A marvellous stalwart of the vintage aeroplane world, this former Fleet Air Arm fast jet pilot has long enjoyed his time at the lighter, slower end of the aircraft spectrum
Vintage aviation would be nowhere without its great enthusiasts from all walks of life who stick by the scene through changing times. Their expertise is invaluable, and their stories compelling — and often very funny. Some may not be aviation professionals, while others come from a background of flying larger or faster aeroplanes, but their love of what one might term ’real’ flying never leaves them, even when their time in big airliners or military jets comes to a close.
Martin Holloway is a classic example. He served in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, and carried on flying naval fast jets in his civilian life. There were years with the airlines, too. But learning to fly on Tiger Moths certainly left its mark, for when he saw a Stampe SV-4 for sale, he decided it should be his. Today he’s surely the longest-standing Stampe private owner-pilot in the UK. And that unassuming biplane trainer led him to fly many other marvellous aeroplanes for a colourful operator. For a time in the late 1980s, Martin was Britain’s only current …
