Aircraft Restoration Company

Aircraft Restoration Company
Name	Aircraft Restoration Company
Founded	1989
Headquarters	Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England
Key people	Michael Powell
Industry	Aviation restoration, heritage conservation
Products	Aircraft restoration, conservation, maintenance, exhibit preparation

Aircraft Restoration Company

Aircraft Restoration Company is a British specialist in historic aircraft restoration, conservation, preservation and maintenance. Located at the Imperial War Museum Duxford site in Cambridgeshire, it has become a focal point for restoration projects involving World War I and World War II types, Cold War jet aircraft and rare prototype airframes. The company collaborates with museums, collectors, national trusts and film productions to return veteran aircraft to static display or airworthy condition, while engaging with heritage organizations and aviation enthusiasts across Europe and North America.

History

Founded in 1989 by a small group of engineers and aviation historians, the company established itself amid a resurgence of interest in heritage aviation following anniversaries of the Battle of Britain and the centenary commemorations of early flight. Early work included structural repairs and fabric replacement on biplanes associated with collections at the Royal Air Force Museum and the Brooklands Museum. Over the 1990s and 2000s it expanded through contracts with the Imperial War Museum and private owners, contributing to projects linked to the National Museum of Flight and RAF Cosford. The firm’s timeline intersects with notable events such as the Duxford Air Shows and the preservation efforts for airframes connected to veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Western Front (World War I). Leadership transitions included the appointment of experienced restoration manager Michael Powell, who previously worked on projects with the Science Museum, London and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Services and Capabilities

Aircraft Restoration Company provides a range of specialist services: structural restoration, corrosion control, fabric recovering, riveting, sheet-metal fabrication, engine conservation, systems refurbishment and paint-finishing. Typical clients include national museums like the Imperial War Museum, corporate heritage collections such as those of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc and private collectors linked to the Shuttleworth Collection. The firm undertakes both static restoration for display at institutions like the National Air and Space Museum-associated collections and airworthiness work to standards set by authorities including the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It also supplies bespoke conservation treatments for museum curators from organizations such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science and Industry Museum.

Facilities and Equipment

Based at Duxford, the company operates workshops equipped for timber airframe repair, doped-fabric covering, aluminium monocoque repair and composite lay-up. Machinery and tooling include CNC routers, hydraulic presses, English wheels, metal shears and brake presses, enabling reproduction of scarce components for types connected to manufacturers like Supermarine, Hawker Siddeley, Avro and Gloster Aircraft Company. The site includes a paint bay compliant with environmental controls required by the Environment Agency (England and Wales) and climate-monitored conservation spaces used by curators from institutions such as the British Museum. Engine and systems benches support overhaul activities for powerplants from firms like Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney.

Notable Projects and Restorations

Projects include comprehensive restoration of iconic types with provenance tied to historic squadrons such as No. 92 Squadron RAF and aircraft participating in operations like Operation Overlord. Significant works have involved a restored Supermarine Spitfire for display at a national gallery, a multi-year rebuild of a Hawker Hurricane recovered from a wartime crash site, and conservation of a First World War Sopwith Camel for presentation at centenary exhibitions. The company has collaborated on film and television productions depicting events like the Dunkirk evacuation (1940) and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, supplying airframes and technical consultancy. International loans have seen restored aircraft travel to exhibitions at the National WWII Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Business Model and Ownership

Operating as a privately held restoration contractor, the company secures income through fixed-price restoration contracts, hourly conservation work for museums, component manufacture for heritage operators, and consultancy for provenance research linked to aviation historians from institutions such as the Imperial War Museum and the National Archives (United Kingdom). Ownership remains in private hands with management-led investment allowing partnerships with non-profit entities like the Historic Aircraft Association and collaboration with commercial aviation suppliers including GKN Aerospace. The firm leverages relationships with private collectors and trusts to manage long-term stewardship agreements for aircraft belonging to organizations such as the Royal Air Force Museum and various ex-service squadrons.

Regulatory Compliance and Certifications

Restoration activities adhere to standards and oversight by regulatory bodies including the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), European Union Aviation Safety Agency and international museum conservation guidelines endorsed by the International Council of Museums. Airworthiness work is performed in accordance with supplementing organizations like the British Model Flying Association where applicable, and the company maintains health and safety systems aligned with guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. Export controls and documentation for repatriation of recovered airframes involve coordination with the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) and customs authorities when projects engage partners such as the Smithsonian Institution or continental museums.

Community and Educational Outreach

The company runs apprenticeship initiatives and open-workshop events for trainees sponsored by institutions like the City and Guilds of London Institute and the Royal Aeronautical Society. It hosts seminars and volunteer days in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum and regional heritage bodies to support conservation skills transfer and public engagement. Collaborative education programs have been delivered with schools linked to the British Science Association and universities such as Cranfield University, aiming to inspire future conservators, engineers and historians. The firm also contributes to published technical papers presented at conferences organized by entities like the AIAA and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Category:Aerospace restoration companies Category:Companies based in Cambridgeshire