Untitled Document
Untitled Document
|
|
|
|
2018 sees the 100th anniversary of the formation of the RAF,
numerous events have been planned across the country to mark this
landmark achievement. Both sites of the RAF Museum (London and
Cosford) are offering visitors the rare and exciting chance to get
a closer look inside 100 cockpits and vehicles from their
collections. The first of these Open Cockpit and Cab events took
place on February 9th at the Cosford site.
Tickets were limited to just 300, so it was no surprise to see
this event sold out in advance. The event started at 6pm and
allowed visitors 3 hours to view 12 different cockpits and cabs
throughout the two hangars that were open. The Cosford site is the
proud home to four themed hangars full of rare, unique and
historically significant aircraft. This event focused on the ‘War
in the Air’ and ‘Test Flight’ hangars, both playing host to many
exhibits that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. |
|
|
Although a strictly observed policy of limiting the time in the
cockpits made it possible to get around most of the display items
during the 3 hours, I felt it prudent to prioritize the exhibits I
most wanted to see first. Therefore, upon arrival I made my way
straight to the Avro Lincoln to climb onboard and glimpse inside
the fuselage towards the cockpit.
Based on the Lancaster, the Lincoln first flew in 1944 and
remained in service post-war until eventually becoming outmoded by
the incoming jet aircraft of the early 50s. Although the Lincoln
itself was just too late to see World War Two service, once inside
one could not help but feel echoes of the 55,573 Bomber Command
crewmen who lost their lives during the conflict.
|
|
|
Elsewhere in the hangar the Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 and its
arch-nemesis the Messerschmitt BF109G were open for close viewing,
allowing a unique chance to compare these two old foes from the
inside.
Cosford’s Spitfire is the oldest surviving example of RJ
Mitchell’s most-famous creation, where as the BF109 here is a
slightly later example, so any direct comparisons are perhaps a
little unfair. The Messerschmitt may look familiar to any veteran
airshow attendees as ‘Black-6’ made many appearances prior to its
crash landing after the Autumn Duxford airshow in 1997.
|
|
|
The recent arrival of the Boulton Paul Defiant, Gloster Gladiator
and Junkers Ju88 from the Hendon site has really bolstered the
‘War in the Air’ hangar at Cosford. Naturally though, it is the
opened exhibits that attract the most attention with the rare
Kawasaki Ki-1001b attracting large crowds all evening. Meanwhile,
I could not resist seeing the world through the eyes of a WW2
Japanese suicide bomber by taking a seat (in the thankfully
static!) Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka. The equally infamous ME 163 Komet was
also open for public to sit in.
|
|
|
Cosford’s ‘Test Flight’ hangar holds an equally mesmerizing
collection of unique aircraft from the English Electric Lightning
prototypes of the Shorts SB5 and EE P1, to the ill-fated BAC TSR2.
The later of which was also open this evening for close
inspection.
Other unusual displays here include the supersonic research
aircraft the Fairey Delta FD2 which visitors were able to sit
inside and try to imagine what it would have been like to lead the
glamourous and down-right dangerous life of a test-pilot in the
early 50s. The FD2 is noted here for having a drooping nose to
allow pilots a better view when taxiing; a feature later adopted
by Concorde.
|
|
|
Visitors were also able to climb inside the Saunders-Roe SR53 and
SPECAT Jaguar ACT demonstrator both of which played a key role in
the development of British aviation. The Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel
was perhaps one of the most popular aircraft on display today
having directly led to Britain’s aviation crowning glory; the
Harrier Jump-Jet. Each cockpit visit was accompanied with a live
tour from one of the numerous volunteers, each of which had
boundless enthusiasm and excellent knowledge (often first hand) of
these aircraft, which added a depth of realism to the event.
|
|
|
Don’t worry if you weren’t one of the lucky 300 ticket holders
this time as the RAF Museum will be running three more events this
year; with each one focusing on a different hangar and theme.
There will also be two daytime events, in May and September.
Details of which hangar and aircraft open at the events will be
announced on the website later on in the year. Tickets are
available now at just £13.50 each, get them before they are gone.
www.rafmuseum.org.uk
|
|
Review by
Lee Chapman |
|