Category: UK Aviation Museum News

Open Cockpit Events

The RAF Museum London offers a unique opportunity to access cockpits of some of its most iconic aircraft.

Date: 3rd March 2015

Time: 18:15 to 21:00

Tickets: £15.50/£20.50 (Vulcan ticket)

Join us in March for an exclusive evening at the Royal Air Force Museum. For one night only the Museum will open its doors and allow access to some historic aircraft. Get a closer look at legendary aircraft like the Spitfire, Lancaster and Vulcan. With staff on hand to explain the controls visitors will experience the collection in a new light.

Cockpit viewing:
Avro Lancaster
Spitfire 5B
Canberra
B24 Liberator

Cockpit access:
Chipmunk
Jet Provost 5
Gazelle
Vulcan (you must buy a separate ticket to access this aircraft)

Cabin access/viewing:
Merlin Helicopter (A)
Whirlwind (V)
Wessex (A)
HE162 (V)
Vampire (V)
ME109G (V)
Sycamore (V)

V = viewing, A = access

Please note:

*A Vulcan access ticket is for the Vulcan only. It does not allow you access into the event – you will need to purchase an event ticket (Adult or member) to access the Museum

**Access to the Vulcan Aircraft is challenging and only for the physically able. The Museum reserves the right to refuse access to the Vulcan if you are not physically fit enough. If you have any questions please call the event organiser on 0208 358 4997 for more information.

Doors open at 6.15pm until 9.15pm Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL (please use NW9 5QW if travelling using a SAT NAV)

For more information please email whatson@rafmuseum.org or telephone the event organiser on 0208 358 4997.

Tickets on sale now. Click here to book: https://royalairforcemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/tickets?branches.branchID=353

To register your interest and to receive an email notifying you when tickets are available please email london@rafmuseum.org

City Bridge Trust aids Museum engage older visitors

City Bridge Trust

The RAF Museum London is pleased to announce that the City Bridge Trust has donated £87,600 towards its program to engage older visitors.

City Bridge Trust is the grant-making arm of Bridge House Estates, whose sole trustee is the City of London Corporation. It supports London’s charities and provides grants totaling around £15 million annually.

In December of last year HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh conducted the official opening of a new permanent exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum London entitled ‘First World War in the Air.’ The exhibition was funded by the HLF with support from BAE Systems and encompasses a four year long program of supporting events.

The funds from City Bridge Trust will be used to ensure a run of events and activities to support the First World War exhibition which are specifically targeted at an older audience. It will also fund three posts Education Officer, Community Development Officer and Volunteer Co-ordinator, all of which encourage a wider engagement with the Museum’s audiences

Jeremy Mayhew, Chairman of the City Bridge Trust, said: “The Royal Air Force has played a vital role in British military history – and the Royal Air Force Museum offers people, of all ages, a great opportunity to learn about that role; this is an excellent national resource which can be used to connect and engage with an older audience, who are also in a position to share their knowledge of history with younger generations. We are delighted that our grant will enable more older people to get involved in a number of aspects of the Museum’s activities – including its work with schools, both as visitors and volunteers.”

Karen Whitting, Director Public Programmes RAF Museum: “We are delighted to receive this grant from City Bridge Trust which will enable us to widen and develop our relationship with more mature audiences. As we near the Centenary of the RAF itself, it is of utmost importance to engage the different generations whose lives have been touched by the work of the Service and the bravery and sacrifice of its men and women.”

www.rafmuseum.org

Monospar Update 2015

Newark Air Museum Monospar

In recent weeks good progress has been made on applying the polyester fabric to the complex latticework structure of the starboard wing of General Aircraft Monospar VH-UTH at Newark Air Museum.

The work is being undertaken in the museum’s on-site workshop by museum members who developed their fabric application techniques on the project during 2014.

The innovative yet complex structure of the Monospar wing can be seen through the recently applied fabric and by looking inside the covered wing. As the warmer weather approaches the work will be progressed and a top coat of paint applied.

As previously reported some work is still to be completed on the ‘top hat’ longerons on the Monospar fuselage, but once this has been undertaken the fuselage fabric will also be applied.

All of the rebuild work on the General Aircraft Monospar VH-UTH at Newark Air Museum is being without any working drawings or airframe plans.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Yorkshire Air Museum 2015 Events

Thunder Day

2015 Event Programme

Fri. 13th March Night Shoot – “Friday the 13” Special, also featuring the Douglas Dakota; De Havilland Devon and Mosquito Nightfighter. Pre-booked Ticket only. SOLD OUT!!!

Sat. 11th April “Rolling Thunder Day” – Fast jet taxy runs celebrating 5th Anniversary of Nimrod XV250 arriving at YAM. Propeller driven aircraft start-ups.

Air Transport Auxiliary Association Memorial Plaque Unveiling.

Sat 9th / Sun 10th May Battlegroup North. Annual gathering of Historic Military Vehicles, Wargaming Show and Living History Displays celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe and 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

4th – 7th June RAF Museum Hendon’s Collections Handling Tour.

Sun. 7th June “Thunder Day”. On site aircraft engine starts of the jet and propeller driven aircraft.

Thur. 25th June Inspirations STEM Education Challenge.

Sat. 11th July Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club (Yorkshire Branch) Driving Day. 30 + Rolls Royce cars.

Sun. 26th July “Golden Era” Vintage Motorcycle Run. Gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles.

Sun. 2nd August “Thunder Day”. On site jet and propeller driven aircraft engine runs.

Mon. 31st August “Rolling Thunder Day”. Fast jet taxy runs & propeller driven aircraft starts.

Sun. 6th September Allied Air Forces Memorial Day. Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary.

Sun. 4th October Classic Bus Rally – Thornes Independent Coaches classic bus gathering.

Sun. 8th November Remembrance Sunday. Services at the French Memorial, Elvington Village and YAM Station Chapel.

Note – wherever possible, events will feature flypasts by historic aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Some events may be charged at different rates – Battlegroup North and Thunder Days £10 Adults, £8 Concession and £5 Child. For the Rolling Thunder events, an Airfield Viewing pass will be available.

www.yorkshireairmuseum.org

Open Cockpits Evening tickets go on sale

RAF Cosford Open Cockpits Evening

Date: 15-16 May and 18-19 September

Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Cost: £12.50 per person

Tickets for the popular aviation enthusiasts’ event ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, are now on sale through the Museum’s website. Just 300 tickets per evening will be available for this exclusive event, where a wide range of aircraft will be available for close viewing on the night: including transport aircraft, jet fighters and unique research airframes.

The event has been a complete sell out for three consecutive years and to help cope with demand, organisers have doubled the number of evenings. The event, which is held twice a year in May and September, will now run on a Friday and Saturday evening giving twice as many aviation fans the chance to sit inside some of the world’s most iconic aircraft.

Visitors will be able to get a feel for what it was like to fly these much loved machines by entering their cockpits and, in addition to this, will have exclusive after-hours access to the Museum which displays a collection of over 70 aircraft, military vehicles, engines and aviation artefacts within three wartime hangars and the award-winning National Cold War Exhibition.

Aircraft confirmed for close viewing in the May event include the Gloster Meteor F8 Prone Position. This post-World War Two fighter jet was used to evaluate the advantages of coping with the effects of gravity while flying lying down. In practice the difficulties of operating the controls of the aircraft outweighed the advantages. Other highlights include access inside the giant Lockheed Hercules C130K Mk3. This troop transport, disaster relief and aerial tanker aircraft has been a mainstay of the RAF transport fleet since the late 1960s and has seen extensive operational use including the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Visitors to Open Cockpits Evening will also have the rare chance to sit inside the General Dynamics F-111F-CF, the first variable-geometry combat aircraft to enter service. This two-seat fighter-bomber saw extensive service during the Vietnam War and also served with US forces and the Royal Australian Air Force.

RAF Museum Cosford Curator Al McLean said:

“We are pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to see inside the cockpits of several of the museum’s unique aircraft as well as some of the ones that are more familiar and that, for some, may bring back memories.”

The evening will commence at 6.00pm and finish at 9.00pm, with numbers onto the Museum site strictly limited to 300 people – providing enthusiasts with three hours to examine the Museum’s historic and wondrous aircraft in an exclusive environment. The Museum is advising aviation fans to book early to avoid disappointment. Admission is by advance ticket only; tickets cost £12.50 per person and are now available to purchase through the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. 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.

The Museum will close at 5.00pm on each ‘Open Cockpit Evening’ in order to set up for the event. A detailed list of aircraft open on the September evenings will be issued nearer the time.

Chocks away for ‘First World War in the Air’ exhibition at Cosford

Cosford WW1 exhibition

This week the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford officially unveiled a brand new exhibition area celebrating the achievements of Britain’s air services, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service along with the contributions made by the West Midlands in the race for the sky during the First World War. The exhibition entitled ‘First World War in the Air’ has been made possible with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) with support from BAE Systems and is now open for visitors to enjoy.

The exhibition was officially opened by Brendan Connor, Deputy Chairman of the RAF Museum Trustees in the presence of Fi Stephens, Grants Officer from the HLF and Directors from BAE Systems, with key partners and invited guests. The ‘First World War in the Air’ is a new permanent exhibition that will enable 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 in the earliest days of military aviation in Britain’s air services.

The exhibition uses the RAF Museum’s world-class collection of aircraft, documents, film and photographs to reveal how aviation changed the character of war forever. Set amongst the Museum’s collection of warplanes, three iconic First World War aircraft; the Sopwith Pup, Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter and the Bristol M.1c form the centre piece of the new display. The Sopwith Pup was used extensively during the First World War by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps and considered the perfect flying machine by its Pilots. The Bristol M.1c and the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter are full scale reproductions.

Displayed alongside the aircraft are the personal items of Second Lieutenant Kevin Robert Furniss of the RFC, who lived only a few miles from Cosford in Wolverhampton. Donated to the Museum in 2013 by his great niece, Kevin’s belongings included documents ranging from baby photographs and school reports to obituaries and memorials, telling the story of Kevin’s tragically short life. Artefacts on display include Kevin’s RFC flying helmet and wings, a complete wash kit and a letter to his father all returned to his next of kin following his death. The personal letters between Kevin and his family and friends provide an insight into the personality of this brave young man and his experiences during the First World War.

Karen Whitting, Director of Public Programmes at the Royal Air Force Museum, said:

“It is incredibly important for the Museum to share these First World War stories and experiences with the local community here at Cosford, particularly when considering the ‘local heroes’ from the West Midlands area such as 2nd Lt. Kevin Furniss. The exhibition also marks the beginning of an important phase for the Museum as it gears up to celebrate the RAF’s centenary in 2018.”

Fi Stephens, Grants Officer at the Heritage Lottery Fund said:

“It’s fantastic to see the opening of this new exhibition which, thanks to Lottery players, will mean the RAF Museum will be able to play a full part in marking the centenary of the First World War, bringing to the fore an important but currently less well known aspect of the war.”

Chris Boardman, Managing Director of BAE Systems Military Air and Information, said:

“The evolution of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force from 1912 to the present day is closely linked with BAE Systems and its predecessor companies. We are delighted to be supporting the opening of this new gallery and the ambitious plans to redevelop the site over the next four years to inspire future generations of engineers and entrepreneurs.”

Today also marks the launch of a brand new First World War workshop for school groups entitled ‘Life above the Trenches’. Year 6 pupils from Albrighton Primary School attended the opening event and took part in a variety of activities throughout the day, including readings from Writer in Residence Tom Palmer based on the letters of Second Lieutenant Kevin Furniss (RFC). This new workshop will help children understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed using a range of artefacts. Focusing on the life of a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilot, interactive activities will introduce children to the history of the RFC with the opportunity to examine First World War artefacts including uniform, maps letters and aircraft in order to build a picture of the life of a pilot. Any schools interested in the ‘Life above the Trenches’ workshop can book their place now by contacting the Museum’s Access and Learning team on 01902 376243 or email learning-cosford@rafmuseum.org.

A linked online resource includes the digitisation of and wider public access to historical documents such as First World War Casualty Cards, Casualty Forms and Muster Rolls, that tell the story of the men and women of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. These can be accessed at www.rafmuseumstoryvault.com

In December 2014 the RAF Museum successfully opened a major new ‘First World War in the Air’ exhibition at its London site and today’s exhibition opening at Cosford marks the first step in a joint transformation of the Museum at both its sites, in advance of the Centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018.

The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is free of charge. For more information on the Museum, visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200.

BBC’s Flog It at RAF Museum

The popular BBC One antiques programme Flog It presented by Paul Martin, is coming to London on Thursday 29th January 2015.

Flog It – the major BBC antiques show is now on its fourteenth series and regularly achieves an audience of over two million viewers in its weekday afternoon slot.

RAF Museum London will be hosting the Flog It valuation day. Rather like a treasure hunt, members of the public are invited to bring along up to three antiques and collectables they might be interested in selling. Once valued, the owner and a team of experts decide whether an object should go forward for auction. If the item is chosen it is included in a sale a few weeks later – hopefully when the auctioneers hammer falls its owners make a tidy sum. Everyone who goes along to the Valuation Day will receive a free valuation – even if their antiques are not chosen to go forward for auction.

The show recently made a significant find when a rare Aboriginal Broad Shield that had been kept hidden away in a Flog It viewers wardrobe was brought along to a valuation day in North Lincolnshire and went on to sell at auction for £30,000! The series also uncovered an unusual Royal Doulton Spook figurine in Blackpool which had been bought at a car boot sale for £2; it went on to sell at auction for £5000.

Alex Habgood, Location Manager says “Paul Martin and the entire Flog It team are really pleased to be bringing the show to RAF Museum London. We always receive a warm welcome when we come to the capital. The museum will provide the perfect setting for our filming; our experts are all looking forward to welcoming people along for their free valuations amongst such a significant collection of aircraft. If you’ve ever wondered how much your boot sale bargains or clutter in the loft might be worth, now is your chance to find out.”

Paul Martin, Presenter of Flog It said “I’m delighted to be bringing Flog It to RAF Museum London, and I hope as many people as possible will come along to see us with their items for valuation.”

Vicki Hibbert, RAF Museum London Corporate Events Manager said “The Museum is looking forward to hosting the Flog It team. Our collection of historic aircraft should make for a great setting and a really special set of shows!”

Paul Martin will be joined on the valuation day by Flog It on screen experts Anita Manning, Mark Stacey and Michael Baggott. The BBC are planning to transmit the four editions of Flog It featuring RAF Museum London within a year of recording.

Flog It will be at RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5QW on Thursday 29th January 2015 between 10.00am and 4.30pm. The items selected at the valuation day will go under the hammer at Chiswick Auctions, 1 Colville Road, London, W3 8BL on Tuesday 17th February 2015.

www.rafmuseum.org

RAF Museum Cosford Events 2015 Diary Date

Forthcoming events taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford during 2015:

 

 

Event

Date

Jan

Airfix Make and Take

17 January

Feb

Model Making Half Term

16-20 February

Mar

Easter Activities

30 March – 2 April

Apr

Easter Activities

7-10 April

 

Shropshire Scale Model Show

12 April

 

Bike4Life Fest

26 April

May

Open Cockpits Evening

15-16 May **

 

Half Term Activities

25-29 May

Jun

Dornier Do 17 – Two Years On

10 June **

 

RAF Cosford Air Show

14 June **

 

Armed Forces Day

27 June

Jul

Large Model Aircraft Rally

18-19 July **

 

Cosford Food Festival

25-26 July **

Aug

August Activities

1-31 August

Sep

Battle of Britain Weekend

12-13 September

 

Battle of Britain Afternoon Concert

13 September **

 

Open Cockpits Evening

18-19 September **

Oct

Half Term Activities

26-30 October

Nov

Remembrance Service

8 November

 

Conservation Centre Open Week

9-14 November **

** Admission Charges Apply.

More details on each event will be issued closer to the time. Some events may incur a small participation fee and additional events may be added during the year.

RAF Museum Cosford Public Events Manager Abi Betteridge said:

“This year’s event calendar is packed with popular favourites including the Large Model Aircraft Rally and the Cosford Food Festival, plus we will also see the return of the Battle of Britain Weekend as 2015 marks the 75th anniversary of this significant milestone in RAF history. We have doubled the number of Open Cockpits Evenings to try and keep up with demand and we have plenty of fun packed activities planned for each of the school holidays to keep the youngsters entertained.”

For further information on forthcoming events taking place at the RAF Museum Cosford in 2015, please contact the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org.

Festive opening dates at Cosford

RAF Cosford Britannia in snow

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle this Christmas, why not visit the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford during the festive period? The Museum will be open daily throughout December from 10am apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Not only will you be able to reminisce in the Warplanes Hangar where you can view a wide range of historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire, visitors can get up close to a unique collection of experimental jets including the TSR2 and the Bristol 188.

Step in from the cold into the award winning National Cold War Exhibition, where you will find much more than aircraft on display. The exhibition includes a genuine section of the Berlin Wall, audio visual displays telling the story of the Cold War in a fun and innovative way, plus a collection of military tanks and civilian vehicles – all housed under the wings of Britain’s three V Bombers; Vulcan, Victor and Valiant and other aircraft suspended in flying attitudes.

The RAF Museum Cosford is also home to a number of smaller unique exhibitions including Lucky Mascots and RAF Boy Entrants. Plus, in Hangar 1 you will find the 1:1 scale Airfix Spitfire model built by TV Presenter James May and the popular ‘Pilots of the Caribbean – Volunteers of African Heritage in the RAF’ exhibition. Best of all, if your credit cards are maxed out after Christmas, a visit to the Museum won’t cost you a penny as admission is FREE!

So if you’re looking to entertain the children in the run up to Christmas, or your nearest and dearest in the lull before New Year, the RAF Museum has something to occupy visitors of all ages. The fun filled area of Fun ‘n’ Flight will keep the youngsters fascinated, packed with hands on excitement; it’s the easy way to answer all those questions about how aircraft stay up in the air. Or, if you’re in need of a break from all the cooking, why not treat yourself to a warming meal and freshly brewed cup of Coffee in our Refuel Restaurant overlooking the Museum grounds.

The Museum will close again on New Year’s Day and will reopen on Friday 2 January 2015 from 10am until 5pm (last admission 4pm). The Museum’s annual closure week for maintenance, training and cleaning will run from 5-9 January 2015. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org. The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is FREE of charge.

Newark Air Museum Events for 2015

Newark Air Museum Victory Day

Here at Newark Air Museum, a registered charity, we’re already starting to make plans for our 2015 special events and we hope that you may be able to join us…

7 March 2015 – Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble Table Top Sale 48 sellers tables all hosted inside Display Hangar 2 amongst the aircraft at the museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. {Special discount admission rates apply, open to everyone to attend.}

16 & 17 May 2015 – Tribute to our Training Aircraft an open cockpit style event based around the museum’s extensive display of training aircraft, cockpits and CIMs; with viewing opportunities and in some cases aircraft access. {Normal admission rates apply; and small additional fees when going inside aircraft.}

13 & 14 June 2015 – Cockpit-Fest 2015 & Aeroboot / Aerojumble; this regular two day event provides the perfect opportunity for the public to view a diverse range of visiting aircraft cockpits. {Normal admission rates apply}

25 & 26 July 2015 – Victory Days 2015; this weekend will include 40’s attractions such as the Anderson Shelter and Dig for Victory Garden experience, music, re-enactors, period traders, Tea Tent, period food, vintage civilian / military vehicles, and displays of period clothing and other items; all set amidst the museum’s aircraft collection. A flypast from the BBMF has been applied for. Anyone visiting is encouraged to wear period clothing but no Axis uniforms will be allowed as this is a Home Front event. {Normal admission rates apply}

www.newarkairmuseum.org