• Live engine runs by aircraft from across the history of flight

• From WW1, through WW2 to Cold War Jets all running for visitors to experience

• WW1 era SE5a and Eastchurch Kitten biplanes in action

• The huge engines of the C47 Dakota and De Havilland Devon

• Cold War Jets in action with the Nimrod and Victor Lusty Lindy

• A chance to see the Museum’s AVRO 504 exhibition, returned from the Somme

The Yorkshire Air Museum will reverberate with the sound of aircraft engines on Sunday 7th August as they stage the latest of their very popular “Thunder Day” events this season.

These events really capture the imagination of visitors at the peak of the Yorkshire summer holiday season, as they provide a great opportunity to see, hear – and indeed smell – a variety of the Museum’s historic aircraft as their engines are powered up to provide a unique experience of the history of flight.

The Museum’s Thunder Day gets under way with a pair of wonderful WWI bi-planes. The Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a fighter and the diminutive Eastchurch PV8 Kitten “Zeppelin killer”, evocative of the period of “string and canvas” aircraft.

World War Two and beyond is represented by the Museum’s C47 Dakota, the smoky start up action of her big Pratt and Whitney radial engines are always a great photo opportunity for visitors.

Running to accompany the Dakota is the pretty 1947 De Havilland Devon. This VIP transport aircraft is known to have carried Lord Mountbatten during its service with the Royal Air Force

These historic aircraft with their 70 year old engines are maintained by a team of volunteer aircraft engineers and give visitors a chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these old aircraft coming to life.

The Museum’s collection of Cold War Jets is one of the largest in the UK and the unique experience of hearing these mighty aircraft starting in close proximity is what makes Thunder Days so popular with visitors.

The Museum’s BAE Nimrod MR2 XV250, known as the “Mighty Hunter” in its role as Cold War submarine finder will be live, with her four Rolls Royce Spey engines running up to take off power.

The second of the Cold War Jets and one of the most famous faces of the Museum will be as popular as ever. Handley Page Victor XL231 “Lusty Lindy” V-Bomber / K2 Tanker, which served in the Falklands and first Gulf War as an air-to-air refuelling tanker.

She will really make the ground shake as her four Rolls Royce Conway’s produce their awesome bellow, much loved by her loyal followers. Bring your earplugs!

These two Cold War jets are operated by volunteer engineering teams and give a real insight to the complex procedures of typical service operations of the period. a time when the nuclear threat was never far from the headlines.

The Museum’s own in house fire and rescue team will also be on hand, not just to ensure safety but also to join in the celebration of running these exciting aircraft. The Fire Team will be giving visitors a chance to operate the powerful fire hose of the 38 tonne Pathfinder rescue vehicle. Parents might want to step back!

The Fire Team will also be giving an exciting demonstration of the fire fighting capability of the huge 38 tonne Reynolds Boughton “Chubb” airport fire tender and the rapid intervention 6 wheel Range Rover vehicle, culminating with a casualty extraction from one of the Museum’s aircraft.

A full schedule of events can be found at the Museum’s website http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/event/august-thunder-day/

YouTube video to link or embed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dKRGpEeVps

Today Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the RAF’s new Chief of Air Staff visited the RAF Museum in North London

Whilst at the Museum, Sir Stephen spoke to CEO Maggie Appleton about the Museum’s plans for the RAF’s Centenary in 2018 as well as the fundraising campaign ‘Names on a Plane’

Sir Stephen also took a tour of the Museum and also dropped into our Archive department where he was shown documents and prints relating to his time at 2 Sqn.

Say’s Maggie Appleton, RAF Museum CEO: “It was wonderful to share our plans to celebrate and commemorate the RAF’s Centenary with Sir Stephen. We are committed to making our London site more accessible, vibrant and focused on the RAF’s story. Our multi-million pound transformation will use our collections as dynamic storytellers and ensure the site becomes an inspiring space for all our visitors, reflecting our historic roots as RAF Hendon, exploring today’s RAF and imagining the future.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier is the Chief of the Air Staff, in command of the Royal Air Force, leading a Whole Force of some 35000 Regular and Reserve personnel, and 5000 Civil Servants, supported by thousands of contractors. He is personally accountable for the safe and effective operation of over 700 manned and unmanned aircraft and for meeting the airpower needs of Defence, which currently means thousands of people and every front-line force committed to operations world-wide. In addition to sustaining his people and this exceptionally high level of commitment, he is also responsible for delivering the significant growth in the RAF’s front-line capability announced in the 2015 Defence Review.

www.airmuseum.org