The Golden Era Gulfstream

It would be very easy to overlook some old favourites in a year when we have so many debuts.

Equally it's not easy to forget Beechcraft's Staggerwing; often declared (in the US, anyway) to be the most beautiful aircraft of all time, it gets its name from the distinctive way the upper wing is aft of the lower wing.

It's very powerful (500hp), very loud, has six fuel tanks, can take off and land in very short distances and has one other party trick. It's seriously quick. Speed usually isn't something you can have with an aircraft which can land on a postage stamp, but one of the reasons why this was the Gulfstream of the Golden Era is that the Staggerwing can be all things to all movie stars.

So the likes of Jimmy Stewart and Walter Matthau (both served here in WWII) could take off from just about any small grass runway and be whisked to the Riviera at high speed whilst reclining on a big leather sofa in the back, with a minibar close to hand. It was very good at moving military VIP's too - that's why you'll see two at the Airshow - one in military colours and this bright yellow one. She's called High Maintenance - one thing the Staggerwing doesn't do is cheap; and keeping one running is anything but.