UK Aviation Museum News – Page 76

IWM Duxford features in the exciting new British Airways advertising campaign

British Airways has today launched its biggest brand advertising campaign for a decade. The TV advert showcases the airline’s heritage and highlights the characteristics that makes British Airways so special. Synonymous with heritage in aviation, IWM Duxford was chosen as one of the filming locations for the new British Airways advert.

Filming took place during June 2011 and involved a team of 40 extras and a large film crew. The Museum worked in partnership with a number of on-site flying partners to achieve the complex filming requirements.

The advert shows Duxford Aviation Society’s Concorde cockpit and VC10, Classic Wings’ de Havilland Dragon Rapide and a number of IWM Duxford vehicles, including the Bedford truck on display in AirSpace , the refueller from Hangar 4: Battle of Britain and the BOAC cub and luggage trolley from AirSpace.

A Douglas DC-3 Dakota was flown in from Norway especially for the occasion and several vintage vehicles were brought in from other collections to represent the appropriate historical periods.

The filming involved recreating nostalgic civil aviation scenes from a number of periods during the 20th century. Duxford was transported back to the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s during the filming project.

The stunningly visual advert was launched on Wednesday 21 September on the British Airways Facebook site – http://www.facebook.com/#!/britishairways.

Polish & Czech RAF Veterans Honoured

Brothers in Arms:

Poles and Czechs in the Battle of Britain & Beyond.

Free Exhibition – 16th of September to 4th March 2012

During the Battle of Britain one fifth of Fighter Command’s aircrew came from overseas with 16 nations represented in its many squadrons. Arguably the RAF’s most prolific and successful pilots of the campaign were the dispossessed Polish, Czech and Slovak pilots who had fled their homelands to fight, as brothers in arms, against the tyranny that dominated most of Continental Europe. The Royal Air Force Museum will honour the efforts and sacrifice of these selfless individuals in a new multi-media exhibition, ‘Brothers in Arms’, which will be on display to the public in the Museum’s new temporary exhibition Gallery from 16th September onwards.

In this exhibition, created in association with the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, visitors will be invited to explore through drawings, archive film footage and sculpture the bravery of the men of No 303 Polish Squadron and individuals such as Czech Fighter Pilot Josef Frantisek. Sadly, many of those who survived the war were later deemed criminals and outcasts in Poland & Czechoslovakia for fear that they might oppose the new communist regimes of Eastern Europe

As well as historic uniforms, personal documents – including original combat reports and private diaries – and other artifacts, the Museum will also have on display the remains of the first German aircraft shot down by No 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, as well as exhibition panels created by the Polish Institute of National Remembrance.

To engage younger visitors, a giant board game commemorating the role of No 303 Polish Squadron, the top scoring squadron of the Battle of Britain, will be on display in the Museum’s Reception Area. Created by Dr Tomasz Ginter & Karol Madaj from the Institute of National Remembrance’s Public Education Office in Warsaw the game’s aim is to engage children with the history of No 303 Squadron through play – inspiring them to learn further about all the nationalities who contributed to the Royal Air Force during World War 2.

Peter Dye, Director General of the Royal Air Force Museum stated, “It is important to remember that the ‘Few’ contained many nations, including pilots from across occupied Europe. These brave men died defending their adopted country while those that survived were often unable to return home and, if they did, found themselves treated as criminals. It is vital that their efforts and sacrifices are not forgotten and that their example continues to inspire a new generation to work together in defence of democracy and our shared values. The Royal Air Force Museum is honoured to host this exhibition and to recognise the debt owed to those thousands of Polish, Czech and Slovak veterans who fought for Britain in its darkest hour.”

As a companion piece to this exhibition, the Museum has also created an online exhibition ‘For Your Freedom and Ours’ which narrates the History of 303 Polish Squadron and other Polish Pilots who served with the Royal Air Force during World War 2 together with a Polish language podcast on this topic. Polish & Czech RAF Veterans, their families and friends are invited to contribute to their stories to this exhibition through an online form. To visit this online exhibition please go to www.rafmuseum.org.uk/online-exhibitions

The Royal Air Force Museum London is open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm with last admission to the Museum being at 5.30pm. Admission to the Museum, and to ‘Brothers in Arms’, is free of charge. For further details about this exhibition please call 020 8205 2266 or visit www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Sir Richard Branson Helps To Kick Start RAF Museum Fundraising Campaign

The Royal Air Force Museum has launched a fundraising campaign to rescue the sole surviving example of the WWII Dornier Do-17 aircraft.

The Museum is now appealing to the public to raise the remaining £250,000 to complete the recovery and restoration project. The public fundraising campaign is also endorsed by Sir Richard Branson who is a supporter of the Museum.

Sir Richard Branson: “The discovery of the Dornier is of international importance. Please support the RAF Museum’s appeal to save this unique aircraft as a tribute to the loss of life on both sides of the Battle of Britain.”

The German wartime bomber was shot down during the height of the Battle of Britain exactly 71 years ago and has since then been submerged in the waters of the Goodwin Sands. It is currently at risk from tidal forces, the effects of salt water corrosion and is exposed to looters. Therefore it is imperative that the aircraft is recovered and conserved urgently.

With a crew of four, and loaded with 2000lb of bombs, the aircraft, a twin-engine Dornier Do-17 – known universally as ‘The Flying Pencil ‘- was part of a large enemy formation intercepted by RAF fighter aircraft at midday on 26 August 1940 as they attempted to attack airfields in Essex.

The aircraft is in remarkable condition – considering that it was damaged in air combat and has spent so many years under water. Other than marine concretion, it is largely intact, the main undercarriage tyres remain inflated and the propellers clearly show the damage inflicted during the aircraft’s final landing.

Since the Dornier emerged from the sands two years ago, the RAF Museum has worked with Wessex Archaeology and English Heritage, as well as Imperial College London and the Dornier Museum, to complete a full survey of the wreck site in preparation for the aircraft’s recovery and eventual exhibition.

Work to conserve and prepare the Dornier for display will be undertaken at the RAF Museum’s award-winning conservation centre at Cosford. Here the Dornier will be placed alongside the Museum’s Vickers Wellington which is currently undergoing long term restoration.

Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, Director General of the RAF Museum said that “As a survivor of the Battle of Britain, the Dornier Do-17 is a unique aircraft of national and international importance and our long term plan is to conserve it for display at the Museum. We very much hope that this exciting and unique project will receive support from the public and become the focus for a collaborative effort by apprentices from across the world.”

Other major donors to this project include EADS (£7,500) and the RAF Museum Society of Friends (£6,000).

Public donations can be made at: http://www.justgiving.com/Dornier17

Special delivery flight to mark 100th Anniversary of the first Air Mail Letter

One hundred years ago Claude Grahame-White launched the World’s First Aerial Post, flying mail from Hendon to Windsor to celebrate the Coronation of King George V.

On September 9th this year The Royal air Force Museum takes part in the centenary celebrations for the first ever Air Mail flight with a commemorative flight and letters to Her Majesty The Queen!

In a world before emails, texts and social networking the first ever Air Mail flight in the world took place between the London Aerodrome in Hendon North London to Windsor on September 9th 1911.

The historic 15 minute flight was piloted by Gustav Hamel in a Bleriot aircraft and as well as letters from the general public it also carried a number of official ones to reigning monarchs, emperors and world leaders.

Today the Royal Air Force Museum stands at the grounds of the original London Aerodrome and on 9th September, a commemorative helicopter flight will leave the Museum at 1100 flying over the original 1911 route to Windsor Great Park. It will be carrying mail, anniversary cards and covers produced by Buckingham Covers. Air Marshall Sir Ian Macfadyen, the Constable and Governer of Windsor Castle will be on board and it is hoped that a Bleriot will fly again in the park at Windsor (weather permitting), piloted by Henk van Hoorn.

Also in attendance at Windsor, will be Eric “Winkle” Brown who holds the record of the largest number of aircraft flown) and Tony Iveson – the only Battle of Britain pilot to have won a medal as Bomber Captain (Tirpitz).

The Museum is also inviting its younger visitors to write a brief message to Her Majesty the Queen, telling her what they like the most about growing up in 2011. Letters should be brought to the Royal Air Force Museum where there will be a special post box and all letters posted there will be carried by helicopter to Windsor on Friday 9 September.

Letters can be written on site at the Museum on a special letterhead and placed in a postbox at the London site.

The Royal Mint will also be issuing a miniature sheet of stamps, Tower Mint have struck a commemorative medallion and Buckingham Covers are producing commemorative presentation packs and covers.

http://www.rafmuseum.org/

Museum commemorates Battle of Britain with family weekend

10-11 September 2011

Spitfire Flypast on Saturday (weather permitting)

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be commemorating the Battle of Britain, considered the most important event in Royal Air Force history, with a family weekend of events and activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a flypast on Saturday from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire (weather permitting).

Activities taking place over the weekend include real life working Merlin & Griffon engine demonstrations lasting approximately 30 minutes and a chance to see how a WWII Ops Room operated. A land army re-enactment group will be digging for victory in the wartime garden with Hoo Farm bringing along sheep, ducks, chickens, goats and a sheep dog as part of the land army experience.

A main highlight of the weekend will be a Question and Answer session with Battle of Britain veterans. Come along and listen to their remarkable tales and ask those in the know, what it was really like to be in the RAF during the Battle of Britain era. The Q&A session plus screenings of outtakes from the 1969 epic film Battle of Britain will be taking place in the Conference Room located in the Visitor Centre.

Over this weekend children and adults can find out what it was like to be a 1940’s RAF pilot by sitting inside a replica Spitfire, complete with flying jacket and goggles; and will have the opportunity to have their photo taken professionally as a memento of the day (charges apply). Also on display over the weekend will be a range of 1940’s military vehicles and a Guild of Aviation Artists exhibition displaying 51 paintings themed around the Battle of Britain will be on display in Hangar 1.

And to keep the children entertained the Museum will be running its popular ‘Step Back In Time’ workshop where children and adults alike, will write with a dip pen using old fashioned inkwells and have a go at pounds, shilling and pence arithmetic and fill in a replica evacuee label and identity card. But, be prepared to evacuate the class quickly at any time in order to make it down to the Anderson Shelter to escape a day time bombing raid. Other children’s activities including colouring in Spitfires and Union Jack flags, will be taking place throughout the site over both days.

The Museum Restaurant will be offering some culinary delights with their wartime menu and visitors will be able to dine in true street party style. Visitors are also welcome to dress up for the occasion in their 1940’s clothing. For more information about the Battle of Britain Weekend event please contract the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org.

A little bit of the United States at Duxfords American Air Day

Thousands of visitors enjoyed a day out at IWM Duxford stateside-style today, Friday 19 August, at American Air Day.

Visitors met and mingled with men and women from the Third Air Force of the United States Air Force in Europe, based at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in East Anglia.

There were a wide range of fascinating demonstrations, from the K9 dog display team, to the Birdman with his stunning birds of prey. There was a display by the USAFE Operational Support Service showing how they prepare a fighter aircraft for readiness, using Duxford’s own static F-15 Eagle for true authenticity, and a display of Security Forces Humvee vehicles and equipment.

In a poignant Missing in Action ceremony, the USAFE Honor Guard remembered United States personnel who are missing in action or lost their lives in active service.

Imperial War Museum Duxford was delighted to welcome back SR-71 Blackbird pilot Colonel Richard Graham who hosted walk-around tours of the Blackbird spy plane that he flew, which is now in pride of place in the American Air Museum.

There were also displays by the USAFE weather display team and medical team. Visitors also had to the chance to see some stylish American cars and motorbikes.

The USAFE C-130 aircraft flew in, landed and opened for very popular public tours.

In the skies there were exciting fly-pasts and displays. There were a series of United States Air Force fly-pasts, comprising two F-15E aircraft, followed by a fly-past of a KC-135. This was followed by a fly-past of two F-15C aircraft.

Duxford’s historic American aircraft then took to the skies, with displays by a pair of North American Harvards, followed by a Boeing Stearman, and then a pair of S1 Pitts aircraft.

The final flypast of USAF F-15E aircraft was followed by a second display of Duxford aircraft, including the North American F-86 Sabre, Beech Staggerwing and Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina.

It was a fantastic day of Anglo-American celebration, enjoyed by visitors from both sides of the pond!

http://www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

Hercules makes final flight into Cosford

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford today took delivery of its latest acquisition, an RAF Hercules C130K Mk.3 transport aircraft. The aircraft made its final flight into RAF Cosford at 11.30am yesterday morning after a farewell flypast over the Museum.

The XV202 Hercules C130K Mk. 3 was an American aircraft built by Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia and was used by the United States Air Force. It was acquired by the RAF in 1966 and used mainly on longer routes and for paratrooping.

This particular aircraft was one of 30 Hercules modified during the early 1980’s, with the fuselage being lengthened by 15ft. Work was carried out by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd, using fuselage plugs in front of and behind of the wing.

RAF Museum Curator, Al McLean says:

“We are very pleased to be given a Hercules. For more than forty years it has been the corner stone of the RAF’s tactical transport fleet and has operated all over the world.”

The aircraft will remain at RAF Cosford for the next 3-4 weeks and will undergo a short period of maintenance carried out on the airfield. After work has been completed, the aircraft will be moved onto the RAF Museum site and will go on permanent display as part of the Museum’s extensive collection.

The aircraft was flown into RAF Cosford by No 47 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton. This is the second new aircraft to arrive at the Museum this year, following the Dominie’s arrival in February. More aircraft are expected to arrive later this year, including a Nimrod.

The RAF Museum Cosford is home to over 70 aircraft and the award winning National Cold War Exhibition. The Museum is open daily from 10am, admission is FREE. For more information on the Museum please call 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org

Cockpits open to aviation fans

17th September 2011

6.00pm – 8.30pm

£10.00 per person

(Open cockpits and aircraft may be subject to change)

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening up its doors to visitors for a special evening event taking pace on Saturday 17th September 2011. During ‘Open Cockpits Evening’, a selection of historic aircraft and cockpits will be available for close viewing for a limited number of visitors, allowing rare inside access to some of the World’s most historic aircraft.

During ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ members of the public will have the chance to see inside a number of cockpits including; the MH-53 Combat Search and Rescue helicopter, as used by the United States Air Force; the Jaguar ACT Demonstrator a ground attack aircraft modified to demonstrate fly-by-wire /active control technology (ACT) and a Gnat T1 as previously used by the world famous Red Arrows team.

The evening will be a rare treat for visitors to get inside some of the iconic aircraft on display at the Museum and get a feeling of what it was like to fly these much loved aircraft. Major highlights for aviation enthusiasts include the opportunity to see inside the famous TSR2 a twin engined tactical strike reconnaissance prototype and to examine how pilots operated the unique Meteor F8 Prone Position, whilst flying lying down. Other aircraft accessible to the public on this evening will include the York, Hastings and Twin Pioneer.

Museum Events Executive, Nina Mitchell says:
“After the success of the first ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ held in May this year, we hope to make this an annual event. Access inside the aircraft is something we are not able to do all the time. By opening them up to a limited number of visitors for this event, we are able to offer them quality time inside the aircraft, with our team of volunteers available to answer any questions.”

A total of 14 aircraft will be available for close viewing on the night. In addition to this, visitors will have exclusive access to the Museum which contains over 70 aircraft on display and its award winning National Cold War Exhibition.

This evening event will run from 6.00pm to 8.30pm. Numbers onto the Museum site will be limited to 300 people, to allow enthusiasts to spend as much time as possible examining these wondrous aircraft. Admission is by advance ticket only. Tickets costs £10.00 per person and are on sale now at the Museum. Height restrictions of 1.07 metres will apply. Parking charges are included in the ticket price.

For further information on the ‘Open Cockpit Evening’ or to purchase tickets over the phone, please contact the Museum on 01902 376200. Visit www.rafmuseum.org for information on the Museum and other events. Please note: Open cockpits and aircraft available for close viewing may be subject to change.

http://www.rafmuseum.org/

A fun day of 1940s nostalgia at Sally B and Friends Day

Thousands of visitors came to Duxford’s first Sally B and Friends Day on Sunday 31 July for a day of great entertainment, 1940s nostalgia and fantastic flying. Many visitors were dressed in fabulous 1940s outfits and really entered into the spirit of the day!The wartime nostalgia could be felt across the Museum, with Rangers Re-enactors bringing the ‘Friendly Invasion’ of the United States Forces to life, while the Pitsford Home Guard perfectly recreated the real ‘Dad’s Army’ with Local Defence drills, demonstrations and interaction with visitors.

Fabulous forties music was provided by Room 21, who had visitors toe-tapping to Swing and Big Band classics, while the D-Day Darlings wowed the crowds with an authentic Andrews Sisters-style show, featuring instantly recognisable wartime songs that had everybody singing along!

The opportunity to meet the B-17 Preservation Team proved incredibly popular, with packed audiences for the talks by Andrew Dixon (Training Captain), Peter Brown (Chief Engineer) and Elly Sallingboe (Sally B operator) and some lively question and answer sessions.

There was some fantastic flying during the afternoon of Sally B and Friends Day. Sally B took to the skies in a solo display and was then joined by her ‘little friends’, the North American P-51 Mustang and the Supermarine Spitfire IXB.

The Italian trainer aircraft Fiat G-46 then performed a solo display, in its first appearance at Imperial War Museum Duxford.

The SWIP Team of Peter Wells and Guy Westgate performed a superb display in their graceful and agile Twister SA1100 aircraft and were followed by a display of the Beechcraft 17 Staggerwing, Douglas Dakota DC-3 and Beech 18 Expediter. Sally B then joined the three aircraft for a very special salute to the Sally B Supporters Club, without whom it would not be possible to keep Sally B flying.

A T28 Trojan aircraft then flew, followed by aerobatics master Mark Jefferies, who performed a jaw-droppingly amazing display in the Extra 330SC, which drew rousing applause from the crowd.

For the grand finale, Sally B flew with the SWIP Team in their Twister SA1100 aircraft before performing a poignant final solo display to the strains of the 1940s recording of Vera Lynn singing ‘We’ll Meet Again.’

This was a fantastic celebration of Sally B in her 66th year and a relaxed, fun and nostalgic day that was enjoyed by all!

http://www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

A Very Special Aircraft Arrives at Duxford

Recently, Historic Aircraft Collection (HAC) brought a very special historic aircraft to Duxford for reassembly and display.Hawker Fury Mk.I K 5674 serial number 41H/67550 is the only Hawker Fury in existence and has been faithfully restored to flying condition.

The remains of this rare aircraft were discovered on a farm in South Africa and acquired by Historic Aircraft Collection following information received from staff at the RAF Museum.

After an 18-year restoration, the Hawker Fury was recently reassembled at Imperial War Museum Duxford, where visitors could see the talented team of HAC engineers painstakingly assemble this spectacular aircraft.

The Fury is now presented in the scheme it was flown in when it was last operational, as part of the famous ‘Fighting Cocks’, 43 Squadron, RAF Tangmere. It was then the personal aircraft of Flying Officer Rosier, Officer Commanding ‘B’ Flight, later to become Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick Rosier GCB CBE DSO.

Flying Officer Rosier first flew the Fury during December 1936 but had to relinquish the aircraft in February 1939. It was eventually sent to South Africa in 1940. Taken on charge by 13 Squadron, based at Swartkop, it was damaged in a forced landing and was subsequently struck off charge in March 1941.

The restoration of this beautiful pre-war fighter aircraft was undertaken by Retrotec Limited, who also rebuilt the extremely rare Rolls Royce Kestrel IIS engine.

The restored and reassembled Hawker Fury can currently be seen in all its gleaming glory in the Hangar 3: Air and Sea exhibition at Imperial War Museum Duxford.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/duxford