Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster fly in for Large Model Air Show

BBMF at Large Model Aircraft Rally

Date: 6-7 July 2019

Time: Gates open 8.30am

Cost: £8.00 in advance (until 3 July) / £10.00 on the gate

A flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster is set to wow crowds at the forthcoming Large Model Air Show taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July. The flypast is in addition to the hundreds of model aircraft taking to the skies during the two-day family event.

The Large Model Air Show is part of the Museum’s ‘Summer of Spitfire’ programme of events and activities where visitors can expect to see a spectacular mass formation Spitfire flypast, followed by the chance to get a closer look at the models in the static display line-up later in the show. Listen out for the unmistakable sound of a real Spitfire as the BBMF treat visitors to a Spitfire and Hurricane flypast on Saturday and Lancaster flypast on Sunday, an exciting highlight both days not to be missed! (weather permitting)

The popular event takes place on the airfield at RAF Cosford and even offers visitors the unique opportunity to camp on the airfield, so why not turn the weekend into a mini break and enjoy the exclusive overnight airfield access and weekend entertainment.

On offer both days will be the chance for flying novices to get behind the controls and have a go at flying a scale model aircraft in the ‘Future Pilots Zone’. Families will be kept fully entertained with children’s fun rides, trade stalls and a craft tent to peruse around, alongside an assortment of military vehicles and a Rolls Royce car display (Saturday).

Ticket holders will also have access to the RAF Museum where they can view over 75 historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire Mk1 and a rare reconnaissance Spitfire PR. XIX. Displayed side by side until 1 September, these aircraft illustrate the diverse roles in which the Spitfire served, ranging from a fighter interceptor to high altitude photographic reconnaissance.

The Spitfire theme will continue throughout July and August as the Museum pays homage to one of the most iconic aircraft in history with a packed programme of events and activities.

On selected dates throughout August interactive family friendly Spitfire Storytelling will take place in the War in the Air hangar located next to the Spitfire and delivered by costumed re-enactors. Enjoy Behind the Barriers access for a closer look inside the world’s oldest Spitfire, accompanied by a Second World War handling collection. Capture the fun in the Spitfire Selfie Station packed with giant Spitfire props and uniforms to try, a perfect memento of your visit.

There will be more Spitfire fun throughout two of the Museum’s big summers events, the Cosford Food Festival and Vintage and Handmade Festival taking place on the 20—21 July and 17-18 August respectively. Soak up the festival atmosphere whist sipping on a glass of Spitfire Heritage Gin, keep a look out for the stand at both events selling the prestige gin by the glass and the bottle. There will be plenty of Spitfire themed fun for youngsters to enjoy at the Cosford Food Festival including Spitfire cupcake and biscuit decorating. At the Vintage and Handmade Festival children can get crafty in the mini makers tent making peg Spitfires before heading to Spitfire School in the Second World War hut!

The Museum will host two exclusive RAF Stories Spitfire talks with Candida Adkins, daughter of female Spitfire Pilot, Jackie Moggridge who will be sharing her personal stories about her mother on 3 August. On 31 August, listen to the first-hand experiences from Air Cdre Paul Godfrey who enjoyed a distinguished RAF career, including three seasons with the BBMF flying the Spitfire, Hurricane and Chipmunk.

Step inside the new Virtual Reality Zone and experience the thrill of flying in a Spitfire. Located in the Test Flight hangar, this brand-new experience places you in the cockpit and 10,000 feet in the air for a panoramic view of a real Spitfire flight. With the use of VR goggles, fun focussed visitors can enjoy a 6-minute flight and see first-hand what it’s like to taxi and take-off in a Spitfire, and of course….no flight would be complete without a circuit of the airfield, including low passes and a loop de loop, before landing and taxiing into the hangar. The footage developed exclusively for the RAF Museum is the first of several new VR experiences on board real aircraft to become available, with more flights arriving soon. The experience costs just £5 per person and is suitable for visitors ages 13+.

The Summer of Spitfire will conclude on the 1 September at the annual Spitfire 10K and Spitfire Family Run. The 10K will see 1,500 runners take to the airfield and sprinting down the runway, each wearing their roll of honour card, paying tribute to Pilots who lost their lives during the Battle of Britain. Upon completion, runners will be rewarded with a bespoke 2019 Spitfire 10K medal. The 10K is already sold out but there are a limited number of places still available for the Family Run that will see hundreds of families with younger children run a shorter 1km race route around the Museum grounds, past iconic aircraft.

For more details on the packed Summer of Spitfire programme of events and activities and to view a wide range of Spitfire Merchandise including many exclusive items visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.

The Museum is open daily from 10.00am. Admission is free.

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