Sinclair C5