Farnborough Air Show

From the collection of

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton
Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.

Farnborough Air Show


John P Mitchell captures many famous and exotic examples of Britain's once vibrant aviation industry at the 1961 Farnborough Show

John P Mitchell's film of the 1961 Farnborough Airshow starts with a view of Britain's ill-fated Blue Streak missile followed by various planes and helicopters flying past the appreciative crowds below. We see Hawker Hunters, a Bristol Beverley and the unusual twin-rotor Bristol Belvedere. A Victor represents the V-Bomber force while two experimental aircraft, the HP115 delta wing and the Shorts SC1, Britain's first vertical take-off jet, are put through their paces.

Film-maker, John Mitchell, was a member of the Brighton & Hove Photographic Club. He made several vibrant film portraits of Brighton and Hove and Sussex in the 1960s, primarily focusing on visitor attractions. Other films show excursions to London and to other locations including the Farnborough Air Show, the Bluebell Railway and the wildlife animal parks at Longleat and Bentley.


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