About Us
Meet the Team
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Our Story
For Retrotec’s founder, Guy Black, it all began with a spark of curiosity in Rye Grammar school’s metalwork shop, where he made a small steam engine. This early fascination with engineering led to a Saturday job at the renowned high-speed engine research firm, Weslake & Company, Rye, where under the mentorship of Harry Weslake, Guy undertook an apprenticeship with academic studies at Ashford College. He gained invaluable experience, there, where his time at Weslakes included design work on a wide range of projects, from racing motorcycle engines to the iconic V12 F1 engine for Dan Gurney.
This hands-on experience sparked a deeper interest in racing, and soon Guy was behind the wheel himself, setting the stage perfectly for his first entrepreneurial venture – Lynx Engineering
Specialising in tuning and restoring Jaguar C and D Types, Lynx quickly established itself as a leader in the field, even building road-going replicas and undertaking complex body conversions. The success of Lynx allowed Guy to explore new horizons, including learning to fly and developing a passion for vintage aircraft restoration.
Retrotec was born from this same spirit of learning and his existing deep-seated passion for engineering. From day one, our mission has been to bring this enthusiasm to everything we do, from restoring vintage aircraft to innovating new ideas and solutions. Our highly skilled team of like-minded individuals all share this unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, precision, and the continual pursuit of knowledge. Along with the very same passion that ignited Guy’s journey—ensuring that our work not only meets but exceeds the highest standards of excellence in both engineering terms and in absolute authenticity.
Aero Vintage
Aero Vintage Ltd was formed in 1982 by Guy Black following his wish to assemble a small but high-quality collection of ex-military, pre-1945 aircraft with the idea of displaying them in air shows and films.
The collections’ Airco DH9 – restored to its former glory after Guy discovered it hidden in an elephant stable in Rajasthan – is currently based at IWM Duxford. It remains the only airworthy First World War bomber of its type in existence and regularly takes part in airshows across the country.
The full story of it’s remarkable discovery, restoration and operation is told in Guy’s book ‘DH9: From Ruin to Restoration’
THE PEOPLE’S MOSQUITO
Retrotec is proud to partner with The People’s Mosquito. The charity aims to rebuild the de Havilland Mosquito RL249, making it the first UK built Mosquito in over 70 years. Their mission is to honor the Mosquito’s legacy as a key Second World War aircraft while preserving British aviation heritage. As the main partner, Retrotec brings its unique engineering expertise to support this ambitious project. Through education and engagement, the charity will inspire future generations and ensure public access to the aircraft and its historical significance upon completion.