The restoration of some of the UK’s most historic warplanes is to be charted in a new series commissioned by UKTV’s factual channel, Yesterday.
Each episode of Warbird Workshop will follow the painstaking work that goes in to the restoration of an iconic aircraft, as well as telling the stories of the airfield where the workshop is located, the men and women who flew the plane, the part it played in military history, and the challenges it now presents its restorers and pilots.
Planes featured in the series include a Spitfire that flew 50 wartime combat missions, an American C47 paratroop plane that was damaged on D-Day, a rare biplane veteran of the Condor Legion that fought in the Spanish Civil War and a Cold War L39 jet.
Airing next year, Warbird Workshop is produced by Air TV, commissioned for UKTV by commissioning editor Natalie Rose and ordered by Yesterday channel director, Gerald Casey and deputy director of commissioning, Hilary Rosen.
The series is executive produced for Air TV by Ian Cundall and the series will be distributed by TCB Media Rights.
UKTV’s Natalie Rose said: “Taking our viewers to the heart of aviation engineering whilst examining profoundly significant parts of British history really excites us.
“Not only is it pressurized and costly, but the skill, patience and precision needed to restore these dormant warbirds has rarely been seen.
“Whether its sourcing scarce parts from all over the world, to maneuvering unexpected hitches, we’ll be right inside the bowels of these hangars as engineers toil to return these iconic aircrafts to the sky.
“For us, is the perfect combination of nostalgia and craftsmanship. Air TV are proven specialists in first-rate factual content, and we’re thrilled to be working with them again on such a special series.”
Ian Cundall, executive producer for Air TV said: “The astonishing engineering skills that kept these aircraft flying are still alive today.
“We’re looking forward to throwing open the hangar doors and celebrating the men and women dedicated to putting these warbirds back where they belong – in the sky.
“Seeing a plane that hasn’t flown for decades once more roaring down the runway makes for heart-stopping viewing.”
Yesterday’s Gerald Casey said: “Yesterday is all about sharing incredible stories with our viewers, and there are some incredible human stories behind the remarkable feats of engineering in this wonderful new series. We can’t wait to show them all on Yesterday.”