Charlotte Bailey began her aviation career building special-shape hot-air balloons. However, a love of fixed-wing flight prompted a sidestep into writing. Now a freelance aviation editor and author, she has worked on titles worldwide, as well as learning to fly a Piper Supercub. Alongside her writing work, she helps crew for the last airworthy ex-RAF Vampire in the world, the T.11 WZ507 – a venture the heritage and history of which she describes as an “essential element” to preserve.