Archive for April, 2010

Aviation author confirms prizes

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Aviation author has now confirmed her offer of 2 books for the prize pot in this years calendar competition… 

A Hardback copy of Aviation History (valued at £54) will be added to the first prize
and a paperback of Abbreviations, Acronyms and Alphabets of Aviation (valued at £23) will go towards the second prize.

www.annemilbrooke.com

I expect to be able to announce further prizes during the coming months.

Museum Awarded Guinness World Record

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that its attempt to obtain the world record for the most model Spitfires constructed in a day has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records. 

The attempt, run with the support of Airfix and Ebury Publishing, took place on 19th December 2009 with participants arriving from afar a field as Singapore and Australia to participate. Members of the public worked throughout the day at the Museum, with each individual who successfully completed their model rewarded by taking it home to keep.

Paul Hudson, Head of Marketing at the Museum, stated:

“I would like to thank Airfix and Ebury publishing for presenting us with the opportunity of hosting this world record attempt. But most of all I would like to thank each one of our visitors who braved some incredibly inclement weather to assist us with this endeavour. It is through their efforts that we are able to celebrate this award. This world record belongs not to the Museum or our partners but to the families and modellers who assisted us on the day.”

It is particularly gratifying to find out about this award in the run up to the Museum’s celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, later this year.”

In total 250 model Spitfire aircraft were constructed and painted over a 6 hour period.

The Royal Air Force Museum London is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with last admission at 5:30pm. To learn more about the various free family activities that the Museum offers, please visit www.rafmuseum.org/london or call the museum’s 24 hour information line on 0208 358 4964. Admission to the museum is free.

Last Sea Voyage for RAF Boat

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Lawrence of Arabia’s launch is the last RAF boat to set sail on historic final voyage.

Date: April 30th – May 4th

A Seaplane Tender from the 1930s is to sail around the south coast and up the Thames to complete a display at the Royal Air Force Museum. It will be the last RAF boat to fly the RAF Ensign on the water.

Docking at: Newhaven; Dover; Ramsgate; Sheerness & St Katherine’s Dock

The small launch, ST206, was used by the RAF to ferry passengers and crew to and from the giant flying boats of the 1930s and was used as a fire tender and rescue launch during the Second World War.

The launch was developed by TE Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia – in his little-know career after his famous desert exploits in World War One. He entered the Royal Air Force’s Marine Section in 1925 under the pseudonym TE Shaw and worked with the British Power Boat Company to develop faster and more effective rescue boats after witnessing a fatal seaplane crash in 1931. The project made a vital contribution to speed boat design and ensured that the new generation of boats specially designed to rescue pilots during the Second World War were faster and more effective.

The 1930s was the golden age of the flying boat and enormous craft flew around the world offering luxury conditions for international travellers. The RAF used them as transport and long-range escort bomber aircraft in Coastal Command. ST206 was built to service the Short Sunderland and will join the RAF Museum’s Sunderland on display at Hendon, North London.

Nearly every major port in England was used as a rescue base and ST206 will visit many former seaplane bases on her journey where the RNLI have kindly offered their facilities. The launch will set sail at Lymington on a four day journey by sea to St Katherine’s Dock in East London and then on to Shepperton Marina. En route it will be docking at Shoreham; Newhaven; and Dover. At Shepperton it will be lifted out of the water and placed on a lorry for the final leg of its journey as it travels by road to the Royal Air Force Museum London.

The boat will be skippered by its previous owner Phil Clabburn with a crew that includes veteran members of the RAF Marine Branch. The voyage and subsequent restoration for display of the launch has been organised by the RAF Museum’s Marine Craft Team Volunteers. As part of the voyage, they will also be recreating the speed trails conducted by T.E. Shaw on ST206.

The RAF formed its Marine Section in 1918 to service the needs of its extensive and expanding fleet of seaplanes. Its motto was ‘The Sea Shall Not Have Them’ and the service saved 13,000 lives during World War Two. The branch was disbanded and its remaining role was privatised in 1986.

www.rafmuseum.org

Book Now for Top Flight of Food at Aviator Club

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Visitors to the world’s biggest free seafront airshow can enjoy a first class day out being wined and dined from the UK’s sunniest seafront as Eastbourne Airbourne launches its 2010 Aviator Club hospitality packages. 

Set in an arena-side marquee offering front row seats next to all of the action on the ground with spectacular views of the flying line above, the Aviator Club offers a supreme experience for anyone looking to enjoy an extra special day out at Airbourne.

Whether visitors are looking to celebrate a special occasion to companies looking to wine and dine business clients, the Aviator Club offering a champagne welcome, three-course summer lunch and dedicated Aviator Club Bar, presents the ultimate VIP experience.

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said “We’re very excited to launch the Aviator Club hospitality packages for Airbourne 2010 and offer visitors an opportunity to upgrade their airshow experience and enjoy being wined and dined while watching dazzling flying displays. With seats directly next to the action-packed arena displays, Aviator Club guests can look forward to putting their feet up and soaking in the airshow atmosphere in a prime position on Eastbourne seafront, directly alongside the display teams.

“With extended packages available on Friday for the return of our evening Come Fly With Me event, visitors can opt for an Aviator experience on any day of Airbourne with a packed line up of flying already confirmed for the fabulous four day event.”

Come Fly With Me, the extended display of flying to live music on the ground from the Swing Street Band on the Friday evening of Airbourne, is back for a second year in 2010 and offers all airshow visitors the chance to enjoy an extra dose of spectacular flying action.

With the flying line up already looking set to be bumper-filled when Eastbourne International Airshow returns from 12-15 August, visitors can look forward to crowd favourite the Red Arrows, the impressive Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight marking 70 years since the Battle, and a daredevil performance from the Breitling Wingwalkers.

Aviator Club hospitality starts from £55+VAT, with the extended Friday evening display promising extra refreshments and treats from just £60+VAT.

For more information or to book a place in the Aviator Club at Eastbourne’s spectacular free seafront airshow this August visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 415442.

Airscene Twitters

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Airscene News is now available as a twitter feed. 

Whilst Airscene News is readily viewable on mobiles and PDA’s using device recognition scripts, some people will prefer the ability to view Airscene News direct from their twitter apps.

As part of an automated process bit.ly is used to shorten the URL’s for the Twitter feed – do not worry about these as they DO link back to Airscene news items.

Updated within the hour direct from Airscene News, this new twitter feed offers another method of keeping up to date with Airshow and Aviation Museum News.

www.twitter.com/Airscene

The Boys Book of Airfix Free Draw

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Ebury Publishing have now drawn 2 winners out of the hat for the “Boys’ Book of Airfix” book draw and I can now confirm the winners are:

Andrew Pearson from Stevenage

Simon Yau from Burton-on-Trent

Congratulations to both winners! Contact details have been passed on to Ebury Publishing and prizes should be on the way soon.

www.Airscene.co.uk