Following winter maintenance and successful pre-season engine tests, our live aircraft are set to bring the new season roaring to life on Sunday 3rd April for the first of the new season’s “Thunder Days”!

The WWII Douglas C-47 Dakota made a smooth start up in February, following the successful replacement of two cylinders, pistons, heads and valves on the troublesome starboard engine, along with the resetting of all the valve clearances and timings of both the Pratt & Whitney engines. The aircraft also performed well in the well-subscribed Nightshoot photographic event on Friday 18th March, so all is looking good.

Like the post war De Havilland Devon twin-prop, both these aircraft start amidst a belch of smoke, and sometimes a flame or two, making a great spectacle for visitors to enjoy at close, but safe, distance, under the watchful eye of the Museums volunteer Fire Team. This highly trained group will also be providing the early birds with some fire team activities, give kids (of all ages!) the chance to have a go knocking down some bollards with a jet of water. Later, they will be performing a very realistic rescue scenario, to hone their Civil Aviation Authority accredited skills, which should be exciting to watch!

The evocative WWI bi-plane fighters, in the form of the Royal aircraft Factory SE5a and the diminutive Eastchurch PV8 Kitten, designed as a ‘Zeppelin killer’, will be started up both late morning and during the afternoon, complementing the newly opened ‘Gas Bags to Super Zeppelins’ exhibition. Another fascinating display for visitors to enjoy.

The real thunder will be provided by the mighty jets of the Nimrod MR2 XV250, with its four Rolls Royce Spey engines, and the ever popular and impressive Handley Page Victor XL231, which will make the ground shake as the four Rolls Royce Conway’s power up. The heady smell of aviation fuel will fill the air after these aircraft have done their stuff! A true treat for all the senses at this popular event!

Programme of Activities:
10:00am Museum Opens
10: 30am Fire Team activities
11:15am SE5a and PV8 Kitten
13:00pm De Havilland Devon
13:45pm Douglas Dakota
14:30pm Nimrod XV250
15:15pm Victor XL231
15:50pm SE5a and PV8 Kitten
16:00pm Aircraft emergency Rescue (from Nimrod)

Admission: £12 Adult; £10 Concession (Seniors, Students, Serving Forces Personnel); £5 Child (5-15) and £30 Family (2A + 3 CH.).

www.yorkshireairmuseum.org

Tags: 2016, March, News, Yorkshire Air Museum