Irish Historic Flight Foundation

The Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF) is a not-for-profit organisation that preserves and flies iconic aircraft connected with Ireland’s aviation story. With hands-on volunteer engineers and support from industry partners including ASL Aviation Holdings, the Irish Air Corps and Department of Defence, Aer Lingus, Ryanair and the Irish Aviation Authority, IHFF brings living history to airshows and outreach events nationwide.

The current air display line-up centres on three de Havilland Chipmunks in classic Irish Air Corps colours, the Boeing Stearman “Spirit of Tipperary”, and a historically significant Reims Rocket FR.172H Skyhawk II. Crews fly solo and elegant multi-ship formations, often pairing the Stearman’s vintage biplane character with tight Chipmunk elements.

de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. Tandem two-seat basic trainer that first flew in 1946 and replaced the Tiger Moth in many services. Loved for harmonised controls and aerobatic finesse, the Chipmunk remains a favourite for formation routines. IHFF operates three examples in Irish Air Corps livery.

Boeing Stearman Model 75. Rugged 1930s biplane primary trainer (“Kaydet”) that taught thousands of Allied pilots. IHFF’s aircraft, “Spirit of Tipperary”, showcases open-cockpit flying, radial-engine sound and classic aerobatics that delight crowds and photographers alike.

Reims Rocket FR.172H Skyhawk II. A French-built, uprated Cessna 172 variant used by the Irish Air Corps across multiple roles—from surveillance and liaison to training—over an extraordinarily long service life. IHFF’s FR.172H preserves that story with a flyable, display-ready example added to the collection in recent years.

The IHFF was founded in 2014 to keep Ireland’s aviation story flying—literally—through authentically restored, display-active aircraft. From a small nucleus of volunteers and supporters, the foundation grew into a nationally recognised heritage flight with deep ties to the Irish Air Corps and the wider Irish aviation community.

Three DHC-1 Chipmunks became the backbone for formation displays and outreach. The addition of the Boeing Stearman “Spirit of Tipperary” broadened the narrative to classic biplane training and barnstorming heritage. To reflect long-serving Irish Air Corps types, IHFF also flies a Reims Rocket FR.172H, connecting modern audiences with nearly five decades of IAC utility operations.

• IHFF’s trio of Chipmunks fly in period Irish Air Corps markings and regularly perform tight three-ship formations.
• The Stearman brings open-cockpit nostalgia—perfect for gentle aerobatics and crowd-pleasing fly-pasts.
• The FR.172H “Reims Rocket” type served the Irish Air Corps for decades in roles ranging from border patrol to training.
• IHFF combines volunteer engineering with professional partner support to keep vintage types airworthy, not just museum-static.
• Education and outreach are central—ground talks, cockpit access and living-history narratives are part of many IHFF appearances.