The sensational summer event for the whole family, Wings & Wheels, returns on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 2017 at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey to celebrate its 13th show. Famous favourites in the air and on the ground will blow your mind, whilst the attractions and Zones in the Arena will keep you entertained and buzzing with delight the WHOLE weekend.

Eyes to the sky as the ‘Wings’ of the event treats visitors to outstanding and diverse 5 hour air displays which has previously included show favourites the Red Arrows, Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire, Hurricane), Royal Navy Black Cats, the Tigers Parachute Team Blades, B-25 Mitchell bomber, Jet Provost Pair, Hangar 11 P51 Mustang and Hurricane, Xtreme Air and Sally B, accompanied by witty and knowledgeable commentary from aviation experts and display pilots. The display line-up will be announced in March 2017.

The ‘Wings’ of the event would not be complete without a close-up inspection of all the weekend’s visiting aircraft including Dunsfold’s resident Boeing 747 in the ‘Wings Park’ (open for tours) and the Brooklands VC10.

Supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe-inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular. The ‘Wheels’ of the show includes displays from McLaren 12C, Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and Huracan, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari California T, Aston Martin Rapide, Dodge Monaco, TVR Tasmin 280i, Ducati Multistrada 1200s, Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, Ford GT40 and Lotus Elise.

Visit the Wheels Zone with a bigger and better crowd line parade and interactive displays from car and motorbike clubs. The Stunt Zone will be exploding into 2017 with four wheeled hair-raising performances from Mission Motorsport and the popular Monster Truck arena returns offering demonstrations and passenger rides.

The Military Zone & Parade is interactive and explosive bringing re-enactors, a living history zone, live battles and our popular military vehicle parade. The Zone has over 80 military vehicles, six re-enactment groups, tanks that will be firing and available for rides, as well as the history of Dunsfold Aerodrome and Army, Navy and RAF recruitment stands for everyone’s enjoyment.

Sid’s Zone is an action packed free area for the little ones. From 10:00 until 16:00 the kids can join in with colouring competitions, arts and crafts, paper plane challenges, relay races, egg and spoon, face painting and the popular Sid’s Trail which encourages the whole family to search the arena for questions and answers to win a goody bag. Meet and greets with show mascot Siddeley and the display pilots are not to be missed.

The excitement and anticipation doesn’t stop at the main displays as the 32 acre public arena is bursting with a huge variety of interactive attractions containing all you need for a great family day out. The show arena boasts go-karts, kit-plane demonstrations, aviation and motoring simulators, military outlets and displays, static aircraft, fairground and over 80 retail outlets selling a wide variety of products and gifts. Shopping in the arena includes a craft marquee full of tempting tea time treats to take home and craft gifts.

As the last plane touches down the party starts across the arena with musical evening entertainment from Champagne at the Blitz, a 1940s songbird trio armed with smooth harmonies, seamed nylons and lots and LOTS of red lippy!

Taking the hassle out of your day the show includes added extras to make your experience even more enjoyable; over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, two bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

The 13th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August 2017, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2017 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner treat your loved ones to a memorable day out at RAF Cosford Air Show on Sunday 11th June 2017. With plenty to see and do on the day you will be spoilt for choice! Why not make the day extra special by purchasing tickets for one of our hospitality chalets or even add a unique twist with a romantic helicopter flight?

Helicopter pleasure flights on the day cost just £39.00 for a 6-mile round trip journey. It’s a great opportunity to get a feel of how extensive the Air Show is and experience first-hand what the display pilots see as they head in to thrill the crowds. The helicopter pilots will point out local landmarks as you enjoy the spectacular views of the local countryside from the sky.

Hospitality packages range from just £60.00 per adult for a centre crowdline enclosure, to £230.00 per adult in an exclusive over-18 chalet from which you can watch the Air Show while being hosted by RAF Officers and enjoy a bucks fizz reception followed by a four course luncheon and an open bar. Air Show Deputy Director, Marilyn Summers, said; “We have hospitality packages to suit every budget. Adding on a helicopter flight to any of our packages would really give your day out at the Air Show an extra special touch.”

The flying display line-up is already beginning to take shape for 2017. Alongside the display offerings from the Royal Air Force, visitors will also be treated to the sight of exciting vintage aircraft such as the Douglas Skyraider which will be performing as part of a special set-piece finale to the six-hour flying display.

Tickets to the RAF Cosford Air Show 2017 are on sale now and organisers are encouraging attendees to purchase their tickets soon. The Air Show will, for the third year running, be an Advanced Ticket Only event. Early bird pricing is available until Tuesday 28th March 2017, with adult tickets costing £22.00 and accompanied under 16s entering free.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Image Credit: NASA

High Flying Women – Pioneering Aviators
Saturday 1 April to Sunday 24 September 2017

From Saturday 1 April, Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre’s forthcoming exhibition – High Flying Women – Pioneering Aviators will open to the public telling the stories of female aviators from around the world. The exhibition will enable visitors to discover these remarkable women and their love of flight, speed, adventure and service for their countries.

Equally important, the exhibition examines their struggles and rebellion against the conventions of their respective times, in order to realise their dreams; and how they fearlessly took to the air when aviation was a far greater risk than it is today. It will also show that wealth or indeed a lack of it was not an inhibitor of their ambitions.

The exhibition will also highlight the role women played in nursing wounded aircrew, against the conventions of the day.

See how these extraordinary women took different paths to achieve their dream including entertainment, endurance racing, military and nursing service. They all were and still are, reminders that any dream is possible with determination and tenacity.

This exhibition is open to the public from Saturday 1 April to Sunday 24 September 2017. Admission is free.

For more information about this exhibition please contact Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre on 01529 488490 or email cranwellaviation@n-kesteven.gov.uk. For more information about Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre please visit www.cranwellaviation.co.uk

A rare example of the great German multi-role combat aircraft of the Second World War, the Junkers Ju88, has been transported by road to its new home in the Midlands. This particular aircraft, a Ju88R-1 night-fighter version, travelled 130 miles from the Royal Air Force Museum London, to its sister site at Cosford, Shropshire where it will soon go on public display. The new arrival is the sixth aircraft to wing its way to Cosford in the last few months and completes the Museum’s new line-up in preparation for the RAF Centenary in 2018.

The aircraft was dismantled at the Museum’s London site and prepared for transportation by Museum Technicians and Apprentices, with assistance from GJD Services – specialist maintenance and aircraft salvage company based at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. The fuselage and port wing have now been transported to Cosford, with the starboard wing due to arrive next week when work will commence on the re-build.

This latest arrival is a huge coup for aviation fans in the Midlands, giving them access to one of the most versatile German combat aircraft of the Second World War and one of the Luftwaffe’s most important assets.

The Ju88 began life as a bomber, became a night fighter and intruder; undertook anti-shipping operations and flew long-range reconnaissance missions. They entered service in September 1939 and by the end of the month they were undertaking their first operational mission against British shipping in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. It was during the Battle of Britain, however, that the Ju88A played a major role in German operations. Ju88’s took part in a number of daylight actions against British radar stations, airfields and ports in the opening phases of the Battle of Britain. It was reasonably manoeuvrable for its size and could take a great deal of punishment; however its lack of armoured protection and insufficient defensive armament meant that it was relatively easy prey for British fighters. At the time of the Battle of Britain the Ju88 was at the beginning of its service career and its remarkable adaptability, particularly as a night fighter, had still to be exploited by the Luftwaffe.

The museum’s example was constructed as a Ju88 A-1 bomber in 1942 and converted to the R-1 standard in early 1943 for the night fighter role. In May 1943 a three man crew were ordered to intercept and shoot down an unarmed BOAC Mosquito courier flight from Leuchars, Scotland to Stockholm, Sweden. Just two hours after take-off, the pro-British and anti-Nazi crew sent a bogus message to Night Fighter HQ reporting a starboard engine fire. The Ju88 descended to sea level, below German radar and dropped three life rafts to make the Germans think the plane and crew were lost at sea and then headed for Scotland.

The Ju88 was eventually intercepted by two Spitfire VBs from No.165 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF. Identified as a Ju88, when approached the German pilot dropped his undercarriage and waggled his wings and was then lead back to Dyce airfield where all three aircraft landed safely.

The Spitfire pilots were later congratulated for not opening fire and bringing home valuable information for the technical branch. This was a significant coup for the British – the Ju 88 was fitted with the latest FuG 202 Liechtenstein BC A.I radar. It was the first of its type to fall into British hands and was quickly placed inside a hangar to hide it from Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft.

Shortly after, it was allocated the British serial number PJ876 and commenced a test programme with RAE Wireless and Electrical Flight, in conjunction with the RAF’s Fighter Interception Unit, whose role was to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. The aircraft was acquired by the RAF Museum in 1978 and has been displayed at its London site for almost four decades and will now go on display at Cosford for the first time in the Museum’s ‘War in the Air’ hangar.

Ian Thirsk, Head of Collections at the RAF Museum said:
“We are delighted to add the Ju88R-1 to our collection of Axis aircraft types on public display at Cosford. The Junkers Ju88 was one of the most versatile military aircraft of all time and this particular example, the last surviving night fighter variant, has a truly fascinating story to tell. It will be displayed alongside other significant German aircraft of the period and will enhance the Museum’s ability to tell the wider story of RAF operations during the Second World War.”

Within the last few months a total of six new aircraft have been transported by road from the museum’s sister site in London for display at Cosford. The first to arrive was the Messerschmitt BF109G-2 which is now displayed in the ‘War in the Air hangar’ confronting its British equivalents, a Hurricane and Spitfire. Transported alongside the Bf109 was the de Havilliand Tiger Moth II which can now be viewed in ‘Hangar 1’ alongside the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1, demonstrating the progression in RAF training aircraft.

Just a few short weeks later the Wolverhampton built Boulton Paul Defiant M1 made a homecoming journey along the M1 and M6 to the museums Cosford site, just a few miles from where it was built in the late 1930s. Accompanied en route by the Gloster Gladiator 1 and the Westland Lysander III, both the Defiant and Gladiator will be reassembled once the Ju88 is in position and go on display in the ‘War in the Air’ hangar, whilst the Lysander will undergo some minor repair work to its fragile linen skin in the museum’s Conservation Centre.

The aircraft moves come as the museum prepares for the Royal Air Force’s centenary celebrations in 2018 that will see the museum transform its London site with a series of new permanent exhibitions opening in the summer of 2018. The multi-million pound development programme will see investments in new exhibitions, improved education and volunteering opportunities, and landscaping that will emphasise the site’s importance as a heritage airfield. It will improve the visitor experience, extend the Museum’s reach to new audiences and create a lasting legacy to mark the Centenary.

The enhanced aircraft collection at Cosford will enable the RAF’s story to be more comprehensively represented to museum audiences in the Midlands. In addition, plans for 2018 will include displays exploring the first 100 years of the RAF, the role it plays today and its future contributions. Making the RAF story available to a global audience there will be a huge investment in the Museum’s online offer.

Aviation fans can keep up to date with the centenary aircraft moves and on-going developments by signing up to the museum’s free e-Newsletter http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/contact-us/newsletters.aspx

Entrance to the museum is free of charge and the museum is open daily from 10am until 4pm. For further information, please visit the museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford .

This Valentine’s Day give your loved one a romantic gift with wings on…..something extra special and meaningful…..available now from the Royal Air Force Museum shop!

A charming selection of sweetheart items for him and her are now available to purchase in both the London and Cosford on-site museum shops as well as online at www.rafmuseum.org.

Sweetheart Brooch – The ideal gift for the most important women in your life, one of our most popular pieces of jewellery the sweetheart poppy broch is the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day. This decorative piece features a flower covered in red and black crystals and comes beautifully boxed and includes a verse from the famous war time poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ – £14.00.

Lancaster Cufflinks – Love is in the air! Surprise him this Valentine’s Day with these stylish Lancaster cufflinks. The ideal gift for any aviation buff, these cufflinks come presented in an official Royal Air Force gift box and are a fun accessory to be worn to your Valentine’s Day dinner – £14.99.

RAF Crest Watch – This stunning watch was made exclusively for the Royal Air Force Museum by Sekonda. The stainless steel numbers are clear to read against the black face which features the RAF crest in vibrant silver. Presented in a Sekonda gift box, it is ready to be given to your loved one on 14th February. The watch is also covered by a 2 year manufactures guarantee – £49.99.

Heroes and Sweethearts vol 2 CD & DVD – Get into the Valentine’s mood with the Heroes & Sweethearts album including over 60 timeless pieces of music from a time of innocence and romance of triumph and of tragedy that both inspired and defined a generation. This top quality package will take you back in time with over 3 hours of music offering the iconic sounds of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and many more – £8.99.

RAF Eagle ornament with engraved base – This exquisite model of the RAF Eagle is shown with talons extended in attacking mode and makes for an unusual but grand gift for a loved one! Made in the UK out of cold cast bronze, the model is completed with a metal plaque with your chosen engraving attached to a wooden base. Personalise your ornament with an engraving via the RAF Museum website, allowing two weeks for the engraving to be completed, so be quick to ensure Valentine’s Day delivery! – £155.00.

Fridge Magnet – If you like your Valentine’s Day presents to include a back handed compliment why not give her this nostalgic fridge magnet with the phrase ‘Both of us can’t look good at the same time….it’s either me or the house’? We cannot, however, guarantee that it will be well received – £2.50.

To see the full range of Valentine’s gifts available from the RAF Museum shop, visit www.rafmuseum.org.