The trustees of the Newark Air Museum (NAM) are delighted to announce that they have entered into an agreement with the Imperial War Museums (IWM) to accept the most generous transfer of Eurofighter Typhoon DA4 (ZH560) to the museum. Preparations are now underway to move DA4 to NAM’s Gateway Aviation Site in north eastern Nottinghamshire, close to the Lincolnshire county border.

The process to transfer this significant airframe started during the summer, when IWM announced its availability for disposal as part of a review of its extensive aviation collection. This review has identified objects that do not fully fit with its remit to tell the stories of the causes, course and consequence of war from the First World War to the present day in Britain and the former Empire.

In the documents notifying interested parties of the proposed disposal the IWM’s Disposals Manager made the following comments about the DA4 airframe.

“As a prototype, this airframe is an experimental model and is not representative of a production or operational aircraft. DA4 was one of the seven original industry development aircraft before becoming a RAF ground instructional airframe.”

Following a visit to IWM’s Duxford site by Dave Hibbert, Museum Trustee & Acquisitions Officer, NAM was able to confirm to the IWM Disposals Manager that the DA4 airframe fulfilled several criteria in the museum’s stated Collecting Policies, including:

“Aircraft used in a Training role, this because of our local connections with Flying Training.

Aircraft which show the development of the Jet Fighter / Bomber from the Post War period.”

Another important factor for NAM trying to secure DA4 was that it had been based at nearby RAF Coningsby, Lincs, where the airframe had been used for training ground crew specialists for the Royal Air Force. As such displaying DA4 at Newark would allow them to provide good public domain access to the aircraft for the local RAF and aviation community.

An initial letter of intent to proceed with the transfer was received by NAM in late July 2019. Since that time liaison-work has been ongoing between the two museums to confirm a suitable date for the move to be completed. Following more recent contacts with IWM Duxford, the move has been scheduled to take place in early 2020.

“We are honoured, excited and extremely proud to have secured such a fantastic airframe for the collection,” commented Dave Hibbert. He continued, “We are especially grateful for the assistance provided by the IWM staff in helping us to start the process of undertaking this landmark transfer.”

He concluded, “We are now looking forward to working with the IWM team at Duxford during the coming months to complete this move in an efficient and professional manner.”

www.newarkairmuseum.org

He’s an expert on aircraft at Yeovilton’s Fleet Air Arm Museum and a familiar face from television documentaries, now senior curator David Morris is highlighting some of his top 100 favourite items at the museum during a special exclusive evening at 6pm on Tuesday 3rd December.

The evening coincides with the publication of two new books by David, both available on the night. “The Fleet Air Arm and RNAS* in 100 Objects” and “Corsair KD431 revisited”. The Fleet Air Arm Museum has one of the last remaining Second World War Corsairs painted in authentic colours.

David Morris, senior curator at The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm Museum explains:
“Only six years after man had successfully flown for the first time in 1903, the Royal Navy saw the potential of taking flying machines to sea. Initially they were used for aerial surveillance but quickly became involved in combat. We are so lucky to have a vast collection – Europe’s largest – at the Fleet Air Arm Museum – and it’s been thrilling to pick some of my favourites to share.

“Those attending the evening might be surprised at my choices. They include a simple deck hook or arrestor hook, the immensely strong metal hook fitted to aircraft and used to catch a wire on a ship’s deck to bring the aircraft to a halt. This is perhaps the one object that is unique to naval aviation. It is perhaps ‘the’ most definitive naval aviation object in the book.

“Probably my all-time favourite involves First World War Naval Air Fitter Henry Allingham, who was born in 1896, alive in three centuries (he died in 2009 age 113) and possibly unique in that he had the potential to have seen every object in the book. The bronze bust of Henry, on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum simply has to be object No1 in my list of favourites.”

Doors open at 6pm and tickets cost £15 and include mulled wine and mince pies, rum and gin tasting and an opportunity to visit the museum and its ship. Tickets are available online at www.fleetairarm.com/event

Date: 11-16 November 2019

Time: 10:15am-1:00pm

Cost: £6.00 per person (under 16s free)

This month, the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will open its doors, allowing Museum visitors behind the scenes access to aircraft conservation projects and the chance to speak with the teams who carry out this vital work.

From 11-16 November visitors can get up close to the current conservation projects undertaken by the Museum’s team of Technicians, Apprentices and Volunteers during the annual Conservation Centre Open Week. Highlights will include the newly restored Second World War Westland Lysander III (S.D.) fuselage, and the Handley Page Hampden fuselage, which is now nearing completion. The Open Week in November will be the last opportunity for aviation fans to view both aircraft at Cosford before they move to the RAF Museum London for public display in the new year.

The Lysander has now been restored to its form glory after undergoing three years of conservation work including a new fabric outer skin and complete repaint. As the only surviving Special Duties variant of its type, the Lysander is now painted in No 161 Squadron Special Ops colour scheme, reflecting its service towards the end of the war in non-operational special transport services.

Nearing the end of almost 30 years of restoration, the Hampden is one of only three examples of the type remaining, recovered from a crash site in northern Russia in 1991. The aircraft now has all four fuselage components fully assembled, attached and painted in its original 144 Squadron colour scheme and serial number. The Hampden restored at Cosford is the first complete fuselage section in the UK since the mid-1940s.

The Open Week is also an opportunity to see the Messerschmitt Me 410 in a stripped back condition with engines and internal structure fully visible for the first time. The Me 410 was moved into the Conservation Centre earlier this year for a short-term restoration programme and is due to go back on display in the Museums War in the Air hangar before Christmas.

RAF Museum Conservation Centre Manager, Darren Priday said:
“It’s hard to believe that the Open Week is upon us again. For regular visitors, this will be the last chance to see the Hampden and Lysander before both head to our sister Museum in north London for public display. New this year will be the chance for our visitors to see the Me 410 in more detail than would normally be possible when the aircraft is on display; the aircraft will go back on public display late November. As always, a warm welcome awaits our visitors.”

Repeat visitors will be able to view the on-going restoration of the Vickers Wellington. One of two remaining Wellingtons, the aircraft at Cosford is the only complete example of its type. Since its arrival at Cosford in June 2010, the Wellington has been stripped of its linen outer skin so that work to repair small amounts of corrosion to the geodetic framework could take place. The wings are now free of corrosion and have been painted in a protective layer and the fuselage will soon undergo the same treatment. Following this, the aircraft will then be re-covered in Irish linen, doped and painted in its Bomber Command colour scheme.

Members of the public who have followed the story of the world’s last surviving Dornier Do 17 will be able to get up close to the aircrafts forward fuselage and learn more about the project. Clear of the marine crustacean that has coated the aircraft for 73 years underwater, the fragile fuselage will be on display for visitors to view. Previously destined for the RAF Museum’s London site, the aircraft will now remain at Cosford and will eventually go on display in a specially controlled environment to help preserve the remains of the sole surviving example and to best tell its remarkable story. Fellow German aircraft LVG CVI, a two-seat reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft used during the First World War, built mainly of wood and fabric, will also be on display in a stripped back condition.

There will be much more than just aircraft on show during the annual open week. The Range Safety Launch (RSL) 43ft boat, number 1667 is one of the centre’s longest running projects and demonstrates the diversity of the role played by the Royal Air Force in protecting our nation. Most of the conservation work on RSL 1667 has been carried out by the Museum’s team of engineering Volunteers.

The Conservation Centre will open from 11-16 November between 10.15am and 1.00pm each day and admission is £6.00 per person (children under 16 are free and must be accompanied by an adult). The Museum’s display hangars will open from 10.00am until 4.00pm and entry is free of charge. For further information or to purchase tickets in advance visit: www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.

PLUS…in addition to the Open Week, visitors will also have the exciting opportunity to climb on board the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XV249 during daily tours running throughout the open week. Visit the Museum website for more details and to purchase tickets in advance.