Final collection from Dennis's hut • In 9 active carts • 97 left
Dennis's Hand-Balanced Flying Ace Wind Spinner
Dennis's Hand-Balanced Flying Ace Wind Spinner
Ships within 2–3 days
30-day money-back guarantee
Free UK delivery with tracking
Couldn't load pickup availability
Dennis's Hand-Balanced Flying Ace Wind Spinner
Balanced by hand in an old tin hut in Shropshire
Dennis Hartley, 74, kept RAF jet engines running for 28 years. Since 1989 he has built Flying Ace wind spinners in a wartime Nissen hut near Albrighton. The hut is being knocked down in December. These are his last 97.
“I balance every one. Six extra minutes a piece. That’s why the one I made in 1990 is still turning in a garden in Shifnal. I want every last one turning in a real garden before the bulldozers come.”
Dennis Hartley · Albrighton, Shropshire
What comes in the box
Hand-painted, with the cartoon beagle pilot
Wooden propeller on a sealed bearing
Black metal stake, simply push into the lawn
Signed underneath, safely packed
What makes Dennis’s Flying Ace special
Every propeller is balanced by hand on a stand Dennis built from an old engine part. No wobble, no rattle.
The propeller turns on a sealed ball bearing, not a plastic sleeve. It starts in a 4 mph breeze and stays quiet in a gale.
304 stainless steel that doesn’t rust or flake. Built for the wettest British winter.
Red, white and blue roundels on the wings and fuselage, painted by Dennis one plane at a time.
The number of the real Sopwith Camel credited with bringing down the Red Baron in April 1918.
The cartoon beagle in his leather helmet, goggles and red scarf. A smile every time the wind picks up.
“Most garden spinners fail at the bearing and the balance, not the paint. A sealed bearing and a hand-balanced propeller are exactly what you would do on an aircraft. That is why Dennis’s spinners keep turning for decades while the cheap ones seize after a winter.”
Graham Whitlock · Retired aircraft engineer · Shropshire Aviation Society
Perfect for
Why Dennis’s spinner lasts
- Rust-free steel. Stays outside all year, through rain and frost.
- No oiling, ever. The sealed bearing needs no care at all.
- Silent turning. No creaking, no rattling, even in strong wind.
- Fade-resistant paint. The roundels stay bright through years of sun.
- Checked one by one. Every spinner is balanced and signed in Dennis’s hut before it leaves.
If the Flying Ace doesn’t win you over, one email to info@craft-folk.com is enough. Dennis would rather have it back than have it sit in a shed.
Tip from Dennis: Put it where the wind can reach it from all sides, away from tall hedges and walls. Push the stake in at least a hand’s depth into soft ground, and it will stand straight for years.
Product details
| Contents | 1 Flying Ace biplane wind spinner with garden stake |
| Material | 304 stainless steel body, wooden propeller, sealed ball bearing |
| Finish | Hand-painted RAF roundels and B7270 marking |
| Colours | Olive green fuselage, blue-grey wings, red engine, yellow propeller |
| Use | Outdoors — lawn, flower bed, allotment or patio pot |
| Care | None needed; wipe with a damp cloth if you like |
| Made by | Dennis Hartley, Albrighton, Shropshire — final collection, 97 remaining |
The Last Flight
The Last Flight
A note from the hut:
Dennis Hartley kept RAF jet engines running for 28 years. Since 1989 he has built Flying Ace wind spinners in an old wartime Nissen hut near Albrighton, Shropshire, balancing every propeller by hand. In July the farmyard was sold to a developer, and the bulldozers arrive on the first Monday in December. Arthritis means his hands can no longer do the fine balancing anyway. 97 spinners from his final collection are left. When they are gone, there will be no more.
Free UK Delivery
Free UK Delivery
Free delivery across the United Kingdom
- Delivery time: 3–5 working days
- Every spinner is signed underneath, carefully packed and sent with tracking
- Comes with its garden stake — simply push it into the lawn or a flower bed
- No oiling and no care needed
- 30-day money-back guarantee — just email info@craft-folk.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@craft-folk.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm (UK time). Whether it’s about your order, where to put your spinner, or just to say hello — a real person writes back.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 30-day money-back guarantee. Put it in the garden, watch it turn for a week, and if it isn’t right for you, email info@craft-folk.com within 30 days for a full refund. No questions, and UK delivery is free.
How is it made?
How is it made?
Dennis builds every Flying Ace in his Nissen hut near Albrighton. The body is 304 stainless steel, the wooden propeller turns on a sealed ball bearing, and he balances every propeller by hand on a stand he built from an old jet-engine part. Then he paints the RAF roundels and the B7270 marking, and signs it underneath. Small differences from piece to piece are part of the charm.