Some History

Airplan Flight Equipment (AFE) started life in 1973 as Spodemoor Aviation, operating part-time from offices in Bradford and supplying a loyal band of pilots and flying clubs with all their flight equipment needs. The company grew steadily and in 1985 it was taken over by Jeremy M Pratt, a career flying instructor who had become disillusioned with the hassle of trying to order pilot supplies from Spodemoor's competitors. His first move (after changing that name) was to re-locate the company to premises near Manchester Airport and acquire the first of a long line of sales vans which, since that time, have put in several million miles around the airfields of the UK and Continental Europe.

AFE is now Europe's principle publisher and distributor of pilot supplies and flying training products, and every product we sell is backed by our reputation as Europe's longest established company in the field. Our customers include leading flying schools and gliding clubs, major airlines, the armed forces, aircraft manufacturers, leading maintenance companies and tens of thousands of individual aircraft owners and pilots worldwide. To all we aim to offer the best service and most competitive prices across the widest stock range. What's more, our buying power allows us to offer the most competitive prices right across our product range, whether you are buying one logbook or twenty headsets.

Major Milestones

1973 Spodemoor Aviation established in Bradford, Yorkshire

1976 Albert Malaney takes over company

1985 Jeremy M Pratt acquires company, changes name to Airplan Flight Equipment (AFE) and moves it to premises near Manchester Airport

1987 AFE moves to new premises at Southside, Manchester Airport

1992 AFE publishes it first books by Jeremy M Pratt - the Pilot's Guide series - and moves to larger premises at Manchester Airport

1994 First edition of the 'PPL Course' series books by Jeremy M Pratt published

1998 AFE moves to present premises next to Manchester Airport

2000 AFE acquires RD Aviation, best-known for supplying accessories and avionics to glider and sports flyers

2001 AFE acquires the business of Nevynn International from Lynn and Neville Cawte.

Our People

At AFE we never forget that we are only as good as the service we offer to you, our customer. The staff at AFE are aviation people who know and love aviation and aeroplanes, and many of whom are qualified pilots. It is our understanding of the products we sell and the aviation world itself that sets us apart from the crowd and makes our customers want to come back to us time after time when they need the highest quality of product and service, at a competitive price. Visit us in person or via the website or contact us by post, phone, fax or e-mail to be assured of a friendly, professional service from people who know and care about flying.