The building of the replica Vickers Vimy 'NX71MY' was completed in America in 1994, to enable project founders Peter Mcmillan and Lang Kidby to re-enact a flight between England and Australia. After completing this re-enactment flight, the Vimy was shipped back to England where it was reassembled at Earls Colne.

In 1995 and 1996, Team Merlin worked with the Civil Aviation Authority to make sure the Vimy was allowed to fly in the United Kingdom, and after all the necessary checks and test flying were completed, the aircraft was then granted a dispensation to allow this unique type to fly in UK skies. After the test flying, we also gained a display authorisation, which allows us to display the Vimy at airshows, and to date we are still the only people to hold a display authorisation on the type.

During 1996 we operated 'Vimy One' on over 20 airshow days, and also at various other events all over the country. The aircraft travelled around the events most of the time, but also had a base at Kemble, which was one of the few places that had a hanger large enough!

One of our best memories was operating both the Vickers Vimy and Concorde on the same day at the Farnborough airshow, which was a first (and a last!) for such a span of aircraft development. Notable crowd increases were reported at each airshow the Vimy flew to, and both the event organisers, and public who saw her, said that the Vimy was the star of each show she attended. The aircraft appeared on the front cover of airshow programmes, as well as adorning the covers of the aviation magazines, with many pages also devoted to her inside. The national newspapers ran articles on the team and this unique machine, and both local and national television covered our operations wherever we went. The Vimy also took part in film work, appearing in numerous videos and documentaries. During the year the aircraft attracted a lot of interest including sponsorship from companies wishing to be part of its next re-enactment flight to Cape Town, South Africa. This sponsorship included BMW to supply new engines which enabled the trip to go ahead.

We are often asked about operating the Vimy, by the industry and enthusiasts alike, and are always happy to explain our operation of the world's largest airworthy bi-plane in the same skies that her ancestors did over 80 years ago.