UK Aviation Museum News – Page 56

Museum commemorates The Fallen on Remembrance Sunday

Date: Sunday 8 November

Time: 10.45am

On Sunday 8 November, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will hold a Service of Remembrance, paying respect to those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during their tours of duty.

Visitors who wish to pay their respects and reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave service men and women are invited to join the service, led by Padre Richard Clement, Station Chaplain RAF Cosford. Those attending will also be treated to renditions from the Cosford Military Wives Choir, who will perform for visitors on arrival and during the service.

The service will take place in the Museum’s Hangar 1 and visitors are politely requested to assemble no later than 10:30am ready for the Service to commence at 10.45am. As well as readings and hymns, a Bugler will sound ‘The Last Post’, followed by a two minute silence.

RAF Museum Cosford Events Manager, Abi Betteridge says:

“The RAF Museum is a fitting location for this poignant occasion and we hope that local residents will choose to join us on remembrance Sunday so we can remember together. I would like to thank the Station Chaplain and the Cosford Military Wives Choir for their involvement in this years’ service, I’m sure visitors will enjoy the special service we have planned as well as the performances from the choir.”

If you would like to find out about Service Personnel who fell serving the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force during the Great War of 1914 to 1918 please visit the RAF Museum’s online story vault: www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk

The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org.

Popular spy plane tours set to return

Date: 24 Oct-1 Nov and 9-14 Nov 2015

Time: Tours run between 10am and 1pm, each tour lasts 15 minutes

Cost: £5 per person

Due to the popularity of the summer Nimrod tours, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is re-introducing tours on selected dates in October and November. Tours on board the aircraft proved so popular with aviation fans that the Museum wants to repeat the offer, offering a limited number of tours for those who missed out first time round.

Visitors during October half term and the Conservation Centre Open Week in November will have the opportunity to climb on board the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XV249 and learn about its intelligence gathering role in the Royal Air Force. Intimate tours for groups of up to six people last approximately 15 minutes and visitors will learn about the history of the aircraft, hear about the crews on board and view some of its sophisticated surveillance equipment up close. Plus, tour guides will be on hand to answer any questions.

Find out why this aircraft and its missions were so secret that even the existence of 51 Squadron who operated it wasn’t mentioned in official documents until 1992, after the end of the Cold War. Learn why, of the twenty six mission specialists on board, up to eight of them were language specialists and how the equipment on board allowed them to pass tactical, minute by minute information to allied aircraft during a raid. The aircrafts capabilities were such that even flying through friendly and allied nation airspace required diplomatic clearance. Mixed with a few light hearted stories of the crew on board the Nimrod, these fascinating tours led by Museum staff will have visitors wondering what really goes on in the skies above us.

RAF Museum Public Relations Executive Michelle Morgans said:

“We ran Nimrod tours during an initial trial period in July and following really positive feedback from visitors we extended them throughout the summer. The demand to have access on board our aircraft is always high and almost every tour sold out. Those who missed out in the summer have been asking when the Nimrod will re-open so we have added new dates, giving visitors two more opportunities this year to enjoy an intimate tour of one of our most sophisticated aircraft.”

The Nimrod flew in both the Maritime patrol and electronic intelligence gathering role. Maritime surveillance, anti-submarine operations and intelligence gathering have been key tasks for the Royal Air Force for much of its long history. When the Nimrod was finally retired from service in 2011, the type had operated with distinction for over forty years in all these roles, and more.

Nimrod R.1 XV249 is one of only four R.1’s from a total of 46 Nimrod’s delivered to the RAF. The R.1 was an electronic-intelligence gathering variant, three of which originally entered service with the RAF in 1971. They carried up to 29 crew members and were involved in several major conflicts in the latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries. When an original R.1 aircraft was lost following an accident in 1997, XV249 was selected as a replacement and, after conversion, served with No 51 Squadron from RAF Waddington. The aircraft amassed over 18,000 flying hours during its service life and took part in operation Ellamy over Libya in 2011, thus remaining operational until its withdrawal from squadron service on 28 June 2011.

Nimrod Tours are available daily throughout October half term week (24 October – 1 November) and during the Conservation Centre Open Week (9-14 November) 2015. Tickets cost £5.00 per person and tours last 15 minutes (max 6 people per tour). As the number of people per tour is limited, organisers are advising any interested visitors to pre-book their time-slot now via the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. All children must be accompanied by an adult, tours are not recommended for children under the age of 5.

For further information please call the Museum on 01902 376200. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.

Open Week will showcase rare examples of RAF marine boat and wartime bombers

RAF Safety Launch

Date: 9-14 November 2015

Time: 10:15am-1:00pm

Cost: £5.00 per person

Next month, the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening its doors, allowing Museum visitors behind the scenes access to aircraft conservation projects and the chance to speak with the team who make them happen.

From 9-14 November visitors will be able to get up close to all of the current conservation projects undertaken by the team at Cosford, which include much more than just aircraft…. The Range Safety Launch (RSL) 43ft boat, number 1667 is one of the centre’s longest running projects and demonstrates the diversity of the role played by the Royal Air Force in protecting our nation.

With four crew members and a top speed of 20 knots, RSL 1667 saw service in the Far East based out of RAF Seletar, Singapore. Whilst in Singapore, the boat was painted in tropical white livery and operated in support of RAF Shackletons and helicopters based at nearby RAF Changi on Search and Rescue in target towing, sonar practice and weapon recovery duties. In the 1960’s it was used to tow Sunderland’s to mooring buoys and transfer passengers to and from the aircraft. Allotted back to the UK in 1970, the boat spent a further 11 years based on the South Coast of England before its withdrawal from service in 1981 when it was purchased by a private owner.

The RAF Marine Branch formed in 1948 and grew out of the Air Sea Rescue Service which proved invaluable in saving the lives of downed aircraft during World War Two. Part of the duties of the Marine Branch was to support the RAF’s marine bombing ranges and it was to fulfil this requirement that twenty seven 43ft Range Safety Launches were ordered. The Museum’s example was manufactured by Groves and Gutteridge at Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1956 and donated by a private owner in 1996.

The majority of the conservation work on RSL 1667 has been carried out by Museum Volunteers. Work completed to date includes the restoration of the wheel house including the instrument panel and controls. The next steps will see the engine bay having its surface finish restored and the steering gear rebuilt and back operational.

It’s been a busy twelve months since visitors last passed through the doors of the Conservation Centre. Significant progress has been made to another of the centre’s long term conservation projects, the Handley Page Hampden and regular visitors are sure to be astounded by the developments being made.

RAF Museum Conservation Centre Manager, Darren Priday said:

“The Hampden’s tailplane, fin and rudder have been fully restored, with new fabric and new paint work. Technicians have incorporated as much of the original parts and materials as possible and work is now underway on the rear fuselage repairing damaged caused during its crash landing. This is one of only three examples of the type remaining so the significance of this project is huge.

In addition to the Hampden, members of the public who have followed the story of the world’s last surviving Dornier Do 17 will be able to get up close to the aircraft and learn more about the project. Finally clear of the marine crustacean that has coated the aircraft for 73 years underwater, the fuselage, wings, propellers and engines are all now housed inside the Conservation Centre. Bullet holes are now visible on the propellers and shrapnel damage can be seen on the fuselage and undercarriage.”

Repeat visitors will be able to view the on-going restoration of the Vickers Wellington. One of two remaining Wellingtons, the aircraft at Cosford is the only complete example of its type and is regularly visited by Mary Stopes-Roe, daughter of the aircraft designer Barnes Wallis. Since its arrival at Cosford in June 2010, the Wellington has been stripped of its linen outer skin so that work to repair small amounts of corrosion to the geodetic framework could take place. The wings are now free of corrosion and have been painted in a protective layer and the fuselage will soon undergo the same treatment. Following this, the aircraft will then be re-covered in Irish linen, doped and painted before going back on display at the RAF Museum’s London site. Initially a five year project, the Wellington is expected to be completed within the next two to three years.

Admission to the Conservation Centre Open Week is £5.00 per person (Children under 16 are free and must be accompanied by an adult). The Conservation Centre will open to the public from the 9-14 November 2015 between 10.15am to 1.00pm. The Museum’s other hangars will be open from 10am until 5pm, entry is free of charge. For further information, please visit the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford or call 01902 376200.

PLUS…in addition to the Open Week, visitors will also have the exciting opportunity to climb on board the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XV249 during daily tours. Visit the Museum website for more details and tickets.

New Apprentices join award winning Conservation Centre team

RAF Museum apprentices

The Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is delighted to welcome the arrival of three new Apprentices. The new recruits will join the Museums growing conservation team and multi award winning apprenticeship scheme, now in its tenth successful year.

Adam Ellis aged 18 from Wolverhampton, Joshua Sault aged 17 from Brownhills and Maddie Whiting aged 17 from Bewdley recently joined the team which now has a total of six Apprentices.

After starting their three year apprenticeship with the Museum on 1 September 2015, all three Apprentices are settling into the new working environment and have been partnered with a senior Apprentice who offers guidance and support. After only a few weeks in the new job Adam, Joshua and Maddie have already been busy working on test pieces of sheet metal, assessing their ability to achieve precision and accuracy whilst using various hand tools and materials.

RAF Museum Apprentice Maddie Whiting said:

“Since the age of ten I have always wanted to be an engineer and having spent several years in the RGS Worcester Cadets, I developed a fondness for the Armed Forces. I started looking into apprenticeships as way into this career path and found a lot were standard factory based schemes. When I saw the vacancy at the RAF Museum, I jumped at the chance and applied. I am thrilled to be given such a unique opportunity to work with historical aircraft and long term I hope to pursue a career within the Royal Air Force as an engineer.”

RAF Museum Apprentice Joshua Sault said:

“I am a huge aviation fan! I am a member of a flying club and was in 1444 Brownhills Squadron Air Cadets for 4 ½ years and I regularly visited the RAF Museum Cosford as a child. I attended the Conservation Centre Open Week two years ago with my Cadet group and the Conservation Centre Manager spoke to us about the current projects, in particular the Handley Page Hampden. This really sparked my interest in becoming an aircraft engineer and now I’m actually working here I feel like I’m living the dream! The progress on the Hampden in the last two years is amazing and I can’t wait to start contributing to the project.”

RAF Museum Apprentice Adam Ellis said:

“I took a construction course at school and have twelve months experience as a carpenter, but engineering is what I would like to pursue. I used to visit the RAF Museum Cosford as a child and when the opportunity came up for an engineering role based here, I took it. I hope that the skills I learn at the Museum will broaden my horizons for future employment.”

The RAF Museum Apprentices undertake all their hands-on heritage skills training in-house at the Museum’s Conservation Centre, where they each work side by side with a Master Craftsman who mentors them through their daily tasks. Many of the aircraft within the Museum’s collection are sole survivors and supporting documentation and procedures don’t exist. Museum Apprentices are encouraged to use their own initiative to develop, in consultation with their mentor, novel ways around complex and unusual engineering issues. This way of learning has been proven with past Apprentices to make them extremely capable, competent and self-confident individuals. Like those before them Adam, Joshua and Maddie will work on a wide variety of aircraft during their apprenticeship and will each be given a specialist project which may include some work on the long term restoration and conservation of the Museum’s Vickers Wellington and Handley Page Hampden Bombers.

Over the ten years the Museum’s apprentice programme has been running, adjustments have been made to ensure our youngsters get the very best practical training and the associated support they need to give them the best possible start in their chosen careers. As well as working at the RAF Museum, this year’s new recruits are attending City of Wolverhampton College. At College they will learn modern Fabrication and Welding Techniques as well as studying the associated legislation and the supporting academics. At the end of year 1 they should have completed Performing Engineering Operations – Fabrication and Welding Level 2 and gained an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Fabrication and Welding. They will then move on to level 3 courses and work place vocational assessments leading to Level 3 Technical Certificate in Fabrication and Welding as well as their Advanced Apprenticeship in Fabrication and Welding.

The Museum is committed to preserving Aviation Heritage through its conservation of aircraft and associated exhibits, whilst recognising the need to ensure that unique skills are retained, nurtured and developed amongst the younger generation in respect of fostering ongoing aircraft conservation efforts for the foreseeable future.

Aviation fans will be able to gain behind-the-scenes access to aircraft conservation work when the Conservation Centre opens to the public from 9-14 November 2015. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to view current projects and the chance to speak with the skilled Technicians, Apprentices and Volunteers about their work. Open from 10.15am – 1.00pm and admission is £5.00 per person. For more information on the Conservation Centre Open Week visit www.rafmuseum.org.

Spitfire flypast for Battle of Britain 75th weekend at Cosford

Cosford Battle of Britain banner

Date: 12-13 September 2015

Time: 10.00am to 6.00pm

Flypast: Saturday 4pm / Sunday 11.25am (weather permitting)

A flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire will be a highlight for visitors attending a 75th anniversary event at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford later this month. The Battle of Britain Weekend event taking place on 12-13 September includes a flypast both days from the most famous British fighter aircraft in history.

Spitfire’s won immortal fame during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. The unmistakable Spitfire sound and silhouette will be filling the skies over Shropshire at 4pm on Saturday 12 and 11.25am on Sunday 13 September as it flies overhead at the Museum. Visitors can also view the world’s oldest Spitfire displayed next to a Hurricane in the Museum’s ‘War in the Air’ hangar at Cosford.

Activities taking place over the nostalgic weekend include real life working Leonides, Bristol and Griffon engine demonstrations and a chance to see how a WW2 RAF Ops Room operated during the Battle of Britain era, brought to life by re-enactors.

There will be live music on both days including performances from Marjorie Cartwright-Jones in a 1940s Home Front Cabaret and Miss Fortunes, a singing trio who will be resurrecting the wonderful hits of the Second World War. A musical treat for visitors on Sunday 13 September will be a performance from the Glebe Symphonic Winds Orchestra. The performance will include many well-known favourites such as the Dambusters March, Barnes Wallis March and RAF March Past.

Organisers have also lined up a fascinating talk on Sunday 13 September, entitled ‘Battle of Britain: Myth and Reality’ with historian, writer and broadcaster James Holland. In this talk, James takes a fresh look at one of the most iconic episodes in British history, examining the story that has been passed down into folklore and assessing the performance of both sides. In doing so, he will be asking whether Britain’s victory in the summer of 1940 was even more comprehensive and significant than perhaps is widely thought.

To keep the children entertained, families can step back in time into a 1940’s classroom and learn about pounds, shillings and pence arithmetic and fill in a replica evacuee label and identity card whilst answering to a strict old fashioned teacher. But be ready for the air raid siren as it may go off at any time! Other children’s activities include the chance to build a 1:72 scale Airfix model Spitfire and Battle of Britain colouring sheets for the little ones. Families visiting on Saturday can enjoy storytelling sessions and hear about the brave men and women who took part in the Battle of Britain – find out who they were and the sorties in which they served.

As a memento of your visit, families can visit our wartime photo booth and delve in to our dressing-up box of RAF uniforms and aviation accessories and then pose for pictures. Each participant will receive a printout of four photos to take home for the family photo album.

Visitors wanting some hearty food will be spoilt for choice in the Refuel Restaurant as they chose a meal from the wartime menu and dine in the street party setting, soaking up the wartime atmosphere.

For further information and timings of events visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford or call 01902 376200. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.

Museum WINS National Lottery Award

Today (Tuesday 1 September 2015) musician and actor Martin Kemp presented staff at the RAF Museum in Colindale with a National Lottery Award trophy.

The star of Spandau Ballet hits like ‘Gold’ and ‘True’ famously took to the skies back in 2008 for Martin Kemp: The Battle of Britain. As part of a TV series the daredevil boarded a World War II fighter plane to recreate a Battle of Britain dogfight. Today it was his turn to try out World War I planes instead- albeit on the ground!

Martin took time out from tour preparations to help staff at the RAF Museum celebrate its award-winning exhibition.

The museum’s First World War in the Air exhibition received over 7,000 votes to be named the UK’s Best Heritage project in this year’s National Lottery Awards – the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery funded projects.

The museum wins a £2,000 cash prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and will attend a star-studded Awards ceremony, The National Lottery Stars, broadcast on BBC One on 21 September.

The Royal Air Force Museum’s popular First World War in the Air gallery brings to life the compelling stories of the people, innovations, engineering and aircraft of the Great War. Over 65,000 people have visited the exhibition in the last six months, with thousands more accessing information on the Museum’s websites.

Martin Kemp said: “This is a fantastic project, not just for aviation fans like me. It is great that National Lottery Players have helped to preserve these wonderful flying machines for so many young families and people of all ages to appreciate.”

Karen Whitting, Director of Public Programmes , RAF Museum added: “This award is special because it is voted for by the British public. We hope our success will give us even more of a national and international profile and help to attract more National Lottery Players and visitors.”

www.rafmuseum.org

Wings & Wheels Triumphs

credit: Pete Gardener

Sunshine, rain, sad farewells and poignant tributes all contributed to the overwhelming success of the eleventh Wings & Wheels on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August. Over 38,000 people visited the historic airfield to support and celebrate the best displays in aviation and motoring.

A poignant tribute was held each day to remember those affected by the Shoreham tragedy as the Show paused for a minute’s silence at the start of the air displays. The Kittyhawk flew gracefully across the aerodrome to signal the end of the silence and open what was the best air display the Show has had to date.

The Typhoon Display Team didn’t disappoint as the impressive jet roared through the skies. The state of the art jet flew first in a solo display then as part of a Synchro Pair alongside a WWII Spitfire bringing together old and new in a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Once again the Red Arrows showed why they are the best in the world as the sky was filled with their red, white and blue smoke. And then the Hawk T2 demonstrated why the aircraft built at Dunsfold is still a world class fighting machine with their role demo and display of firepower.

Crowd favourite the RAF Chinook helicopter defied gravity and showed of its versatility and manoeuvrability. The RAF Tutor demonstrated why the aircraft is so good for training future pilots and the Tigers Freefall Parachute Display team dropped into the Show with their customary precision before meeting visitors and showing how to pack a parachute.

The Vulcan howled an emotional goodbye to the crowds on Saturday but bad weather forced her to abort on Sunday.

The history of the aerodrome was evident in the skies with the Dutch B-25 Mitchell Bomber, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flights Spitfire and Hurricane, the DC3, Mustang and, for the first time at Wings & Wheels, the moving tribute that is the B-17 Flying Fortress The Sally B.

The Blades, Breitling Wingwalkers, Turbulent Team, Glider FX, MiG 15, Jet Provost and Richard Goodwin showcased the skill of civilian flying.

Brooklands Museum once again showed off some of the most exotic and outrageous machines around, from its own collection and from dozens of private owners in the Motoring Demonstrations. Spectators watched an eclectic mix of vehicles from vintage classics to modern favourites blasting down the famous runway in full view of the crowd line. Amongst machines that made their Dunsfold debuts were Lorne Jacobs’s exciting new evocation of Sir Malcom Campbell’s Blue Bird land-speed record car on the 1920s and, in total contrast, the 760HP Tesla P85D electric car capable of accelerating from 0-60MPH in around 3 seconds and a top speed of 155MPH in near-total silence.

Aero-engined favourites, Robin Beech’s 27-litre Handlye Special and John Dennis’s 1907 Berliet Curtiss, and modern supercars including Lamborghini Aventadors and Huracans, a Ferrari LaFerrari, Maserati MC Stradales and McLaren 650S. Slightly older, but no less impressive, was the Jaguar XJ220S (the fastest production car of its day), a NASCAR racing Chevrolet Impala and a trio of Plymouth Superbirds.

Elsewhere on site, the Wheels Zone featured special interactive displays from Transformer Car Hire who brought along their Transformers motion picture replicas. The car clubs had over 300 vehicles including the Jaguar Enthusiasts, Muddy Diffs Overland, MX5, Skyline Owners Club and DS3 Club.

The Stunt Zone was smokin’ as drift teams Scrape ‘n’ Skid and Team 1340 showcased their winning formula and drivers from Mission Motorsport showed that nothing holds them back in their stunt MX5 cars

And for the first time since its retirement from RAF service in 2013, Brooklands’s Vickers VC10 airborne tanker made a public appearance with a full-bore-acceleration taxying demonstration on the Sunday.

The Military Zone was brimming with history as re-enactment groups and a collection of over 80 military vehicles exhibited on the Second World War aerodrome. Tanks were new to the Zone as visitors not only got to ride them but experienced the awesome firepower of the 1943 T-34 which fired to signal the start of the military vehicle parade each day.

As the last plane touched down the party started across the arena with a mix of musical evening entertainment with Champagne Blitz, a 1940s songbird trio armed with smooth harmonies, seamed nylons and lots and LOTS of red lippy and the Rocking Rebels who jived through some classic 50s rock’n’roll.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “We had it all at Wings & Wheels this year, tears, laughter, sunshine and rain but without doubt it was the best show we have put on. Each year we work hard to improve everything on the ground and in the air and there were so many highlights it’s difficult to single one thing out from the aviation and motoring displays. There are countless people to thank for ensuring Wings & Wheels is such a success, not least our visitors who support us each year without fail. Thank you and see you in 2016!”

Wings & Wheels were joined by Help for Heroes, Brooklands Museum Trust and Age UK Waverley, all charities that the Show supported through a variety of initiatives.

www.wingsandwheels.net

Experience the virtual skies at Cosford

Cosford Flight Simulator

Date: 3 October 2015

Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Cost: £7 in advance / £10 on the door

Aviation fans can experience the virtual skies this autumn as the Flight Sim 2015 event heads to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire. Taking place on Saturday 3 October, aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a day packed with all the latest flight simulation software and the chance to test out their virtual flying skills.

After two very successful shows held at the Museum, the UK’s largest Flight Sim show will be returning to Cosford for an even bigger and better event. Just Flight, one of the UK’s leading flight simulation software publishers, will be hosting this major gathering in association with PC Pilot magazine to show visitors the very best in desktop flying. Building on the success of previous events, organisers are anticipating in excess of 1,500 visitors will attend the one day show.

Visitors will be able to get hands on and fly the latest flight simulation aircraft, preview ‘in development’ projects, check out the latest hardware and chat with leading developers, publishers and other enthusiasts in addition to the many exhibitors at the show.

This show will take place in the Museum’s Hangar 1 from 10am until 5pm, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy the wide range of entertainment on offer. So whether you’re a veteran desktop pilot, flight simulation novice, or someone thinking of getting airborne in the virtual skies for the first time, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors attending the Flight Sim 2015 event this autumn will experience the best of both, the virtual world and the real world of aviation, as they explore the world class collection of aircraft and exhibitions on display at the RAF Museum Cosford.

Advance tickets for Flight Sim 2015 are now on sale online for just £7 per person, with free entry for under 16s accompanied by an adult. Tickets purchased on the day cost £10 per person. For further information on the event or to purchase your tickets in advance, please visit the show’s website www.flightsimulatorshow.com.

To cope with the additional visitors, a free park and ride will operate from Cosford Train Station with regular pickups throughout the day. Entry to the Museum is free of charge and on-site parking is available (charges apply). Entry into Hangar 1 on Saturday 3 October will be for Flight Sim 2015 ticket holders only.

www.rafmuseum.org

Blue Skies And Farewell Flight Bring Award-Winning Festival To A Close

With a record-breaking 1300 boats in the bay on Saturday alone and total numbers topping 3/4 million, the award-winning Bournemouth Air Festival, supported by Kier, enjoyed its eighth year (20-23 August) in spite of weather extremes – welcoming new displays from the MiG 15 and Hawk T2 Role Demo Team as well as an emotional farewell from festival favourite, the Vulcan against a backdrop of a flotilla of Royal Navy ships.

Two glorious days on Friday and Saturday and unexpectedly clear skies on Sunday attracted wide eyed visitors to the UK’s largest free festival, to enjoy displays from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Chinook, Tutor, Black Cats, Twister Duo, Tigers Parachute Display Team, Eurofighter Typhoon, B-17 Flying Fortress, Blades Aerobatic Display Team and Sea Vixen. While the world-renowned Red Arrows stole the show as usual performing on all four days, 2015 also saw the welcome return of the Matadors Display Team and Patrouille Reva. The keenly awaited Vulcan XH558 gave two star turns in her spectacular final farewell to mixed emotions from South Coast fans on both Saturday and Sunday.

Kenneth Aarkvisla, flying the MiG 15 in her first appearance at Bournemouth, said: “It was fantastic to see such a huge crowd here! It’s a beautiful place to fly. We would definitely like to come back!”

RAF Typhoon Display Pilot Flight Lieutenant Jonny Dowen, said: “Bournemouth is the biggest show of the year – it’s been awesome!”

This year’s new and improved Night Air programme kept the festival flowing into the evening with a host of musical entertainment over three nights at Wave105’s Boscombe Seafront stage. Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood headlined on Thursday with a special, sea-inspired proms-on-the-beach performance. Friday welcomed a pop music extravaganza with performances from Alesha Dixon, Fuse OGD, Scouting for Girls, Sarah Harding and Lawson. Saturday took crowds on a jet-propelled journey through 25 years of dance music, with live sets from Artful (Mark Hill from Artful Dodger), K-Klass, Black Box, Livin’ Joy and Karen Harding.

The musical entertainment was accompanied by thrilling night-time air displays from the Red Devils Parachute Team, Aerosparx – a brand new pyrotechnic and LED display team – and a debut performance at Bournemouth from the Fire Flies displaying alongside O’Brien’s Flying Circus.

Building on support from the military in previous years, the Royal Navy increased their presence in Bournemouth for 2015. As well as the armed forces’ villages, featuring recruitment stands and meet and greet opportunities, the Royal Navy displayed more ships than ever before including HMS Iron Duke, offering ship visits to hundreds of members of the public and organising one of their largest practical training weekends of the year. Royal Marines Commandos entertained crowds with beach assault and unarmed combat demonstrations as well as the atmospheric Beating Retreat Sunset Ceremony performed by HM Royal Marines Band Collingwood.

Admiral Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said: “Bournemouth’s wonderful seafront has provided a magnificent stage for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to demonstrate what we can do at sea, in the air and over the land. None of this was just for show – it’s indicative of what our sailors and marines are doing right now, on operations at home and around the world. Britain is an island nation, a trading nation, with global ambition. So the Royal Navy is working to keep the maritime motorways flowing, to keep British citizens safe, and to protect and advance our interests in this age of global opportunity. I would like to thank the Council, local businesses and the entire community for making us so welcome. We’ve had a wonderful time – we hope you did too – and you can count on us to be back in 2016!”

Recently awarded VisitEngland’s UK Tourism Event of the Year, Bournemouth Air Festival creates an estimated 500 full-time jobs and brings over £30million to the local economy. In addition, the festival receives support from business sponsors including Festival Partner, Kier. It has also built Bournemouth’s profile on an international stage.

Dale Wood, Kier Partnership Director for Bournemouth said: “We’re proud to have been part of this year’s spectacular Air Festival and credit is due to the organisers who put on such a great show for both local residents and visitors. The festival brings a lot of value to the town and supports our commitment with Bournemouth Council to boost local economic growth. We would encourage more companies to support the festival next year – whether it’s as a sponsor or patron – it’s an incredible event for us all to be part of.”

Mark Smith, Director of Tourism said: “The Air Festival has received recognition at a national level with the 2015 VisitEngland Best National Event award and we know that Bournemouth residents are proud to be the hosts for such a popular, World Class event. It’s always wonderful to see local families and visitors alike enjoying the breathtaking displays and on-the-ground entertainment. I would like to pay a particular tribute to the amazing work by the dedicated and highly professional Bournemouth Tourism Events Team, to extensive Council backing and to all the local emergency services and armed forces. We are extremely grateful to Festival Partner, Kier, for their financial support and long may the resounding success of the event continue. Confirmed dates for 2016 are 18-21 August – we hope to see you all again next year!”

www.bournemouthair.co.uk

Reach for the skies on board historic planes

Bristol type 188

Date: 18-19 September

Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Cost: £12.50 per person

Calling all future pilots and aviation fans….if you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sit inside a military aircraft that’s seen action around the world, or marvel at the advanced technologies on unique airframes, wonder no more. The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be giving visitors the rare chance to climb on board a selection of aircraft and sit in the pilot’s seat during the ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ event taking place next month.

Over 450 visitors attended the event held in May and organisers are confident that the September event will be just as popular with an exciting line up of aircraft available on the night.

Aircraft confirmed for close viewing include the Bristol Type 188. Built mainly of stainless steel, this aircraft was designed to investigate the effects of heat on aircraft structures at very high speeds. To protect the pilot against heat build-up a special cockpit refrigeration system was installed. Nicknamed ‘Flaming Pencil’, only two Bristol 188s ever flew, a third being used for ground tests.

Other highlights include access inside the Hawker Siddeley Gnat T1, made famous by the Red Arrows. The Gnat was intended to replace the Vampire as an advanced trainer for pilots who would fly jet fighters and bombers, combining high performance with the handling qualities required for effective instruction. A total of 105 Gnats served with the RAF and its aerobatic qualities led to the formation of the Yellowjacks aerobatic team in 1964, leading to the foundation of the world famous Red Arrows the following year. The team flew their red Gnats for fourteen years until they were replaced by the British Aerospace Hawk at the end of the 1979 season.

Visitors to ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ will also have the rare chance to view inside the cockpit of Supermarine Spitfire 1. The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It won immortal fame during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. From the beginning pilots recognised it as a thoroughbred, combining a perfection of design with superb handling characteristics. Although Hurricanes outnumbered Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, it was the Spitfire which captured the imagination of the British public and enemy alike. 1,566 Spitfire 1’s were built and this machine is the world’s oldest surviving example of its type.

The event, which now runs on both a Friday and Saturday evening, allows twice as many budding pilots to enjoy some of the world’s most iconic aircraft. Just 300 tickets per evening are available for this exclusive event, ensuring visitors have plenty of time to get a feel for what it was like to fly the aircraft, ask lots of questions and take photos as memento of their visit.

RAF Museum Cosford Event Manager Abi Betteridge said:

“Museum visitors are always keen to see inside the aircraft we have on display and events like these are the perfect opportunity to make a visit to the Museum extra special. We try to offer a real mix of aircraft type for visitors to climb on board during ‘Open Cockpits Evening’, so whether it’s a fast jet to spark interest in the younger generation, or a nostalgic wartime aircraft that brings back memories for our older visitors, we have everything covered.”

Visitors will have exclusive after-hours access to the Museum which displays a collection of over 75 aircraft, military vehicles, engines and aviation artefacts within three wartime hangars and the award-winning National Cold War Exhibition. As an added extra, visitors can experience the thrills of powered flight on board the Flight Simulator and 4D Experience at a special discounted rate.

Tickets for the popular event are now on sale through the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford, with just 300 tickets available per evening. The Museum will close at 5.00pm on each ‘Open Cockpit Evening’ in order to set up for the event and the evening will commence at 6.00pm and finish at 9.00pm. Admission is by advance ticket only; tickets cost £12.50 per person (Lightning Members price £10.00 per ticket – please note membership cards will need to be shown on entry to the event). Parking charges are included in the ticket price. Minimum height restrictions of 1.07 metres will apply.