The Country

Geography:
The United Kingdom lies off the coast of North Western Europe, and occupies the major portion of the British Isles. The country comprises the nations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and several outlying islands. Its only land border is with the Republic of Ireland. The UK is separated from mainland Europe by the English Channel and the North Sea. To the west is the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbouring countries are France, Belgium and Norway.
In terms of topology, the UK is divided into two main areas, divided by a line running from the river Tees to the river Exe. North of this line lies a mountainous region forming most of Scotland, Wales, the English Lake District and Northern Ireland. The highest mountain is 1,344 m (4,409 ft) high. Lakes and lochs occupy many of the steep-sided valleys. The land south of the line is founded on softer rocks and clays and features ranges of hills separated by low-lying plains. The soil is particularly fertile here. The total land area is 241,600 sq km (95,282 sq miles).
The population of 60 million (2006 figure) comprises 80% English, 10% Scottish, 4% Northern Irish, 2% Welsh and 4% West Indian, Asian and other ethnic groups. 47% of the people are Anglican, 9% Roman Catholic, 4% Presbyterian, 3% Muslim, 1% Methodist and 36% other or non-religious. The capital city is London.

National History:

Summary Narrative History - to be added.

Timeline - Key Dates in British History

Further National Information:
BBC News Profile: United Kingdom
Yahoo United Kingdom page
wikipedia: United Kingdom
wikipedia: History of the United Kingdom

Civil Aircraft Registrations:
The registration sequence K-100 onwards was used early in 1919, but replaced by G-EAAA onwards in 1919, while lighter-than-air vehicles used the sequence G-FAAA onwards. G-AAAA onwards has been used since 1928, eg: G-BOAC. Class 'B' markings of the form G-xx-xx (using numbers not letters) for manufacturers test aircraft have been used since the 1930s. For a while in 1937 gliders were registered G-GAAA onwards, but this was soon abandoned.

An incomplete all-time British civil aircraft register is here: G-AAAA, G-AXAA, G-CAAA.

Military Air Arms:
Current military air arms-
Air Force (Royal Air Force)
Naval Aviation (Fleet Air Arm)
Army Aviation (Army Air Corps)
Marine Aviation (Royal Marine Commandos)

Historical military air arms-
Army Aviation (Royal Flying Corps)
Naval Aviation (Royal Naval Air Service)
Reserve Aviation (Royal Auxiliary Air Force - see Royal Air Force)

Central Government Agencies:
Coast Guard (H.M. Coastguard)
Environment Patrol (Environment Agency)
Fisheries Patrol (Marine Fisheries Agency)
Fisheries Patrol (Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency)
Test & Evaluation (Qinetiq - formerly called DERA)

Public Service Aviation:
Medical Aviation
Police Aviation
Fire Service

Commercial Aviation:
wikipedia: Airlines of United Kingdom
The World's Airlines: United Kingdom

Private Aviation:
To be added

Aircraft Manufacturers:
To be added

Airports, Airfields and Air Bases:
Airports in United Kingdom
Military Air Bases and Airfields-
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Aviation Museums:
Guide to UK Aviation Museums

Airshow Dates:
Key Airshow Dates

Aviation-Related Magazines:
UK Magazines Guide

Magazine Dealers:
Recommended second hand magazine dealers

Aviation Bibliography:
UK Aviation bibliography

Aviation Bookshops:
On-line bookshops

Web Links:
To be added