Progress has been made with the carried over restoration work on Lightning T5 XS417 at Newark Air Museum (NAM).
The recent spell of warmer weather has allowed the museum’s volunteers to apply the 56 Squadron ’Firebird’ makings to the tailfin of XS417. This work brings the successful completion of this particular project much closer to a conclusion.
In other news, the on-loan cockpit of Lightning F6 cockpit from XR757, left the museum site on Thursday 26th March, 2026 for a new home in North East Lincolnshire.
This cockpit arrived at NAM in summer 2015, when it had to vacate its previous display location at the former RAF Scampton airfield. Its new display location is much closer to the owner’s home in Lincolnshire. During its time at NAM there were limited opportunities for museum visitors to view inside the cockpit.
A specialist team of Dustbusters with a head for heights are carrying out the annual suspended aircraft spring clean at the RAF Museum Midlands.
Suspended from the ceiling, up to 100ft in the air, eight aircraft including a Vulcan bomber, will all be given a light dusting this week as part of the annual clean and inspection. Other aircraft being spruced up include a Canberra, Meteor, Sabre, Hunter, Lightning, Dakota and Javelin, all displayed within the Museum’s National Cold War Exhibition.
Strapped into harnesses and with nerves of steel, the specialist cleaning team climb the rafters of the building and abseil down to access the aircraft. No cleaning solutions are used on the aircraft, just a good dusting using large soft fibre mops. In addition to cleaning the aircraft, the team are also conducting safety inspections of the suspension cables supporting the aircraft in their flying display positions.
‘Each aircraft in our collection has its own story and maintaining them properly is essential to ensuring those stories can continue to be shared with future generations. The suspended displays are some of the most striking in the Museum, but they also require a very specialised approach to care. It’s fantastic to work with a team that can safely access these aircraft and carry out such work with precision, helping us keep them in excellent condition for everyone who visits.’
Following a record-breaking half term week, enthralling visitors with what life was like during wartime in the 1940’s, the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire was dealt a devastating blow, losing all power on the evening of 19th Feb, and keeping their doors firmly closed for three weeks.
The Museum which has become a major player on the wider tourism scene over the last few years, has had to reschedule a number of their popular evening talks, along with a large number of school and group visits and regular weekly sessions. Regular visitors to the Museum and Café have been desperately awaiting news of when the popular Museum would reopen, but due to major investigative works, the car park remained empty and the Museum remained in darkness.
But good news is on the horizon, with the Museum due to reopen its doors on Friday 13th March.
Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum, Lucy Johnson said “An unexpected situation is always difficult to manage, and for charities in particular, when finances are often challenging, it can feel even more overwhelming. Having to close in the middle of our biggest half term week ever was a huge blow for the whole team and we were very sad to disappoint those booked in. We have been without power for nearly 3 weeks which has had a huge impact on our income, but we have been bowled over by the messages of support we have received, and we are delighted to now be working to reopen on Friday and welcome our visitors back. And with the Easter holidays are only a few short weeks away, we can’t wait for the Museum to be full of life again!”
The Museum has another packed programme lined up for the Easter holidays including their popular Easter Egg Hunt, trails, crafts and much more. With a number of evening and daytime talks rescheduled, there is lots to see and do at the Museum this spring for all ages, as the team build up to their main fundraising event Wallop Wheels and Wings on 11 July, which this year is more important than ever in raising much needed funds for this much loved local charity.
The afternoon of Sunday 22nd March 2026 will see the return of our popular live at the museum event as a prelude to the museum re-opening for the 2026 season.
Travel back in time to the 1980’s and experience the sights and sounds of a combat alert at RAF Bentwaters during the Cold War in a unique night at the Bentwaters Cold War Museum.
Join our uniformed re-enactors for a ‘Live’ afternoon in the Command Post Operations Room, and watch from the gallery as they re-enact a scenario depicting real combat operations. It’s an opportunity to see what really happened in the Cold War and the perfect opportunity to take some very unique photos!
The event starts at 14.30pm with the ”combat alert” repeated three times during the afternoon, with each session limited to just 30 people, however whichever time slot you book you are welcome to join us for the whole afternoon to look around the museum exhibition rooms, enjoy our outdoor displays floodlit for the evening, or enjoy refreshments in our diner which will be open from 14.30 until 6pm when the event finishes.
There are 30 places available for each timed live re-enactment at 15:00,16:00 & 17:00.
Visitors to Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey are about to get the chance to step back in time like never before with behind-the-scenes exclusive access exploring some of the most iconic aircraft, racing cars and motorcycles in British history.
The experiences, which begin in March, give rare up-close access to legendary machines including the Vickers Wellington MK1A bomber, Hawker Hurricane MK.IIA, Napier-Railton, Delage 15-S-8, Rudge V-Twin motorcycle, and AKD motorcycle. The tours are carefully curated for enthusiasts and history lovers alike and include expert insight and exclusive archive experiences.
2026 Signature Technical Tour Dates:
10 March and 4 June – Vickers Wellington (bomber) MK1A
12 March, 14 May and 3 September – Napier-Railton
21 April and 4 August – Hawker Hurricane MK.IIA
21 May – Rudge V-Twin Motorcycle
18 June and 6 August – Delage 15-S-8
16 July – AKD Motorcycle
Every tour, of no more than 12 people, begins in the historic Edwardian Clubhouse with refreshments of hot or cold drinks and pastries. Guests will then step back in time and be immersed in the rich history of Brooklands, discovering how the site has evolved over the years. Visitors will then get up close to their chosen vehicle or aircraft, exploring its hidden secrets. The experience takes a more immersive turn when it moves trackside or into the shed or hangar for a detailed technical tour, offering a unique opportunity to get up-close to the icons of the track and air. Guests will have exclusive access and a hands-on discovery in Brooklands Museum’s archive store; which includes object handling and insight into rarely seen artefacts connected to the chosen vehicle or aircraft.
Alex Patterson, Director and CEO at Brooklands Museum, said, “We’re incredibly excited to open up parts of Brooklands Museum that most visitors never get to see. Our Behind the Scenes Technical Tours are about so much more than looking at historic aircraft, racing cars and motorcycles – they’re about discovering the untold stories and experiencing the engineering genius up close, with unprecedented access to historical objects not available on public display. With places strictly limited, it’s a great opportunity for families and enthusiasts to connect with Britain’s pioneering spirit in a way that’s powerful, personal and unforgettable.”
**NOTES**
Tickets are from £80 per person and are limited to ensure an exclusive, intimate and special discovery experience – adults and children 16 years only or older. Advance booking is essential.
These special tours are aimed at motoring and aviation enthusiasts, historians, and anyone passionate about engineering excellence, Brooklands Museum’s Behind the Scenes Technical Tours offer an unforgettable journey into Britain’s pioneering past.
On the 30th of April 1980, six-armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington in London, it was a siege that was to last for six days.
The gunmen took 26 people hostage including embassy staff, several visitors and a police officer who had been guarding the embassy.
By the sixth day of the siege, the gunmen, frustrated at the lack of progress to their demands, killed a hostage and threw his body out of the embassy.
The British Special Air Service (SAS) initiated Operation Nimrod to rescue the remaining hostages, abseiling from the roof and forcing entry through the windows. The raid, which was televised live on a bank holiday evening, became a defining moment in British History.
The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire are thrilled to give you the opportunity to hear from a veteran of Red Team, B Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment as he describes the events of the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980 at the Museum on Monday 9th March.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear and ask questions of the first-hand account of someone who was there. A Trooper of Red Team that entered the embassy on a caving ladder through the light well. A replica model of the embassy will also be on display for visitors to view.
This special evening at the Museum is set to be a real treat for visitors as they hear this account in the stunning surroundings of the Hayward Hall amidst the many aircraft in the Museum’s collection.
Sunday, 5th April, Easter Sunday (First open day) Sunday, 19th April Sunday, 3rd May Sunday, 17th May Sunday, 31st May Sunday, 14th June Sunday, 21st June Sunday, 12th July Sunday, 26th July Sunday, 9th August Sunday, 16th August Sunday 30th August Monday, 31st August (Bank Holiday Monday) Sunday, 20th September Sunday, 27th September Sunday, 11th October Sunday, 25th October Sunday, 8th November (Remembrance Sunday – Final open day)
The Centre is situated within the campus of the National Construction College East (NCC) at Bircham Newton, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH. The Centre is easy to find in West Norfolk, where there are many road signs giving directions to NCC. The Heritage Centre is located near the B1155 road, from Stanhoe to Great Bircham, which passes through the NCC site. It is close to CITB’s Conference Centre. Additional direction signs are displayed within the campus on open days. There is also a large external sign which will help you to locate the building from the car park. This open day schedule will also be pinned in the noticeboard outside the Heritage Centre.
Best way to find us by navigation is Google maps, simply search RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre. Or what3words: (///dime.highlight.turns)
If you wish to visit the Heritage Centre, but are not able to make an open day, we are open to arranging Ad Hoc Visits. This is subject to availability of Volunteers. Please contact us by email or ringing the number provided below.
If you need to contact the Heritage Centre team, please call Chairman of Trustees, Jamie Heffer: 07807098348 or email at: jamie_heffer@hotmail.co.uk
The next Newark Air Museum Outdoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble Sale at the museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire takes place on Saturday 18th April, 2026. This charity fund raising event has attracted interest from a wide range of sellers across the UK and is taking place as a standalone museum 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.
Invitations to attend have been sent to previous sellers on our mailing list. These people come from around the UK and will be allocated pre-booked selling spaces on the wide expanses of our Southfield Site, close to the aircraft display line and the museum café.
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 a wide range of aircraft parts.
Normal museum admission rates will apply: Adults £12.50, Over 65s £11.50, Children £6.50 and Family ticket [2 adults & 3 children] £35.00.
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.
Workshop barriers are removed, giving a rare chance to inspect historic aircraft and engineering in intimate detail
Activities including flight simulators and immersive VR
Temporary exhibition ‘In focus: The Sopwith & Hawker Story’ running 14-22 February
Old Warden, 29 January 2026 – For one weekend only, on 21 and 22 February, barriers will be removed at Shuttleworth’s engineering workshop, giving guests a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to restore, rebuild and operate one of the world’s most extensive collections of working vintage agricultural exhibits, veteran and vintage vehicles, and airworthy aircraft from the earliest days of flight. A packed programme is scheduled, including talks and demonstrations from expert engineers, vintage bus rides, engineering-focused activities, and tours of the hangars and Shuttleworth House, amongst other activities.
A temporary exhibition titled ‘In Focus: The Sopwith & Hawker Story’ celebrating Sopwith and Hawker aircraft, featuring six of Shuttleworth’s own iconic Collection aircraft, including the 1918 Sopwith F.1 Camel (which will have an engine ground run on Engineering Open Workshop weekend) and the 1941 Hawker Sea Hurricane Ib, will also exclusively take place on 14-22 February – with barriers coming down around the exhibition during the Workshop event.
Featured exhibits
Visitors will be able to get up close to wartime fighters Supermarine Spitfire Vc and Bristol M.1C as well as the unique Southern Martlet which will be on display. Additionally on view in the workshop will be aircraft currently undergoing restoration including the Percival Mew Gull, English Electric Wren, and Deperdussin, offering guests a rare look inside the intricate mechanics that keep these historic machines flying. Shuttleworth’s in-house team of engineers will also demonstrate an engine ground run on the Sopwith F.1 Camel as well as the Hucks Starter on the Hawker Hind – which has recently undergone an extensive overhaul and is now repainted in the colours of 605 Squadron, serial K5533.
The workshop will also showcase a fascinating range of historic vehicles and machinery, including the ABC Motorcycle, the 1899 Marot-Gardon Quadricycle, a 1900 Locomobile, a Ford Model A Truck, and a Leyland Bus Engine. Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences with interactive attractions such as Studebaker car rides and the Bofors anti-aircraft gun. In steam will be the Clayton & Shuttleworth portable steam engine powering the thrashing set as well as the ever-popular traction engine “Phoenix”, and the newly acquired steam wagon “The Fenland Princess”.
Hands-on, engineering activities and challenges
Various invited partner organisations will present an exciting range of engineering-focused activities suitable for all ages. Visitors will have the chance to take the controls in flight simulators, delve into Bedford’s airship heritage with immersive VR experiences, practice traditional English wheeling, craft and paint scale models, and put their skills to the test by diagnosing aircraft engine faults.
Showcasing their engineering prowess, the WorldSkills UK team will undertake a trial run of aeronautical engineering challenges against the clock in preparation for competing in the 48th WorldSkills championships in Shanghai, China this September.
‘In focus: The Sopwith & Hawker Story’ temporary exhibition
From 14-22 February, a temporary exhibition in Hangar Four will take place, bringing into focus the pioneering legacy of the Sopwith Aviation Company and Hawker Aircraft Limited, highlighting their designs and contributions to aviation history. Visitors can explore iconic aircraft, learn about the engineers and designers who brought them to life, and discover how these legendary companies shaped flight. For Engineering Open Workshop weekend, the barriers will be removed around the exhibition, allowing guests to admire the aircraft even more closely.
Jean-Michel Munn, Head of Engineering, commented:
“Engineering Open Workshop is the first big event of 2026 for Shuttleworth’s engineering team, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our current restoration projects in progress at the workshop as well as the rest of our iconic Collection. In contrast to the spectacle of our air shows, it’s fantastic to be able to welcome the public to our workshop to appreciate the skill, patience and passion which keeps these historic aircraft able to fly.”
Under 18s tickets are free for this event, with adult tickets at £25 (and £20 for members), available to book here.
