News UK – Page 141 – Airscene News

Museum staff help construct charity pedal car

Staff at RAF Cosford, assisted by staff in the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford have created a pedal car in the form of a World War Two Hurricane aircraft. The pedal car will be entered into a 24 hour charity cycle car race taking place in St Etienne de Chigny in the centre of France. A team of four from RAF Cosford will travel to France for the race in August 2012 hoping to raise money for RAF Charities whilst winning the best design for their pedal car.

Designed and built by a team of staff in Mechanical Training (Airframe and Propulsion Training) at RAF Cosford, the original concept and idea to enter the race came from Malcolm Hill, an instructor at RAF Cosford. Malcolm is hopeful that the unique design and the history behind the Hurricane it replicates will be enough to secure the top spot.

The paint scheme used on the pedal car represents the aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Paul Richey who was stationed during the early days of World War Two at Chateaudun near to where the pedal car race will take place. Once the framework was completed, the pedal car was handed to the Museum’s skilled Aircraft Technician – Surface Finish Engineer to recreate Pilot Officer Richey’s aircraft. The body of the car and the demountable wings were then covered in authentic material ‘Irish Linen’ and doped to strengthen the fabric. It was then painted in the authentic Hurricane colours of the period with the markings of the aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Paul Richey before being handed back to Mr Hill and Cpl Ree.

Surface Finish Engineers, Michael Rose and Tony Pass say:

“We were more than happy to assist for such a good cause and hope the team are successful and raise a lot of money for the Help 4 Heroes Charity Appeal.”

The construction of the pedal car occurred at RAF Cosford during staff lunch breaks and was funded through donations from the Mechanical Training staff tea bar. Members of staff used a discarded post bike from workshops at RAF Cosford. Additional much needed parts were sourced through Halfords in Telford, who agreed to also provide additional spare parts for the competition.

The pedal car has been designed to comply with the French ‘Voitures Pedales’ regulations. Before the race in August it will also be entered in a shorter race in England, in early 2012, as a ‘shake down exercise’ to ensure everything is in working order before the main race. The intention is that the victorious pedal car will be used by the RAF Cadet force at the Birmingham International Tattoo in their ‘Red Barrows’ display. The Tattoo will take place in December 2012.

For further information on this charity event and the team taking part in the race, please contact Malcolm Hill at RAF Cosford on 01902 377386. For more information on the Museum visit www.rafmuseum.org

Remembrance Sunday at IWM Duxford

Sunday 13 November

Free admission to all

On Remembrance Sunday, IWMDuxford will be hosting a special service of remembrance .

Admission to the museum is free for all on Remembrance Sunday and we very much hope that people will take this opportunity to visit IWM Duxford on the day whenmembers of the Armed Forces, who lost their lives in active service, are remembered.

At 11.00am, a two-minute silence will be observed across the museum, commencing and concluding with a traditional gun salute presented by The Garrison.

We’ll be hosting activities throughout the museum, looking at the poppy, the striking symbol of remembrance that resonates back to the First World War.

In AirSpace, between 10.00amand 3.00pm,make a poppy and wear it with pride or attach it to the large Flanders Field frieze. In Land Warfare between 10.00amand 3.00pm, your assembled poppy can be attached to a mural depicting modern warfare and between 11.30am and 3.30pm you can also meet veterans of the Royal Anglian Regiment who will chat about their personal experiences of war.

In Hangar 4: Battle of Britain, between 10.00amand 3.00pm we’ll be making a giant poppy comprised of 2000 individual poppies. The Remembrance Poppy was originally designed so that it could be assembled with just one hand. Visitors will have the opportunity to deconstruct a poppy and then try to reconstruct it using only one hand.

Visitors can then sign their poppy, dedicate it to a loved one or write their own personal message and then add it to the giant poppy that will come to life throughout the day in Hangar 4: Battle of Britain.

The Remembrance Service will commence at 12.30pmin the Conservation Hall in AirSpace. There will be standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and local air cadets. The Sawston Youth Group Band will perform the Last Post.

Why not post your own personal message of remembrance onto our Wall of Remembrance which will be in the Conservation Hall throughout the day.

Join us at historic Duxford to remember those who gave their lives in conflicts past and present and to actively commemorate those who are no longer with us.

www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

Museum unveils new Spitfire

A Supermarine Spitfire Photo Reconnaissance PR. XIX PM651 is the latest addition to the aircraft collection at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford. This rare reconnaissance Spitfire can now be seen on display in the Museum’s Warplanes Hangar standing next to a Hurricane and a Mk 1 Spitfire.

Ordered in 1943 as a Mk VII, the aircraft was eventually built by Vickers at Eastleigh as a PR. XIX and was not collected from them until November 1945. It never saw RAF Squadron service, instead operating Meteorological Research Temperature and Humidity flights from RAF Woodvale. These involved the pilots reporting on clouds, ice formation, turbulence, haze, visibility and prevailing weather conditions. During its short time with this unit, PM651 was forced to make two emergency landings including one at Halfpenny Green airfield in Staffordshire, after it was damaged in a flying accident.

After a period on display at RAF Andover and RAF Benson, the aircraft was loaned to Spitfire Productions for use in the iconic film “Battle of Britain”. It appears in ground shots in the hangars at RAF Duxford.

The aircraft then spent 16 years on display at the main gate at RAF Benson. By 1989 the aircraft had found its way into the Royal Air Force Museum but had been heavily stripped of essential parts for other Spitfire restorations. After some time in the Museum’s storage hangar at RAF Stafford, the aircraft was brought to the Conservation Centre at Cosford where restoration work commenced in October 2010. Work included building a new Elevator assembly and other conservation work. Finally the aircraft was repainted to its original paint scheme for display purposes.

The Spitfire PR. XIX was the last of the specialised photo reconnaissance Spitfires. It was unarmed and could carry two vertical cameras and one oblique camera mounted in the rear fuselage. With a top speed of 445mph the aircraft could reach 42,500ft in height.

There are significant differences between the Mk1 and PR. XIX Spitfires both on display at the Museum. The much more modern PR. XIX was fitted with the Griffon engine as opposed to the Merlin engine used in earlier models and was notably faster than its predecessor. The PR. XIX had extra fuel tanks in place of the machine guns that were fitted to the Mk 1 and a retractable tail wheel making its profile more streamlined for its flights at high altitude. Probably the most significant difference between the two Spitfires on display is the pressurised cabin in the PR. XIX, critical for the high altitude reconnaissance flights.

Clare Carr, RAF Museum Cosford Assistant Curator says:

“We are delighted to be able to display two models of such an iconic aircraft. They help to show the diverse roles in which the Spitfire served ranging from fighter interceptor to high altitude photographic reconnaissance.”

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.

Wellington Restoration Progress is highlight of Open Week

14th to 19th November 2011

10.15am to 1.00pm

FREE Admission

The award winning Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening its doors to visitors for one special week to enable greater public access and understanding of the Centre’s work. From Monday 14th to Saturday 19th November, a range of aircraft and other artefacts in various stages of restoration will be on display daily from 10.15 to 1.00pm. This includes the Centre’s largest project, the Wellington Bomber.

Since its arrival at the Museum there has been significant progress made on the Wellington. The project to date has included detailed photographs being taken of the fuselage section, including the fabric joints to record how the material was fitted to the airframe. This will also provide an ongoing reference for the Museum about original technical information. After this process the fabric that was previously covering the Wellington was carefully removed, wrapped in special acid-free tissue for storage and boxed in a special container. The process of removing the fabric revealed the distinctive Barnes Wallace designed geodetic structure. Smaller items such as the Fin, Flaps and Wing False-work structures have also been carefully removed and removal of corrosion on many of the smaller structural components has commenced.

The Vickers Wellington is one of the largest aircraft that the Conservation Centre has ever undertaken restoration of during its nine year history. This history has seen many new arrivals or established exhibition aircraft pass through its doors for conservation, restoration or maintenance. The extensive conservation work on the Wellington structure will take place at the Museum’s Conservation Centre over the next four to five years.

Manager of the Conservation Centre, Tim Wallis says:

“At almost every stage of our work thus far, the Wellington has presented us with new challenges and we are constantly impressed by the innovation and workmanship that the original build represented. The aircraft remains one of our main projects but much more than that, she is much-loved by the staff, volunteers and visitors alike and a sort of kinship exists that borders on pride. We hope that the public will choose to share that experience with us and visit during the week”

During the Open Week, visitors will gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to aircraft conservation work and have a rare opportunity to speak with the skilled Technicians and Apprentices and view current projects including on-going refurbishments such as the Handley Page Hampden TB1, Spitfire Mk XIX and Range Safety Launch. This may also be the last opportunity to view the conservation efforts on the Mk1 Sopwith Dolphin which is nearing completion.

Admission to the Conservation Centre Open Week is FREE and from 10.15am to 1.00pm each day. Cosford’s main Museum will open daily from 10am. The next Open Week is planned for November 2012. For further information, please contact the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org.

Celebrating the Tiger Moths 80th Birthday at the Autumn Air Show

The IWM Duxford Autumn Air Show (Sunday 16 October) celebrates the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the iconic Tiger Moth with a superb display by the Tiger Nine Team, which will see nine Tiger Moths in close formation in the skies above Duxford.The Tiger Nine formation team was created in the summer of 2005 in response to a request for a flypast of nine Tiger Moths at the 25th de Havilland Moth Club Rally at Woburn Abbey.

Having risen to the challenge, the newly-formed team went on to perform its full display routine for the next season.

A challenging aircraft to fly in a formation display, the Tiger Moth requires a mature discipline and expert flying skill, particularly when operating a large group of Tiger Moths simultaneously.

There is something quintessentially British about a group of men from a diverse range of backgrounds, including airline pilots, ex-RAF pilots, a farmer, a sales executive, a company director, an anaesthetist and an RAF Wing Commander, coming together for the camaraderie and fun of flying such a special aircraft.

The Tiger Nine team is the only team in the world to have nine Tiger Moths in close formation. Its crowd pleasing, spectacularly entertaining display will be a significant highlight of the Autumn Air Show 2011.

The Tiger Moth

The de Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, was first flown on 26 October 1931 by de Havilland Chief Test Pilot Hubert Broad.

The RAF ordered 35 dual-control Tiger Moth Is which had the company designation DH-82. A subsequent order was placed for 50 aircraft powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major I engine which was the DH-82A or, to the RAF, Tiger Moth II.

The Tiger Moth entered service at the RAF Central Flying School in February 1932. From the outset, it proved to be an ideal trainer, simple and cheap to own and maintain. The Tiger Moth required a sure and steady hand to fly it well, enabling instructors to easily weed out inept student pilots. Whilst generally docile and forgiving in the normal flight phases encountered during initial training, when used for aerobatic and formation training, the Tiger Moth required definite skill and concentration to perform well. A botched manoeuvre could easily cause the aircraft to stall or spin.

Percival Leggett trained on Tiger Moths during the Second World War in Cambridgeshire:

“The Tiger Moth is easy to fly. No vicious tendencies at all. It’s very responsive to the controls.

Most people, I think, found landing rather tricky, because…it is quite a small aeroplane, with a very small undercarriage. It is very close to the ground. And coming in to land one finds it difficult to decide just at what point you should draw back the stick to land the aircraft. Most people tend to start easing off too high, with the result that either the aircraft stalls or they miss the airfield altogether.

But that apart it’s a good aeroplane – very reliable. We did have one engine failure from one of the pupils but he managed to force land it in a field. It’s a good aeroplane, and still flying today!”

By the start of the Second World War, the RAF had 500 Tiger Moths in service. During a British production run of over 7000 Tiger Moths, a total of 4005 Tiger Moth IIs were built during the war specifically for the RAF.

The Tiger Moth became the foremost primary trainer throughout the Commonwealth and elsewhere and remained in service with the RAF until it was replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952.

Post-war, large numbers of surplus Tiger Moths were made available for sale to flying clubs and private individuals. Inexpensive to operate, the aircraft took on new civilian roles including aerial advertising, air ambulance, aerobatic performer, crop duster and glider tug.

www.iwm.org.uk/duxfordairshows

High Flyers Set To Display At Show

A year after its launch, Air Tattoo Event Services (ATES) will be showcasing its successes at The Showman’s Show in Newbury later this month. The air events arm of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises will take the opportunity to highlight the range of events it has organised around the country during the past 12 months.

These include being awarded three-year contract to organise an annual airshow for the National Museum of Scotland, at East Fortune; a Spitfire flypast for a corporate training day at Ashorne Hill in Warwickshire; it provided a static Spitfire for Armed Forces Day in Littlehampton and also a Jet Provost display near Wolverhampton.

ATES Flying Display Director Norman Webster said: “This has been a great year for ATES. Since its launch it has provided a wide range of aircraft to a variety of events. The great success of the East Fortune Airshow this summer has probably been the highlight. Despite the current economic climate ATES is attracting interest around the UK from private clients to local councils looking to feature aircraft either on the ground or in the air as part of events they are organising. We have received excellent feedback from all of our clients and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Feedback received from organisers at Ashorne Hill said that booking a Spitfire flypast as a surprise ending to their annual conference was a “masterstroke” and “a truly amazing end to the day”. The organisers said: “The Spitfire pilot performed the most amazing aerobatic display to gasps and screams of delight as he twisted and turned. I can say that this was one of the most exciting events I’ve been involved with.”

A spokesman for Littlehampton Town Council, commenting on its Armed Forces Day event, said: “The Spitfire team provided by ATES was very professional and enthusiastic which helped make our event extra special. The response from visitors has been extremely positive. They really enjoyed getting up close to such a brilliant and immaculate aircraft.”

ATES offers a service providing aircraft and logistical support for a flying display, airshow, flypast or static exhibit. For further information please contact Air Ops Deputy Director Robert Windsor on 01285 713300 ext 5497 or Norman Webster on ext 5329. Email enquiries should be sent to norm.webster@rafcte.com. For further detail, visit www.airtattoo.com

Duxfords Autumn Air Show concludes the 2011 air show season in style

IWM Duxford’s Autumn Air Show (Sunday 16 October) will conclude the Museum’s 2011 air show season with an exciting flying participation which will be Remembering the Korean War.

The Korean War (25 June 1950 to armistice signed 27 July 1953) was the first major conflict in which jet aircraft sought air superiority alongside the final-generation propeller-driven piston fighters.

The Autumn Air Show pays homage to this uniquely international air battle, with an exciting flying participation which sees iconic piston-engine aircraft take to the skies alongside the first generation of jet aircraft.

Korean War-themed flying participation includes:

· North American F-86 Sabre – a transonic jet fighter aircraft which is best-known as America’s first swept-wing fighter. It effectively countered the similarly-configured Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean Peninsula.

· B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B – post-war, B-17s were used by the USAF Air Rescue Service, in 1948 being re-designated SB-17G. Some SB-17s were used by the Air Rescue Service in Japan during the Korean War.

· Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina – a twin-engine patrol flying boat used by the United States Air Force for air-sea rescue during the Korean War.

· Piper L-4 Grasshopper – a two or three seat, single-engine liaison aircraft that was used by the United States and Republic of Korea armies and air forces during the Korean War.

· Douglas AD-4 Skyraider – a piston-engine single-seat attack aircraft that was designed during the Second World War to meet requirements from the United States Navy for a carrierbased, single-seat, long-range, high-performance dive/torpedo bomber. It formed the backbone of the United States Navy aircraft carrier-based attack effort in the Korean War.

· The P-51 Mustang -redesignated as the F-51 Mustang, it gained a new lease of life during the Korean War, having greater endurance than most of the new jet aircraft to which many American fighter units had already converted. It performed a valuable role in Korea as ground-attack aircraft, although it suffered heavy losses to ground fire during the conflict.

· Hawker Sea Fury (x2) – the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, the Sea Fury FB.11 served throughout the Korean War as a ground-attack aircraft, flying from the Royal Navy light fleet carriers HMS Glory, HMS Ocean and HMS Theseus and the Australian carrier HMAS Sydney. The Sea Fury was one of the few propeller-driven fighter aircraft credited with the shooting-down of a jet-powered fighter, a Soviet MiG-15.

· de Havilland L-20 Beaver – a single-engine, light utility aircraft used by the United States Air Force during the Korean War for liaison and light transport duties. The Beaver was noted for its ability to operate from very short fields and in all types of terrain.

· North American T-6 Harvard (x2) – a two-seat, single-engine advanced trainer that was used by the United States Air Force and the Republic of Korea Air Force during the Korean War. Korean War T-6s were most famous for their role as Forward Air Controllers, designating targets for, and co-ordinating, United Nations air strikes throughout the war.

· Douglas C-47 Skytrain – a twin-engine medium transport aircraft used by the United States, Republic of Korea, Australian, Greek and Thai Air Forces and also by the United States Marine Corps, during the Korean War. Its primary role was to fly cargo into Korea and to evacuate casualties.

· Gloster Meteor – the first British jet fighter and the Allies’ first operational jet. Meteors saw extensive service during the Korean War with No.77 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. It served well – by the end of the conflict the squadron had flown 4836 missions, destroying six MiG-15s, over 3500 structures and some 1500 vehicles. Approximately 30 Meteors were lost to enemy action, the majority shot down by anti-aircraft fire while serving in a ground-attack capacity.

In addition to the central theme of Remembering the Korean War, the Autumn Air Show presents even more exciting aerial action, with flying displays by the Belgian Air Component F-16; aerobatic masters Alister Kay and Andy Hill in their role as the RV8tors Duo; the BAe Hawk, flown by Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming of 208 (R) Squadron, RAF Valley; Spitfire IX; the Shorts Tucano from 207 (R) Squadron, RAF Linton-on-Ouse and the Black Cats Lynx Pair from 702 Naval Air Squadron.

The Tiger Nine Team will perform a thrilling display with nine Tiger Moths in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth.

First flown on 26 October 1931, the de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth was, for many years, the primary trainer aircraft used by the Royal Air Force. It entered service at the RAF Central Flying School in February 1932 and, by the start of the Second World War, 500 Tiger Moths were in service. A legendary aircraft, it was only replaced in 1952, when the de Havilland Chipmunk came into service.

With further fantastic flying participation to be confirmed and with activities happening across the Museum throughout the day, the Autumn Air Show will provide a thrilling conclusion to Duxford’s air show season for 2011.

The IWM Duxford Air Shows App 2011

Following the launch of the IWM Duxford Air Shows App at the Spring Air Show and some enthusiastic feedback from users at The Duxford Air Show, the Air Shows App will again be available for the Autumn Air Show.

The App will now run faster and more seamlessly, providing real time, up-to-the-minute information about what is flying at the Autumn Air Show, as the aircraft display.

Available for both Android and iPhone platforms, the App also includes an extensive library of photography, statistics and information about classic aircraft you can see flying in the 2011 air shows and where in the Museum you can find out more about them.

The App is currently FREE to download. It will be available for download prior to the Autumn Air Show and on the day itself – IWM Duxford will be providing wifi access at the museum for live downloading.

This dynamic guide to the Autumn Air Show, and our other air shows throughout 2011, is a first for Duxford and demonstrates the Imperial War Museum’s commitment to innovation in new technologies. It aims to be the most innovative air show app around. For further information go to www.iwm.org.uk/duxfordairshows.

Brought to Life

Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October

AirSpace

Tales of wartime endeavour are Brought to Life during October Half Term.

Every day between 10.30am and 2.30pm, visitors have the opportunity to handle items from the First World War and Second World War, looking at the changing role of the soldier and comparing and contrasting uniforms and equipment from both periods.

By getting hands-on with military equipment, visitors can learn more about warfare as it was fought on the front line.

Visitors can learn more about how bravery in the field of conflict is recognised through the awarding of medals and decorations, making their own individual medals and then finding out the history and meaning behind such honours.

On Wednesday 26, Thursday 27, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October between 11.00am and 1.00pm, veterans from a wide range of military conflicts will be chatting to visitors about their experiences and sharing their own personal memories of their time at war.

Veterans from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and the Home Front from the Second World War will be present, together with ex-servicemen from the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Parachute Regiment who served in the Malayan Conflict, the Falklands War and Northern Ireland, in addition to veterans of the Korean War.

Men and women of varying ages, backgrounds and experiences, they have fascinating and individual stories to tell about their own personal war. Veterans will have artefacts and photographs with them, which they are happy to discuss with visitors.

Veterans attending include (different veterans will be attending on each day):

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment (1986 to 1994) who served in Germany, the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, the UK and Canada.

· A member of the Parachute Regiment (1971 to 1974) who completed four tours of Northern Ireland and who also carried out Jungle Warfare Training in Malaya.

· A telegraphist in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, who served on HMS Uganda, took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was part of an escort that took Winston Churchill to the USA in 1943.

· A member of the British Resistance Organisation (Churchill’s Secret Army) (1940 to 1943) who then joined the Royal Air Force and was a Flight Sergeant until 1947.

· A Petty Officer in the Royal Navy during the Second World War who served in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and with Russian Convoys on Motor Gun Boats and on submarines .

· A Flight Lieutenant in RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War who worked as a bomb aimer and as a navigator in Halifaxes and Mosquitoes, and spent 5 months evading capture in Holland and Belgium.

· A National Service conscripted serviceman who served in Trieste and then in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment and the 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry.

· A Sergeant in the Army during the Second World War who served in Sicily, North Africa, Italy, Austria and the British Isles.

· A member of the Home Guard from 1940 to 1942, who then became a platoon commander in a rifle company of an infantry battalion. He served in France, Belgium and Holland, and was wounded in Germany. He was awarded the Military Cross.

· A member of the Royal Navy, from 1952 until 1964, who served on a variety of ships as a Leading Radio Operator and who witnessed H bomb testing near Christmas Island in the South Pacific.

· A member of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd East Anglian Regiment (1959 to 1961) who served in the Malayan conflict.

· A Sergeant in the Royal Marines during the Second World War who provided bombardment support to the Land Forces at major landings.

· A Royal Marine (1978 to 1982) who was in 41 Commando and did a tour of duty with the United Nations in Cyprus in 1979.

· A Royal Marine during the Second World War whose ship was one of the first to land at Sword Beach during the Normandy Landings in June 1944.

· A Gunner with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War, who served in India, Changi, Taiwan and Japan and was held in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp.

· A member of the Royal Air Force (1944 to 1953) who flew with Bomber Command just after the end of the Second World War, then with Fighter Command from 1949 and who flew some of the earliest jets, including the Vampire and Meteor.

· A Second World War schoolchild who enjoyed playing on the bomb sites and later joined the Royal Air Force.

· A Second World War evacuee.

· A member of the Royal Anglian Regiment (1973 to 1979) who was stationed in Peterborough, driving Land Rovers and 4 tonners to transport personnel and equipment for use on deployment.

· An Able Seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

· A Second World War evacuee who later served in the Royal Navy.

· A member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War who served in Bomb Disposal and on escort duties for submarines and shipping.

Different veterans will be attending on Wednesday 26, Thursday 27, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October. Attendance by veterans is subject to availability.

Spitfire Stories Tour

Monday 24 to Friday 28 October

A new FREE tour, Spitfire Stories looks at RAF Duxford’s synonymous relationship with the Spitfire, through the eyes of the pilots and ground crew who worked and lived with this iconic aircraft.

Learn more about the mental strength and aptitude needed to be a successful Battle of Britain fighter pilot.

Find out more about the personal stories behind the operational role of the Spitfire at Duxford, taken from the memories of the men who flew and maintained this legendary aircraft, from its first days in service and throughout the Battle of Britain.

This tour is included in standard admission to the Museum and runs on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour will last for approximately 30 minutes and booking is not required.

War Memorial by Richard Walker

In addition, local artist Richard Walker will be showing his latest work, War Memorial, in AirSpace.

This large-scale painting took two years to paint and a year and a half to research. It is made up of 35 separate canvases, brought together in five panels.

The painting is a war memorial, dedicated to the people who served in the GreatWar.

The images in the paintings are of objects and ephemera from the different branches of the military services, including uniforms, medals, medical kits, signal flags and some weapons. In addition, there are private and personal objects included, which were found in many family archives, such as personal letters, postcards, photographs, memorial plaques, newspapers and commemorative items.

They are arranged in such a way that they imply a sense of cause and effect with personal objects from the Front balanced against objects that reference warfare.

Richard Walker lives and works in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, where he teaches art and art history at Kimbolton School. He studied Fine Art at the Central St Martin’s School of Art, London, graduating in 1989, after which he worked in the medium of sculpture, until about ten years ago, when he started exploring military objects and aircraft through the medium of complex ink drawings.

War Memorial will be on display in AirSpace throughout the October Half Term.

To see examples of Richard Walker’s work go to http://picasaweb.google.com/113993138387162629653

www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

Brought to Life presents the experiences of war through the first-person stories of those who fought so valiantly for their country throughout 20th century conflicts. It gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the ordinary people who experienced extraordinary circumstances, through a range of inspiring activities.

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.

Great demand prompts airshow to extend closing date for online ticket sales

Great pre-show ticket sales for this year’s action-packed Battle of Britain Airshow have led to organisers extending the closing date for internet sales.The event takes place at Cotswold Airport this weekend (September 17 and 18) and, as with previous years, all sales of tickets ordered online were due to cease at midnight on the Monday before the event (last night).

However, demand for tickets this year has been so encouraging that organisers have decided to allow those wishing to attend to continue purchasing tickets online (through www.battleofbritainairshow.com) until midnight on Thursday (Sept 15).

Any ordered online before last night’s traditional deadline will be sent via post, but any ordered after will be collectable on the gate on the day they were purchased for.

The Spitfires and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the Tiger Moths of the Tiger Nine display team are among the star attractions this year.

A Jet Provost T3 will also take to skies and, on the ground, there will be a traditional funfair and dedicated trade village, with greater local participation.

People wishing to attend are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance.

Contingency plans have also been made to cope with larger than usual numbers, as was experienced last year.

Event director Suzannah Harvey said: “We’re delighted with the pre-sales so far and it’s shaping up to be another great year.

“We’ve adopted contingency plans to cope with any demand for extra car parking and are also giving people the chance to buy their tickets online until just two days before the show.

“That way, it helps us gauge exactly how many people are coming. However, we will welcome anyone who makes a snap decision to attend on one of the days too.”

Among the other attractions at the event will be a replica Fokker DR.1 triplane, identical to that flown by the infamous/legendary World War One fighter ace the Red Baron.

It will be joined by an old adversary in the Sopwith triplane, while the RedHawks aerobatic duo, the South Cerney-based Renegades parachute team, an Antonov AN2 and a Bucker Jungmeister will also take to the skies.

Meanwhile, crowds will also be offered the chance to fly in a vintage airliner, courtesy of Classic Flight and its stunning de Havilland Dragon Rapide.

Cotswold Airport-based HH Helicopters will be offering pleasure flights too.

There will also be more than 100 classic vehicles, including around 40 vintage Bentleys, and around 50 military vehicles on display.

Tickets for the event are priced at £15, with children 16 and under admitted free.

As well as the airshow website (www.battleofbritainairshow.com); they are available from The Crown public house, West Market Place, Cirencester; Kemble Village Shop; and from the following Tourist Information Centres: Cheltenham, Chippenham, Cirencester, Corsham, Malmesbury, Stroud, Swindon, Tetbury, Warminster, Bath, Bourton-on-the-Water, Melksham, Trowbridge, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Witney and Burford.

Local traders are also being offered heavily discounted rates for showground pitches.

For more information on trade stand rates, contact Suzannah Harvey at suzannah@cotswoldairport.com.