A flying club has been left “devastated” after nine aircraft were destroyed inside a hangar in a suspected arson attack.
Davidstow Flying Club, in north Cornwall, UK, is a hub for aviation enthusiasts and the blaze has left many shell-shocked.
Air Cornwall, which offers flight training at Davidstow Airfield, confirmed to AeroTime that four of the aircraft destroyed were fixed wing.
In total the aircraft set alight included two Ikarus C42, one Van’s Aircraft RV-6, one Thruster T600 Sprint, two Pegasus Quantum flex wings, one SSDR flex wing and two Sub-70 flex wing.
The aircraft damage is estimated to cost around £300,000.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police emergency services were called to the airfield around 10:55pm on April 11, 2023.
Gary Perry, an instructor at the club, told ITV News that he witnessed the fire break out on security cameras but was not in the area.
“I saw this inferno start and I was shaking like a leaf, there was nothing I could do,” he said.
The local fire brigade said the fire measures 70 meters by 10 meters and was extinguished by the fire fighters using three main jets and one hose reel jet.
The concern for the flying club is how they will afford insurance in the future to protect aircraft.
Lloyd Edwards, from the flying club, said it was the second incident of suspected arson at the airfield in as many years.
In a statement Gary Perry wrote: “We are all absolutely devastated and sickened at the horror and loss a low life individual can cause in just a few minutes.”
The police investigation is still on going and officers are appealing for any information from the public that could assist them.
