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The Old Flying Machine Company
Formed in 1981, the OFMC has become a big name in the UK Warbird scene. The OFMC was created by Ray Hanna and his son Mark, both highly experienced pilots with the RAF, Ray being a former leader of the Red Arrows. The intention was, and still is, the preservation and operation of historic aircraft, as well as undertaking restoration projects.
Sadly Mark Hanna was killed in the OFMC's Hispano Buchon (a Spanish license built version of the famous Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter) in September 1999 whilst flying in Spain. His loss has been felt right to very core of the warbird movement in the UK, and his charismatic air show performances are sorely missed.
The OFMC has a number of film and TV credits including the controversial "A Piece of Cake" which after much searching for the right location, saw Mark Hanna flying his Spitfire under a very low bridge! The OFMC provided the Mustangs used in the film "Empire of the Sun", and another famous film "The Memphis Belle".
In recent years the OFMC acquired many historic jets, but due to hanger space and runway length, many were housed and operated from RAF Scampton. The core of the OFMC has been made up of the highly popular "Breitling Fighters", which was formed in 1999 with the aim of displaying four WWII era warbirds at shows in the UK and all over Europe. Sadly the Breitling sponsorship deal came to an scheduled end at the end of the 2003 airshow season, and the Breitling Fighters team has now passed into airshow history.
Nowadays the OFMC is a much smaller operation, and is based in the UK and New Zealand. The P-40 Kittyhawk was bought over to the UK from New Zealand in 1999 to form the Breitling Fighters team, however with the disbandment of the team in 2003, it ventured back to New Zealand by the end of 2003. Along with the FG-1D Corsair, was sold in 2004.
The OFMC continues to operate the Spitfire Mk IX MH434, P-51D Mustang here in the UK, along with a Bucker Jungmann, and a rare Ryan PT-22.
An independent OFMC supporters group was set up in June 1996 known as the "Tiger Squadron", which allows members of the public to get involved with the OFMC.
All photographs: Copyright © UK Warbirds. Unauthorised use of any of the images found on this site prohibited. Please note that UK Warbirds is in no way officially connected to any of the owners or operators mentioned on this site. The views expressed on this web site are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of companies or individuals mentioned.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Mark Hanna 1959-1999 and Ray Hanna 1928-2005
