Archive for June, 2021

GAF Jindivik arrives at Newark Air Museum

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

Newark Jindivik

Earlier this year the trustees of Newark Air Museum advised they were taking ownership of GAF Jindivik, A92-708. They are now pleased to confirm that the Jindivik was collected from Aerospace Bristol on Monday 28th June, 2021 and delivered to their Gateway Aviation Site in eastern Nottinghamshire.

The Jindivik had been in store at Aerospace Bristol’s site at Patchway, Bristol and the collection of the exhibit was timed to take place after the easing of some Covid-19 guidelines across England.

As an Accredited Museum, the trustees of Newark Air Museum were able to facilitate the transfer of this exhibit in quite a simple manner. The trustees appreciate the assistance provided by Stefanie Vincent AMA, Collections Manager at Aerospace Bristol throughout the acquisition process.

“We are extremely grateful to Aerospace Bristol for helping us to complete this latest acquisition”, reiterated museum trustee Colin Savill, he continued. “From its use a target drone the Jindivik lies within two of our collecting remits; it will also complement the museum’s UAV display. The UAV display was established as a collaborative exercise with the Institute of Engineering and Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG) at the University of Nottingham and the RAF Museum, Hendon.”

“Firstly, it fits within our training collection where we have a considerable aircraft collection and other training aids. Secondly it complements our developing munitions display including Blue Steel, Yellow Sun, various missiles and bomb disposal equipment.”

He concluded, “Now it has arrived we plan to assemble the Jindivik and display it close to our entrance area. Our long term aim is to be able to display it under cover. We are really pleased to have added this to our collection.”

www.newarkairmuseum.org

RAF Museum Conference: New Thinking in Air Power

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

RAF Museum London

16 September – 17 September 2021

Tickets are now available for Royal Air Force Museum’s ‘New Thinking in Air Power’ conference on 16–17 September 2021. The conference will bring together academics and scholars to present Air Power research which challenges the accepted historical consensus.

The conference will feature a keynote address given by Professor John Ferris entitled “Revolutions in Airpower, 1903-2021: An Anatomy” and a Roundtable session chaired by Professor David Edgerton.

The research presented at the conference will offer critical reflections on, and reframe our historical understanding of, Air Power and the past. They will overturn the generally accepted view of events in the light of new evidence and modified interpretations. In doing so, this research revises the conclusions of previous works and challenging myths which have developed within the study of Air Power.

The conference represents an important moment in advancing historical knowledge as well an exciting line-up of speakers from around the World assess the current state of the Air Power historiography and the future direction of Air Power thinking.

The panels hosted at the conference will focus on presenting the latest research on a range of Air Power topics including: The First World War: from East Africa to the Western Front; New Thinking and the Application of Digital Methods to the History of the RAF in the Second World War; Air Power and the Nuclear Paradigm.

There will also be panels reconsidering the motivations of individuals and air forces and a reassessment of Air Power Doctrine and Procurement.

The conference will present research and papers relating to Air Power both in Britain and abroad, with research on the Air Power capabilities of African regional powers; the stigmatization of psychological Issues in the US Army Air Forces; training and air forces in the Middle East, American statecraft and transatlantic collaboration on the Joint Strike Fighter; the Luftwaffe and National Socialism; and Soviet strike capabilities during the Cold War.

The conference keynote will be given by Professor Ferris the author of Behind the Enigma: The Authorised History of GCHQ, Britain’s Secret Cyber Intelligence Agency and The Evolution of British Strategic Policy, 1919-1926. Professor Ferris has published over 100 articles or chapters on diplomatic, intelligence, imperial, international, military and strategic history, and strategic studies. His keynote will explore “Revolutions in Airpower, 1903-2021: An Anatomy”.

The conference will conclude with a roundtable, Chaired by Professor David Edgerton, which will explore both the issues raised at the conference and the future direction of revisionist Air Power history.

Further information is available in the provisional Conference schedule and programme of abstracts and biographies.

Location
The conference will be hosted at the Royal Air Force Museum, London, on Thursday 16 – Friday 17 September 2021.

TICKETS
This is a two-day conference, each ticket provides access to both days of the conference. Lunch and refreshments on both days are included in the cost.
Conference fee: £85
Concession* rate: £60

* The Concession rate applies to Students, retired delegates, and those that clearly work from limited budgets, as part of the RAF Museum’s commitment to make the conference as inclusive as possible.

Book here Buy Tickets for Royal Air Force Museum Conference: New Thinking in Air Power (digitickets.co.uk)

www.rafmuseum.org

Legendary Red Arrows to headline Duxford Summer Air Show this July with tickets on sale from today

Monday, June 28th, 2021

Duxford Red Arrows

IWM Duxford is gearing up for a summer of thrilling entertainment in the air and on the ground at the Duxford Summer Air Show on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July, with tickets on sale from today. Promising fun for the whole family, Duxford’s first air show since 2019 will feature spectacular sights in the sky from the world-famous Red Arrows, parachuting displays courtesy of the Falcons and wingwalking from Aerosuperbatics. There will also be a host of over aircraft taking flight over the historic airfield, including the last remaining airworthy B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ in Europe and dynamic displays from The Blades. For the first time, an airside Flightline Walk will be included in the ticket cost giving visitors the chance to see the aircraft up close before they take to the skies.

New for this year, entry to Duxford Summer Air Show will be via three zones (Blue, Green and Red), each of which contain everything you need to enjoy a fantastic day at Duxford. Each zone will include dedicated viewing areas, food and drink stalls, retail traders, ground activities, entrance and exit, toilets and car parking and visitors will be required to stay within their designated zone throughout the day.

Each zone will offer no shortage of entertainment on the ground with the Blue Zone featuring a First World War RAF pilot living history group, the chance to see historic aircraft being restored and a display from the Airborne Assault Museum where a ‘para sniper’ will tell stories of war from the air. Whilst in the Green Zone, the Laguna Spitfire Legacy will bring to life the support given to Britain by Polish pilots during the Second World War and Historic Aircraft Collection will showcase an array of static aircraft. In the Red Zone, see amazing items from the Royal Anglian Museum, including uniforms and rationed food; tank demonstrations from Duxford Aviation Society and more living history groups re-creating home front life during the Second World War.

For more information about each zone, please refer to the website.

IWM Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, said “Air shows have been a highly anticipated fixture on the IWM Duxford events calendar for many years so we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors back to the Duxford Summer Air Show this July. We are delighted to have secured such an amazing array of aircraft and flying acts which will provide hours of entertainment for visitors. Those familiar with our air shows will notice a few changes we have introduced in order to enable this event to go ahead in the safest way possible and we are confident it will be a memorable weekend, allowing us to get back to what we do best!”

Alongside designated zones, IWM has also introduced other additional measures to keep visitors, staff and volunteers safe on site and ensure social distancing during the air show. On arrival, ticket holders over the age of 11 will be asked to produce evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result or proof they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination. All hangars and indoor exhibition spaces will be closed for the duration of the air show, with all historic ground activity being focused outdoors. Please refer to the website for full details regarding entry requirements and other health and safety measures we have introduced to keep everyone safe at this event.

Newark Air Museum Outdoor Aeroboot Aviation & Avionics Sale

Monday, June 21st, 2021

Newark Aeroboot 2021

DATE: Saturday 3rd July, 2021

The next Newark Air Museum Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble Sale at the museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire takes place on Saturday 3rd July, 2021. This charity fund raising event has attracted interest from a wide range of sellers and once again is a sell-out event.

The funds that the museum raises from organising the event will be used to support the development of facilities at its Gateway Aviation Site, which is located in eastern Nottinghamshire close to the Lincolnshire border.

More than forty-five (45) sellers, who come from around the UK will have selling spaces on the wide expanses of our Southfield Site, close to the aircraft display line and the museum café.

The sale is being organised on a Covid-Secure basis and everyone entering will need to comply with the current Step 3 Covid-Regulations. The most significant aspect being the need to provide Contact details for Track & Trace. Anyone who has the NHS App will be able to scan themselves in to gain access to the site; other visitors will have to provide contact details, which will be kept in line with the 21-day data requirements.

Buyers / visitors who attend this fund raising event will have the opportunity to search through a varied selection of aviation and avionic items: including books, paintings, prints, DVDs, plastic kits, die-cast models, clothing, radio equipment and aircraft parts. Regular updates / seller’s information are being posted on the news page of the museum website www.newarkairmuseum.org

Buyers / visitors at this event will be able to access the museum site on Saturday 3rd July, 2021 at a special discounted admission price of just £5.00 per person.

The museum opening times will be 09.00 to 17.00 hours; with the sale taking place between 09.00 and 14.00 hours; to get the best bargains we suggest that you get there early.

Further details are available on the Events Page of the museum website www.newarkairmuseum.org or by telephoning 01636 707170.

World’s Greatest Airshow Gets Airborne – Virtually

Thursday, June 17th, 2021

Virtual Air Tattoo

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Virtual Air Tattoo, organisers of the world’s greatest airshow will once again deliver a first-class feast of flying entertainment for aviation fans around the globe next month.

Whilst airshow supporters will have to wait until July 15-17, 2022, to experience an actual Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, they will be able to enjoy the next best thing with a six-hour, free-to-view, live-streamed virtual event on Saturday, July 17, 2021, from 10am to 4pm.

Presented once again by Air Tattoo commentators and aviation experts Ben Dunnell and Mark Manwaring, the exclusive programme will feature contributions from the Royal Air Force and air arms from around the globe.

Making a welcome return will be the virtual flying aces who wowed viewers last year with their aerobatic displays flown, like their real military counterparts, with pinpoint precision. And with no actual Air Tattoo taking place this summer, it will be left to the virtual event to turn the spotlight on the airshow’s 50th anniversary with specially filmed packages celebrating this important aviation milestone.

The programme will be filmed by Planes TV and hosted from a live studio in Fairford. As well as featuring new content, special guests and interviews, the show will invite viewers’ questions via social media, making the Virtual Air Tattoo a truly interactive experience.

Air Tattoo Head of Marketing Helen Webb said: “Last year’s virtual event attracted an audience of over a million. We received so much positive feedback that we were determined to build on its success. Next month’s Virtual Air Tattoo will look to capture some of the thrills and excitement we would have all enjoyed had we been able to stage the real thing. This includes making sure we have the opportunity to celebrate the airshow’s 50th anniversary. It will be an unmissable event for aviation fans.”

During the event, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the Air Tattoo’s parent charity. Text TRUST to 70490 to donate £5 (texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message). Also through Virgin Money Giving: https://bit.ly/rafcharitable

www.airtattoo.com

WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FORCES

Tuesday, June 8th, 2021

#FootstepsOfOurForces

PUBLIC ASKED TO MARK THIS YEAR’S ARMED FORCES WEEK BY WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FORCES

• The National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Army Museum, Royal Air Force Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission are marking this year’s Armed Forces Week by launching a virtual walking event, In the Footsteps of Our Forces
• The four organisations are appealing to the public to take inspiration from Captain Sir Tom Moore and get active; by participating in a 5,10 or 25K walk around historic sites in their local community, reflecting on the incredible contribution of our service personnel
• Participants can choose their distance and join hundreds of others across the country to walk in honour of those who serve. As a virtual walk they can participate and complete the challenge from anywhere in the world and all will receive a medal for their achievement

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), National Army Museum (NAM), the Royal Air Force Museum (RAFM) and Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) are delighted to announce the launch of a country-wide celebration of our service personnel in conjunction with this years Armed Forces Week (21 – 27 June). All four organisations have come together to host a virtual walk event In the Footsteps of Our Forces, and are appealing to the public to reflect on and celebrate the role of our Armed Forces today and in the past.

The virtual walk will kick off on Monday 21 June, Armed Forces Week, and will end on Sunday 4 July. The public will have two weeks to complete their chosen distance of either 5, 15 or 25K. They will also be able to download one of the suggested routes which will take then around museums, war graves, memorials, historical sites and places of remembrance. All of those who complete the walk will be awarded a commemorative medal to mark their achievement

Entry for the In the Footsteps of Our Forces walk is £18 and the money will go towards the three museums, and the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF), which are all registered charities. A discounted ticket of £15 is offered for the Armed Forces Community (including veterans, cadets and serving personnel). If five or more friends or family members enter, they will be eligible for a 10% discount on tickets. If a group of 10 or more enter then a 15% discount will apply. Tickets must be purchased in a single transaction, and medals will be posted to one address.

All four charities preserve the history of the Armed Forces and inspire with stories of sacrifice and courage and have seen visitations to their sites severely impacted in the last year. The money raised will support each organisation in helping to continue to tell the stories of those who served and are still serving in the Armed Forces today.

Amongst the suggested routes includes the routes around historic Hendon, the home of the RAF Museum or through the streets of military Chelsea, the home of the National Army Museum. You can explore the historic docks of the Navy in Portsmouth or use the War Graves app to discover the War Graves and memorials on your doorstep.

The four organisations who worked together last year in creating virtual programmes to commemorate the 75th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day and have been nominated for a Museums and Heritage Award for best Partnership and, are excited to working together again.

Dominic Tweddle Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy says: “Only last week in Portsmouth alongside Admiral Nelson’s Flagship, HMS Victory, we bid farewell to the Strike Carrier Group as it undertook its deployment. This was the largest concentration of maritime and air power to be deployed from the UK in a generation and demonstrates the scale of the UK’s military commitment still today. It is proof that our role as a museum continues to be connecting the work of our service personnel today, with the experience of those 100, 200 and 300 years ago and we hope that that is something that participants in this walk will reflect on.”

Justin Maciejewski, Director of the National Army Museum says “Last Summer we were all humbled at the incredible efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore as he celebrated the work of our NHS through a personnel walking challenge. Inspired by this spirit and determination we hope the public will undertake their own walking challenge in support of the heritage organisations that celebrate and commemorate the work of our Army, Navy and Air Force and perhaps pay a visit to Captain Sir Tom’s Portrait now proudly on display in our Chelsea Museum.”

Maggie Appleton, CEO of the Royal Air Force Museum continues: “The pandemic has required us to think again about the way we commemorate important anniversaries and events. Last year’s incredibly successful VE and VJ Day virtual events in collaboration with our partners, has driven us to seek more ways in which we can work together and it is wonderful to be commemorating the work of our three services together with our colleagues at the other service museums and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”

Claire Horton, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission says: “We think that this walking challenge is a fantastic opportunity to get people out and exploring the war graves and memorials in their local areas and to connect those with the stories of historic and modern service personnel told at our partner museums. Working together in this way helps us all to illustrate the evocative, inspiring and poignant stories we all seek to highlight throughout our work.”

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: “Our Service Museums and the CWGC do vital work in keeping the story of our Armed Forces and their sacrifice alive for future generations. I hope that during this Armed Forces Week, service personnel and members of the public can reflect upon their incredible contribution through this endeavour.”

For further information on how to get involved in In the Footsteps of Our Forces please visit one of the partner websites www.nmrn.org.uk, www.nam.ac.uk, www.rafmuseum.org.uk, www.CWGC.org.

The most exciting air show of 2021, Midlands Air Festival takes place this weekend

Friday, June 4th, 2021

Red Arrows

The spectacular Midlands Air Festival is set to take to the skies with a line-up that will thrill spectators, delight families, and impress even the keenest aviation enthusiast, when it returns to Ragley Hall estate in Warwickshire on 4 – 6 June 2021.

Topping the bill will be the RAF Red Arrows when they make their UK debut performance for 2021 with a new display across all three days of the event. The RAF Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Spitfire pair and RAF Falcons will also feature at this year’s event.

Not only will this be the public’s first opportunity to see the new displays for the 2021 season, but this will also be the first Red Arrows full display in the UK since the pandemic, due to the inevitable cancellation of events up and down the country in 2020.

The ticketed event will also feature the largest display of special shape hot air balloons in Europe in its twice daily mass ascents, an exhilarating progamme of civilian and military air displays and its signature Nightfire event which promises fun for all the family on the opening night. In addition, organisers have secured the mighty B-17 bomber and Rich Goodwin in his radical high powered Muscle Biplane to feature in the exhilarating programme of air displays.

As well as a jam-packed afternoon of air displays, the event will feature over 120 hot air balloons that will be rising high in the twice-daily hot air balloon mass ascents at dawn and dusk, providing an unrivalled spectacle. Special shapes that have been confirmed for the event include Wes the Wolf, the Cornetto Ice Cream, the giant Saucepan, Buddy the smiling friend, Up, Fox, Queens Guardsman and Ordnance Survey.

During the afternoon of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June, the flying display programme will keep visitors’ eyes to the skies. The audience will be treated to WW2 Warbirds, WW1 air displays, fast jets, helicopters, gyroplanes, high energy aerobatic displays, aerial ballet and flying circus acts as well as parachute and formation display teams, all contained within beautiful surroundings of the Ragley Estate.

The Midlands Air Festival will also be bringing back its spectacular signature Friday evening Nightfire show, when darkness falls aircraft fitted with pyrotechnics, fireworks and lighting systems to their wings will take to the skies, followed by a beautiful nightglow where hot air balloons will light up in a choreographed dance of fire all set to music. The finale of show will be a massive firework display to close a truly unforgettable evening.

Tickets are selling fast and selected tickets available from the Midlands Air Festival website. Children under 14 can attend for free, when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance and will be limited to allow for any government distancing guidelines that may be pertaining.

www.midlandsairfestival.com

Air Tattoo Turns Back Clock to Mark 50th Birthday

Tuesday, June 1st, 2021

Air Tattoo 50th

A Battle of Britain airfield in Essex provided the setting yesterday (May 31) for a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

North Weald airfield was the Air Tattoo’s first home when it was established in 1971 and to mark the occasion an aircraft that took part in the inaugural airshow returned to join the celebration.

The Jodel D140C Mousquetaire, registration G-ATKX, was among 80 aircraft to take part in the first Air Tattoo, which was organised by the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA). Around 12,000 people attended in 1971 and what differentiated it from previous annual air displays held at the airfield was the involvement of aircraft from international air arms.

Tim Prince and fellow Boscombe Down air trafficker Paul Bowen were among the original Air Tattoo organising team, led by Sqn Ldr Jack Currie, and with the support of thousands of volunteers over the years, they went on to establish the event as the world’s largest military airshow.

Tim was at North Weald to welcome back the Jodel and he was joined by the Air Tattoo’s current CEO Paul Atherton; one of the airshow’s first volunteers Peter March; author of ‘Air Tattoo 50’ Ben Dunnell and Alan Smith, Chairman of RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises. During the event, a special 50th anniversary cake was cut and Tim was treated to flight in the Jodel, piloted by owner Phillip Petitt.

Tim said: “Returning to the birthplace of what is now the Royal International Air Tattoo has been very special for me as I am reminded of all of the wonderful people who volunteered their time and energies and came together to stage Air Tattoo 71; whether civilian, RAF, Army, Royal Navy or Air Cadets we all stepped into the unknown and staged an event that was to become world famous as the stage for the air forces of the world to meet annually in a spirit of friendship and cooperation whilst inspiring the next generation of aviators through the magic of flying.”

Paul Atherton said: “The Air Tattoo has an illustrious history and its success over the past 50 years is a result of the incredible support provided by the US Air Force, the Royal Air Force, international air arms and the aerospace industry. That this support continues to this day is testament to the professionalism, passion and hard work of the organising team, many of whom are volunteers, who come together each year to stage this unique event.

“Of course, it’s hugely disappointing for everyone involved that the pandemic has meant we’ve been unable to stage an Air Tattoo in its 50th year but we plan to be back bigger and better in 2022 to open a new and exciting chapter in the event’s history.”

The Royal International Air Tattoo, which is staged in support of the RAF Charitable Trust, will take place at RAF Fairford on July 15-17, 2022.

www.airtattoo.com