Cockpit-Fest Newark Air Museum
This year’s Cockpit-Fest ‘migration’ has started with the first cockpit already on site at Newark Air Museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire; close to the border with Lincolnshire
Newark Air Museum is a registered charity located on part of the former site of RAF Winthorpe and its two day Cockpit-Fest event attracts exhibitors from across the UK and Europe, to sample what one aviation magazine editor calls “grass roots aircraft preservation”.
From its humble beginnings, when a few like-minded enthusiasts first displayed the cockpit sections at the museum; Cockpit-Fest now regularly attracts, many more visiting cockpits and associated displays. This year twenty-five (25) visiting cockpits are already booked to attend. It has also developed a word to describe the participants – ‘Cockpiteer’; many of whom have lovingly rebuilt and restored these projects at home, Cockpit-Fest giving them the chance to display them in public.
The event is supported by a range of organisations and individuals; with the public being encouraged to have a say in deciding, which is the best cockpit by voting on their favourite display and from these results prizes are awarded.
Cockpit-Fest also attracts other visiting displays like the Raptor Foundation with its owls; local history / archaeological groups; book launches; and even more aviation related displays such as clothing and historical artefacts. As an added bonus this year’s event has flypasts by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on both days.
Running alongside Cockpit-Fest is an Aeroboot aviation and avionics sale, which allows Cockpiteers and the public to search out those aviation artefacts, books and models.
This year’s event takes place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16thth June; and full details can be found on the News & Information page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org