UK Aviation Museum News – Page 58

The RAF Museum unveils its RAF Centenary celebration and commemoration plans

RAF Museum Hendon

The RAF Museum in Hendon today outlined its plans to celebrate and commemorate the Centenary of the RAF in 2018, after the Chancellor announced in his Budget last week that the museum is to receive a £2.5 million grant to support the programme.

The museum revealed its ambitious programme of activities for the summer of 2018, as the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Priti Patel, visited the museum to learn how the funding will be used.

The museum’s plans include re-landscaping the site to create a sense of the original London Aerodrome that stood on the ground nearly 100 years ago. The museum will also build a new visitor centre with a café, shop and soft play area.

A series of new permanent exhibitions will open in the summer of 2018. ‘The First 100 Years of the RAF’ and ‘Now and the Future’ exhibitions will enable visitors to understand the story of the RAF from its earliest years in the First World War to its global role today. The “Air Power in an Age of Uncertainty” exhibition will focus on the roles of the RAF since the early 1980s.

The museum is also rolling out a new digital programme, “My RAF Story”, which will collect and share personal stories of the men and women of the Service to ensure they are preserved for future generations. Additionally, a new learning programme will aim to inspire young people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Priti Patel said:

“The RAF Museum in Hendon is a great cause and I’m delighted that the LIBOR funding will provide a necessary cash injection towards their plans to celebrate this important landmark in the RAF’s history.

“So far, through LIBOR fines on banks, we’ve taken around £450m from those who broke the rules and demonstrated terrible values, and used the funds to support our brave forces across the UK, and other good causes.?

“This donation is a fitting way to mark the extraordinary contribution the RAF has made and continues to make in service to our country.”

Chief Executive of the RAF Museum Maggie Appleton said:

“The Museum’s RAF Centenary Programme is incredibly important as it commemorates 100 years of the Royal Air Force. The story we tell reflects the bravery, ingenuity and dedication of our people. It is a story that belongs to every one of us. We are therefore very grateful for the support and acknowledgement we received.”

www.rafmuseum.org

£2.5 million to Museum from budget

Financial penalties levied on banks involved in the LIBOR lending rate-fixing scandal will benefit the RAF Museum in North West London, the Chancellor announced in the last Budget before the General Election. George Osborne said the government will help renovate the RAF Museum in Hendon.The announcement came after Hendon MP Matthew Offord held discussions with the new Chief Executive of the RAF Museum, Maggie Appleton at the end of February. During these talks Ms Appleton outlined the plans of the Museum to commemorate the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018 and asked Matthew what assistance he could provide in securing the support from the Treasury.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said “The RAF Museum in Hendon (North West London) is a great cause that Matthew Offord has campaigned strongly in support of. I’m delighted that they will get millions of pounds in LIBOR fines – a fitting way to mark the extraordinary contribution the RAF has made and continues to make in service to our country.”

Chief Executive of the RAF Museum Maggie Appleton said “The Museum’s Centenary Project is incredibly important as it commemorates 100 years of the Royal Air Force. The story we tell reflects the bravery, ingenuity and dedication of our people. It is a story that belongs to every one of us. We are therefore very grateful for the support and acknowledgement we received today. We are a happy museum!”

www.rafmuseum.org

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RAF MAN

Get ready to stop worrying and learn to love the bomb. The RAF Museum has an extra special night of immersive activities planned for Museums at Night 2015. Its TOP SECRET. On a need to know basis. The final countdown has begun….Date: 16th May

Time: 19:30 – 23:00

Tickets: £28.00 per person (adult price)

After the sell-out success of last year’s P.S.B. gigs, get ready for Domino Theory – The RAF Museum’s immersive experience that will take its audience on a Cold War trip like no other. Cross the Iron Curtain, build the Berlin wall and use your spy skills to crack codes and become the super-power of the 20th century!

For one night only, the RAF Museum in North London will provide an atmospheric setting for a spy mission like no other. The battle lines are divided between the U.K the U.S.A and the USSR. Its spy vs spy in a heady world of gadgets, casinos, discos and more in a night of themed entertainment.

The night is rounded off with a museum-shaking, roof-raising, Berlin Wall breaking set by the legendary DJ Yoda who will take the crowd through a specially created set of music that references the Cold war era

Tickets are on sale now and priced £28 and available at www.rafmuseum.org.uk/whatson

DJ Yoda, is a hip hop producer like no other, subverting the tradition with wry invention and humorous intent. Yoda takes the art of turntablism to new extremes, practising it in unexpected situations. He has spent the best part of two decades as an audacious exponent of the form, winning awards, releasing an eclectic series of mixtapes that prove you can apply cut-up techniques to everything from classical to country, and generally offering a uniquely British take on hip hop music and culture.

Museums at Night is the UK wide annual late night festival of arts, heritage and culture. Over the weekend of Wednesday 13 – Saturday 16 May 2015, hundreds of museums, galleries and historic spaces all over UK will be opening their doors at night-time for a whole host of unique and exciting events. Full listings can be found at www.museumsatnight.org.uk.

trailer to follow…

Local Rotary Club acknowledges Museum Apprentice

Cosford Apprentice Ella Middleton

As events and businesses across the country celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (9-13 March 2015), an Apprentice at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been acknowledged by a local Rotary Club for their work conserving some of the nation’s most historic aircraft.

The award was presented by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton at the fourth annual awards evening held at Perton Park Golf Club on Thursday 5th March. Museum Apprentice Ella Middleton aged 21 from Walsall, was named ‘Rotary Club of Wolverhampton – Apprentice of the Year’ and was presented with the George Sidebotham Memorial Award.

The awards evening was attended by the RAF Museum’s Apprentices, accompanied by their Training Manager as well as the Museum’s Conservation Centre Manager. During the evening, Apprentices gave a presentation to Rotary Club members and their guests, about their recent visit to the National Air & Space Museum, a division of the Smithsonian Institute, based in and around Washington DC, USA. During their trip the apprentices worked on a number of unique aviation based machines such as the Breitling Orbiter 3 which completed the first non-stop flight around the world with a free balloon in 1999 and a massive propeller fan shroud from NASA’s hypersonic wind tunnels. Ella was then presented with her ‘Apprentice of the Year’ trophy and an additional prize and cheque.

Ella was nominated by RAF Museum Training & Development Manager, Mick Shepherd for her hard work and dedication over the last twelve months. Her main training has involved working in sheet metal but Ella has proved to be a diverse and capable individual who has worked on a variety of projects. Ella was part of the team based at Ramsgate, Kent during the salvage operation of the Dornier Do 17 and played an integral part in the first phase of its conservation. She has worked with colleagues across the Museum assisting with Museum events, educational workshops for schools and has even coordinated a work experience programme with students interested in engineering.

RAF Museum Apprentice Ella Middleton said:

“During my apprenticeship with the Museum I have been given some fantastic opportunities to develop my skills, working on projects including; the Handley Page Hampden, Dornier Do 17, Vickers Wellington and the First World War in the Air exhibition. A highlight of my apprenticeship was an exchange to America in 2014 where I worked for three weeks at the Smithsonian Institute at the Udvar Hazy Conservation Centre in Virginia.”

National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration of Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. This annual Apprenticeship Week aims to increase the awareness, understanding and demand for Apprenticeships, as well as celebrate the wealth of talent, skills, achievements and successes.

The RAF Museum’s Apprenticeship scheme began in 2005, due to a shortage of people with the hand skills required to look after its historic aircraft collection. The Museum began running apprenticeships for heritage aircraft engineers who soon proved to be a source of enthusiastic, reliable, trustworthy, capable and safe pairs of extra hands. Nurtured by the Museum’s Aircraft Technicians, master craftsman in their trade, the Apprentices rapidly developed their hand-skills and their work is now enthusiastically incorporated into Museum exhibits for future generations to admire. The Apprentices are a vital asset in the Museum’s team and have enabled the Museum to be less reliant on outside contractors and to keep more work in house under its direct control.

www.rafmuseum.org

Mapping the Future

RAF Museum Team

The Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum are pleased to announce the new Senior Management Team who will oversee the day to day running and long term planning for the London, Cosford and Stafford sites.

John Waxman Assistant Director (London):

John has just arrived from the National Trust where for a number of years he was General Manager at Cliveden, one of the Trust’s busiest pay for entry visitor attractions. Prior to that, he worked in external relations, communications and advisory roles within the public environmental management sector. He is a lifelong aviation enthusiast.

Philip Walsh FCA: Chief Financial Officer:

Philip worked previously as Director of Finance and Operations at the Wallace Collection in Central London. During his time there as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Wallace Collection achieved record visitor numbers, improved retail and corporate hire revenues, and held significant high profile exhibitions all whilst managing an extensive programme of capital projects, including the magnificent £5m refurbishment of the Great Gallery.

He is also the current chairman of trustees of the Allen Lane Foundation, a grant making charitable trust. Philip qualified as a chartered accountant after studying Natural Sciences at Durham University, and went on to work at the Victoria and Albert Museum prior to the Wallace Collection.

Maggie Appleton MBE: Chief Executive Officer:

Maggie has twenty-five years’ experience in the heritage sector. She is passionate about the difference that museums can make to people’s lives and, after beginning her heritage career at the Royal Armouries (when it was based in the Tower of London) she focused her work in community museums, at Stevenage (1991-2003) and then and in Luton (2003-2008), following which she was Chief Executive of Luton Culture, the Charity that led museums, libraries, arts and community centres across the town..

She has led significant heritage initiatives and developments, notably the £6.2million development of Stockwood Discovery Centre which opened in July 2008, and securing the medieval Wenlok Jug for Luton and the nation after its export was stopped in 2006.

Maggie is committee member for the Heritage Lottery Fund, Vice President of the Museums Association and co-Chair of the Women Leaders in Museums Network.

Paul Pomfret Assistant Director (Cosford):

Paul has a comprehensive career working in Heritage, Theatre and Tourists attractions. As Manager for the National Trust for Scotland’s flagship property: Culzean Castle and Country Park he oversaw and developed the 500 acre estate which included multiple historic buildings, numerous retail catering and hospitality locations and significant visitor engagement programmes. At Culzean his key projects included developing relations with international funders, restoring original features and artefacts to the castle, introducing new multimedia interpretation and refurbishment of the estates country house hotel.

Paul holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration is a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing; he has a keen interest in aviation and gained his Private Pilot’s Licence in 1990.

Karen Whitting Director of Public Programmes:

Karen’s career has spanned both the Arts and Heritage sector and she brings with her a wealth of creative and corporate experiences and skills. She was previously Head of Creative Programmes at the Royal Armouries where she was responsible for the creative content, development and delivery of capital programmes across all their sites. She was project manager for the £4 million HLF funded public engagement programme at Fort Nelson as well as the £1.5million White Tower development.

Karen has also worked extensively on live events and interpretation with previous roles at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Millennium Dome and Glyndebourne Opera House.

www.rafmuseum.org

New air power lecture series launched

Official squeamishness and the Bomber Offensive of the Second World War will be the focus of a prestigious lecture hosted by the University of Wolverhampton.

The Trenchard Lectures in Air Power Studies is a new programme of lectures organised by the Royal Air Force Museum in conjunction with the University and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

The first lecture at the University of Wolverhampton will be presented by Air Commodore (ret’d) Dr Peter Gray on Thursday, 19 March 2015 on the subject of ‘‘Official squeamishness’ and the Bomber Offensive of the Second World War.’ Dr Gray’s lecture will take place in MC001 at the University’s City Campus Wulfruna at 6pm.

Dr Peter Gray retired from the Royal Air Force in June 2008, having reached the rank of Air Commodore. He took up the position of Senior Research Fellow in Air Power Studies at the University of Birmingham on 1st September 2008. Dr Gray is also a member of the RAF Museum’s Research Board and his latest book, Leadership, Direction and Legitimacy of the RAF Bomber Offence from Inception to 1945, was published by Continuum in 2012.

Dr Gray’s lecture will examine the attitudes prevalent in the Air Ministry during the Second World War towards the Strategic Air offensive Against Germany. Using the Bomber Command Campaign Medal saga and the publicity the campaign received at the time as case studies, the talk will look at the thinking at all levels and seek to establish just how ‘squeamish’ they were.

Ross Mahoney, Aviation Historian from the RAF Museum, said:

“This lecture series marks an important step in the development of the RAF Museum’s academic aspirations. The series seeks to explore historical and contemporary issues related to the employment of air power. The series also seeks to bridge the gap between academic and public history by providing a forum for recognised experts to share and disseminate their research to a wider audience. We are pleased to be holding the series in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton which has a world renowned reputation in the field of War Studies.”

Dr Peter Preston-Hough, from the University’s Department of History, Politics and War Studies, said:

“We’re delighted to be hosting this prestigious series of lectures, which promise to provide an interesting insight into this fascinating area of history. The University has a strong relationship with the RAF Museum and we look forward to working closely with them on the lectures.”

Six lectures will be held as part of the Trenchard Lectures in Air Power Studies. The University of Wolverhampton’s Department of History, Politics and War Studies will host three, while the others will take place at the Headquarters of the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.

This lecture is free of charge but people do need to pre-book a free ticket, as seats are limited. For more information email ross.mahoney@rafmuseum.org or to book a ticket please visit the RAF Museum website www.rafmuseum.org.

Upcoming events at the RAF museum London

Event: Open Cockpits Evening
Date: 3 March
Time: 18:15 to 21:15
Location: Bomber Hall / Historic Hangars
Cost: £15.50 per person

Event: Access the Avro Vulcan
Dates: 25 March
Times: 10:00 to 13:00
Location: Bomber Hall
Cost: £25.50 per person

Event: First World War Airfix Make and Take
Dates: 28 March – 3 April
Times: 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Location: Bomber Hall
Cost: £3 per kit

Event: Knit for Britain from Above
Dates: 4 – 8 April
Times: 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Location: TBC
Cost: Free

Event: Storytelling: Sir Alan Cobhams Flying Circus
Dates: 9 – 10 April
Time: TBC
Location: Art Gallery
Cost: Free

Event: Storytelling: RAF Humanitarian Work
Date: 11 – 12 April
Times: TBC
Location: Art Gallery
Cost: Free

Event: Archive Viewing: RAF Humanitarian Work
Date: 11 – 12 April
Times: 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Location: Boardroom
Cost: Free

For further details check out www.rafmuseum.org

Flying for the RFC? Its a Piece of Cake

The RAF Museum introduces ‘Albert’s ‘Ripping’ Cake’ on its menu in tribute to one of England’s most legendary First World War pilots.

The legendary English pilot Albert Ball was one of the most iconic heroes of the sky during the First World War. His bravery won him the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished service Order and the Military Cross. At the time of his death in May 1917, he was the country’s leading flying ace, with 44 victories to his name.

One little known fact was that he always flew with his mother’s home-made plum cake on board his aircraft and he requested it many times in his letters home:

“You make me a cake, and I would like it all the more. I so love to have a huge piece of cake to go flying with in the morning. It is fine, and if made by you would be better still.” (Letter to his Mother)

“I was so pleased to get your ripping cake, but I have nearly finished it. I love to take a huge piece with me when I fly.” (Letter to his sister)

The Royal Air Force Museum in association with students from Barnet and Southgate College and with assistance from Centerplate Restaurant have re-developed this age old family recipe for Plum Cake as preferred by Albert Ball.

The recipe was discovered by the Albert Ball’s great niece whilst clearing out her grandmother’s house in Nottingham.

The cake will go on sale at the Museum restaurant from April 20th and will be packaged as if being sent as a parcel to Albert Ball.

In between slices of this legendary cake, visitors can also find out more about aviation during the First World war in the ‘First World War in the Air’ – a new permanent exhibition supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), that enables visitors to discover and explore the unique and often overlooked role of air power during the First World War through the incredible stories of the men and women who served and protected our nation.

www.rafmuseum.org

Thousands of miniature models to be displayed at Cosford

Shropshire MOdel Show

Date: 12 April 2015

Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost: FREE entry

After a busy February Half Term week at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, which has seen over 1,000 children take part in a model making activity, families with a new found interest in the hobby can explore it further at the Shropshire Scale Model Show, taking place on Sunday 12 April.

This annual event which attracts over 4,000 visitors each year will take place nestled amongst the world-class collection of aircraft and military vehicles on display at the Museum. Thousands of intricately detailed models of aircraft, cars, bikes, trucks and science fiction items will be spread across the whole site, filling the Museum hangars with a world of model making. With over 100 modelling clubs signed up to exhibit their creations, many of which have taken years to perfect, this year’s event is set to be bigger than ever.

Everything any dedicated modeller could ever want or need, will be on sale during the one day show. Over 40 traders, will be selling a range of modelling materials and kits to suit modellers of all ability’s, from young children who are just discovering their passion for modelling, right through to the avid modellers who have been building kits for many years. There will be everything from plastic kits in various sizes along with glues, paints and other detailed sets available to purchase on the day.

Event organiser, Gary Stevens Secretary of the Shropshire Scale Modellers and The Telford Branch of The International Plastic Modellers Society says:

“This year for the first time we will have live entertainment during the show from singer Tiffany Lunn who is a musician and composer of unique and uplifting electronic and instrumental music. I am also pleased to announce the return of a club from Germany named Interessengemeinschaft Plastikmodellbauklub 84 (or IP84 for short) giving the show an international feel. With 108 club displays and 40 traders, this year’s show will be larger than ever.”

To make reaching the Museum even easier, organisers have introduced a free park and ride for the day to cope with the additional visitors. The show will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm and entry to the event is free of charge. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website at www.rafmuseum.org. Entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.

Planning Permission Granted for Museum Project

Newark Air Museum

The trustees of Newark Air Museum are pleased to advise that official notification has been received from Newark & Sherwood District Council, granting Full Planning Permission for the new Education Room, Café & Toilet facility.

Full Planning Permission represents a huge boost to the museum’s plan to construct this important new visitor facility on its Southfield Site. Over the coming weeks the museum will be working with its project architect, Studio G Architecture LLP (SGA LLP) of Collingham, Notts to discharge the five planning conditions that were applied to the Full Planning Approval.

The aim of this work with SGA LLP will be to have a strategy in place to tie in with the outcome of one of the grant applications connected to the project, which should be known towards the end of March 2015.

It is now even more important than ever that the museum steps-up its fund raising activities to support this project. Online contributions can be made via a Just Giving page for the project https://www.justgiving.com/Howard-Heeley2

The wider fund raising appeal still allows project supporters to make a donation towards a Photographic Panini, which will carry their name and brief message. These Photographic Paninis are being displayed in the current museum café; they will then being incorporated into a presentation folder that will be displayed in the new education / café building when it is completed.

Perhaps the simplest way people can support the project is just by visiting the museum and we encourage people to do this by using the Gift Aid admission scheme. This enables the museum to reclaim fund from HMRC, which can give a huge boost to the project.

Regular updates about the project will be posted on the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org