Just a quick update for those who have ordered a copy of the Airscene 2011 Photobook…
Ordered a copy for myself on day of release (07/12/10) and it arrived today (13/12/10).
You should be receiving your copies in the few days.
Enjoy!
Airscene 2011 Photobook is now available
89 entries from the 2011 Calendar Competition now grace the 80 pages of the Airscene 2011 Photobook.
Not everyone who entered could appear in the book, some appear twice and I have even included a few of my favourite entries from those that didnt make the shortlist for one reason or another.
The book is now available for sale at £24.95 (p&p costs £4) and delivery is a fairly reliable 14 days.
High Flying Christmas Gifts
If you’re searching for that elusive gift which will make their spirits soar once they have ripped open the wrapping paper on Christmas Day morning, why not visit the Royal Air Force Museum’s online shop – www.rafmuseumshop.com?
Here you will find a range of affordable, yet charming, gifts suitable for any member of the family at a price that won’t send your Christmas budget into a tailspin. Any young Amy Johnson will immediately fall in love with our RAF Pilot Teddy Bear. At approximately 8″ (seated), this cute RAF Mascot wears a World War 2 Officer’s uniform with life-jacket and retails at a very reasonable £12.00.
Alternatively, a Red Arrows Replica Flying suit will guarantee a month’s worth of good behaviour from your young dare-devils, in the run up to Christmas, for only £29.99. Money well spent. Suitable for both boys and girls, sizes are available for ages 1 to 13. So why not indulge their fantasies of flight and help them realise their dreams of one day becoming a Red Arrow?
Mothers and Grandmothers will be charmed by our exquisite RAF wings “sweetheart” brooch, which retails at £29.99. Manufactured in Great Britain in solid sterling silver, this charming adornment will perfectly complement any evening ensemble. Alternatively, if either lady is particularly health conscious, then our “Wartime Recipe” cookbook, retailing at £4.99, will provide them with a host of 40 healthy, mouth-watering meals that the entire family will love.
Based on the Ministry of Food’s advice on eating during WWII, dishes such as Scotch Broth, Dumplings, Savoury Onions and Coconut Orange Pudding recall the ingenuity and camaraderie of those wartime days.
Fathers will adore our Leather Flying Jacket which is modelled on the iconic RAF Flying Jackets of the 1940s but with a 21st Century twist. Retailing at £150 and available in sizes up to XXL this classic jacket is stylishly furnished in dark brown leather, with a detachable collar and emblazoned with RAF Wings above the chest pocket.
Our pack of Aircraft Spotter Cards, as used by the Observer Corps during WW2, will enliven any Poker night enabling the players to effectively spot Allied and Axis aircraft from the ground or the air. Retailing at £5.99, this affordable gift is ideal for children to give to their Fathers on Christmas Day – trust us he’ll love them more than a pair of socks or slippers!
If money is no object, the Royal Air Force Museum has available a unique item furniture specially commissioned for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – The Pilot’s Chair. Handmade by British craftsmen to your requirements from either maple, sycamore, oak or beech this limited edition chair boasts a host of refinements and details including a secret compartment containing a verified fragment from a WW2 Hurricane Engine destroyed in the Battle; propeller style under-frame; RAF Brevet and Spitfire carved into the chair; flying jacket leather upholstered seats with hand stitching; a carving of Winston Churchill’s, ‘ Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. ‘; plus a second secret compartment containing a silk flying scarf embroidered with your choice of Squadron Badge or Fighter Command emblem Retailing at £4,950 the Pilot’s Chair is the must have Christmas Gift for the aviation enthusiast that has everything and is delivered with a certificate of authentication signed by a Battle of Britain Veteran.
By purchasing any of the items above you will be helping the Museum maintain its unique collection of aircraft, medals, films and documents – preserving a vital part of our nation’s heritage for future generations. So this Christmas why not give your personal high-flyer a gift that will make their spirits soar and at the same time be confident that you are preserving our nation’s aviation heritage?
IWM Duxford Enjoys Soaring Summer Air Show Success
Imperial War Museum Duxford is delighted to announce that a record number of visitors – over 96,000 – attended the museum’s air shows in 2010. This compares favourably with total air show visitors of 76,444 in 2009.
In a superb year that commemorated not only the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain but also the 65th anniversary of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, visitors flocked to IWM Duxford to celebrate the iconic aircraft of the Second World War and to honour the bravery of the men that flew them.
Over 11,000 visitors saw IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain commemorations get off to a flying start at the Spring Air Show on Sunday 16 May. Demonstrating the breadth and range of aircraft flown
by the Royal Air Force, the Spring Air Show presented aircraft from the RAF’s inception to the present day.
On a hot and sunny Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July, Flying Legends welcomed over 27,000 visitors who experienced the glorious sight of more than 50 classic warbirds, from across the globe, performing a number of stunning displays.
The Battle of Britain Air Show on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September was the highlight of a remarkable year of 70th anniversary commemorative events. 44,000 visitors attended to pay their respects to the ‘few’ and the aircraft they flew.
In an unforgettable flying display that included appearances by the Red Arrows and the Patrouille de France, the highlight was undoubtedly the rare sight of 16 Spitfires in formation over their spiritual home.
This recreation of the summer of 1940 at RAF Duxford, combined with a minute’s silence to honour those who gave their lives in combat, produced an awe-inspiring moment which will remain a talking point of the Duxford air show season for years to come.
IWM Duxford’s 2010 air show season concluded with the Autumn Air Show, which saw 12,668 visitors celebrate the 65th birthday of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B. A celebratory programme of American aviation saw visitors enjoy the sight of a number of iconic US aircraft.
Richard Ashton, Director, Imperial War Museum Duxford, said, “I am delighted that this year’s air show season enticed so many visitors to IWM Duxford. I’m particularly proud of this year’s programme of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and I’m delighted that so many visitors joined with us in those commemorations. We now look forward to next year’s air show season and hope that visitors will return to enjoy another fantastic programme of events in 2011.”
While the air show season has now concluded for 2010, plans are already in place for the 2011 events programme.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is pleased to announce dates for the 2011
air show season:
* Spring Air Show – Sunday 22 May 2011
* Flying Legends – Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July 2011
* The Duxford Air Show – Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September 2011
* Autumn Air Show – Sunday 16 October 2011
Further information regarding themes and content for each air show
will be released in due course.
IWM Duxford National Aviation Skills Initiative Honoured
The National Aviation Heritage Skills Initiative (NAHSI), based at Imperial War Museum Duxford, has been honoured with a prestigious National Training Award in recognition of its outstanding contribution and commitment to training, learning and development in the workplace. NAHSI was presented with a Regional National Training Award and a UK National Training Award at the East of England Regional Ceremony held at Chilford Hall on 7 October 2010.
NAHSI was recognised in the Providers of Learning and Training category for its programme of training for volunteers in the aviation heritage sector.
Representatives of NAHSI will now be invited to the national ceremony of the National Training Awards 2010, held in London on 1 December 2010, where the organisation will compete for the Winner of the Year Award in its category.
The National Heritage Skills Initiative, working for the British Aviation Preservation Council, aims to provide training which will help and encourage volunteers to learn new skills and in so doing enhance the
standards of conservation, preservation and restoration with the UK aviation heritage sector.
Run on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) by UK Skills, the National Training Awards inspire and encourage UK industry to invest in training and development as a route to achieving outstanding organisational and individual success. Winning an award is recognition of best practice and provides a benchmark for standards of excellence in training in the UK. City and Guilds is the premier sponsor of the National Training Awards 2010.
Brian Barker, Project Manager, National Aviation Heritage Skills Initiative, said “The team are delighted to have received a UK National Training Award. To have been independently judged, against some very daunting competition and come out top, is fantastic.”
Simon Bartley, Chief Executive of UK Skills, said “I would like to offer congratulations to all regional and UK winners for the National Training Awards 2010. Achieving an award is a fantastic achievement and one that all winners should be really proud of.
Now more than ever, it is essential for organisations to continue to invest in the development of their staff. The UK’s future, after all, can only be strengthened and sustained by people who have the skills needed to meet the demands of today’s globalised economy.”
Bournemouth Air Festival 2010
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Bournemouth Air Festival was still a superb event still delivered an incredible event and the Festival proved to be a huge draw for the resort. 2010 successes include Air Festival TV, a bigger and better Night Air programme, Thursday evening dusk display, more ground trading, iphone app, new look brochure and dedicated social networking team. Footfall estimates are similar to year one figure of approx. 750,000 over 4-days.
Feedback from the Forces and participating display teams has been superb, including:
“The third Bournemouth Air Festival has again lived up to expectations despite some challenging weather conditions. We have been treated to some spectacular displays from, across the services with the Royal Marine’s amphibious beach assaults supported by the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, whilst in the air we have witnessed a range of outstanding air displays. This has been a fantastic event and an opportunity for the services to conduct essential training over the Festival, including the Royal Marines working throughout the night on an exercise.” – Commodore Jamie Miller, RN.
“It was out first time to Bournemouth, incredibly impressed with the event, the organisers and despite the weather, the crowds on the beach, we hope to be back next year!” – Tobias ‘Hitec’ Schutte, pilot F16.
“Once again Bournemouth Air Festival has proved to be a wonderful venue and attraction, despite the weather and reduced display programme. Crowds at the RAF Village were huge and we have engaged with Festival goers and guests. We’re looking forward to 2011” – Wing Commander Williams, RAF.
Visitors to view Wellington Restoration
The award winning Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening its doors to visitors in November for one special week. From Monday 15th to Saturday 20th November 2010 a range of aircraft and other artefacts in various states of restoration will be on display, including the Centre’s latest arrival, the Wellington Bomber.
The Vickers Wellington was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of WWII. It is famous for its geodetic fuselage structure designed by Barnes Wallis. The fabric covering to this structure is in desperate need of replacement and following extensive conservation work on the structure, this will take place at the Museum’s Conservation Centre over the next four to five years.
Other conservation projects on view will include on-going refurbishments such as the Handley Page Hampden TB1, Farman F.141 and Range Safety Launch. This may also be the last opportunity to view the conservation efforts on the Mk1 Sopwith Dolphin which is progressing well.
Manager of the Conservation Centre, Tim Wallis says:
“The Open Weeks have become a mutually beneficial event for aircraft enthusiasts and interested members of the public alike and we are always delighted at the interest shown. Most are surprised by our work when they enter the hangar and hopefully all are delighted by the experience. We look forward to the exchange of information and hope that many accept our invitation to this brief, but rare insight into the preservation of aviation heritage. We are also ready to show-off the new MBCC Training Centre to our supportive public”.
Opened in May 2002 by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham, the MBCC is regarded as one of the world’s foremost centres of excellence in aircraft conservation and restoration. Its skilled technicians undertake careful, extensive work to prepare aircraft and other projects for display at both of the Museum’s sites in Cosford and London with the MBCC team responsible for the conservation and routine maintenance of some 300 aircraft. Earlier this year the Museum won ‘Small Employer of the Year Award 2010′ at The National Apprenticeship Awards 2010, which recognised the success of the forward thinking apprentice initiative and wider conservation training programme offered by the Museum’s Conservation Centre, which now successfully employs seven apprentices.
Admission to the Conservation Centre is FREE and from 10.15am to 1.00pm each day during Open Week. Cosford’s main Museum will open daily from 10am – 6pm (last admission 5pm). Admission is FREE of charge. For further information, please contact the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org
Podcast To Honour Polish Airmen
On Monday 11th of October the Royal Air Force Museum will honour those members of the Polish Air Force who fought as part of the RAF in the Battle of Britain with the launch of its latest podcast : ‘ “Repeat Please!”: Poles in the Battle of Britain’.
This date has been specifically selected to commemorate 70th anniversary of the withdrawal of 303 (Polish) Squadron from the front line after a successful tour of duty which recorded the destruction of 126 enemy aircraft in 42 days. This made ‘303′, the most successful of all the RAF Squadrons that defended Great Britain and its peoples during the Battle of Britain.
To enable a wider audience to understand the contribution that Polish airmen made to the RAF during this aerial campaign, a Polish language version of the podcast will also be available from the Museum’s website enabling those Poles who do not have English as a second language to learn about the debt that the British people owe to Poland and its brave airmen.
Peter Dye, Director General of the Royal Air Force Museum, states:
‘The freedoms that we enjoy today were fought for in the skies above Britain during the summer of 1940. The largest of the overseas contingents serving in Fighter Command came from Poland. These airmen had seen their country over-run but were determined to fight on. Some served with the French Air Force only to experience defeat again. Some reached England after a long and perilous journey. All had a burning passion to defeat the enemy. They offered their lives for an ideal, for a land from which they were exiled and for a country that was not their own. Their sacrifice and willingness to defend our nation provides an enduring example of selflessness that resonates down the years. In this podcast we describe a time when the peoples of Europe came to our aid at the time of our greatest peril. We express our gratitude for the bravery and dedication of those many Polish Veterans who served in the Royal Air Force to defend our freedom and to secure the future that we now all enjoy.’
‘”Repeat Please!”: Poles in the Battle of Britain’ forms part of a year long series of podcasts which examines the forgotten history of the Battle of Britain from the contribution that women made to the campaign to the strategic importance of Bomber and Coastal Commands to the RAF’s success; and addresses many of the myths and misconceptions that have grown around The Few, Churchill and the Spitfire. Future highlights in this series will include Sunday Times best selling historians Patrick Moorhouse and Roger Bishop examining ‘The Battle of Britain from Both Sides’, plus a podcast on the Blitz whilst past highlights include Sir Richard Branson narrating the biography of disabled Battle of Britain Veteran Douglas Bader and the BBC providing a selection of interviews from its archives from pilots who fought in the Battle.
To listen to this podcast series, please go to http://www.rafmuseum.org/podcasts.
For further details about the Museum’s Battle of Britain Hall and its collection of aircraft please visit http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org or ring 020 8205 2266. The Royal Air Force Museum London is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Admission to the Museum is free of charge.
Autum Airshow Celebrating Birthday of Sally B
The Autumn Air Show celebrates both the 65th birthday of B-17 Fortress G-BEDF Sally B, and 75 years of the B-17 Fortress. The only B-17 currently flying in Europe, Sally B delights air show crowds with her majestic display and is a favourite with IWM Duxford visitors.She has been based at the Museum, operated by B-17 Preservation, for 35 years.
Closing the air show season for 2010, the Autumn Air Show will feature superb modern and historic aircraft, with an American theme to complement the Sally B anniversary.
The line-up of iconic US aircraft includes the Douglas DC-3 Dakota, Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina, Grumman F8F Bearcat, Piper L4 Cub, leVier Cosmic Wind and USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle from RAF Lakenheath.
The B17’s Boeing lineage is also represented by the Stearman biplane trainer and Apache AH Mk1 from the Army Air Corps Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham.
Aircraft from the highly productive North American stable include the F-86 Sabre jet, P-51 Mustangs, T-28s and Harvards.
For the first time in more than two decades in UK skies, four American Pitts Special biplanes will be brought together in a flypast salute to the famous Rothmans Aerobatic Team, before performing their two separate paired routines.
A special flypast is being mounted in honour of Sally B, which flies as a memorial to the 79,000 US airmen who lost their lives in Europe during the Second World War. In acknowledgement of the United States Air Force’s historic relationship with the airfields of Eastern England, she will be escorted by three P-51 Mustangs. She will then be overflown by two F-15C Eagles of the 493rd Fighter Squadron to signify the region’s ongoing contemporary relationship with the United States Air Force.
Additional flying participation includes the BAE Systems Hawk, Embraer EMB-312 Tucano, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Supermarine Spitfire, Red Hawks Fournier Duo, Hawker Sea Fury and The Black Cats, the Royal Navy’s Lynx helicopter display team.
RAF Duxford was handed over to the United States 8th Air Force in April 1943, becoming Base 357, the headquarters of the 78th Fighter Group. The Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts and, from December 1944, P-51 Mustangs. It provided fighter escort to the large US bomber raids against occupied Europe and Germany itself.
B-17 Fortresses were flown by the 91st Bombardment Group from nearby RAF Bassingbourn from 14 October 1942 through to June 1945. The Group operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organisation during the Second World War.
On the ground, living history groups recreate the role of the B-17 Bomber crew. There will be activities for all ages, including childrens rides, tank rides and demonstrations. The Parachute Regiment will be offering aerial bungee jumps from its jump tower, alongside performances from the Parachute Regiment band and guest appearance from the Parachute Regiment mascot.
The relaxed atmosphere at the Autumn Air Show is equally appreciated by pilots and crowds and makes for a perfect Sunday outing.
Tickets for all events can be purchased online at www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or by calling the box office on 01223 499 353.
All flying is subject to weather, serviceability and operational commitments.
Many Commemorate the Few at RAF Museum london
Over 6,000 happy visitors flocked to the Royal Air Force Museum to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in a special weekend of activities and events.
The visitor numbers reached 6,330 over Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September as the Museum celebrated its Battle of Britain Anniversary Weekend. As well as the exciting aircraft exhibits, visitors enjoyed live action Scramble displays, living history tableaux, period re-enactors, vintage bus rides, ‘make your own Spitfire’ activities, special film shows, debates and talks, marching band performances, farm yard animals, a model show and more.
The highlight of the weekend was a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire which circuited above the Museum on Sunday afternoon. The display left the thousands of gathered visitors breathless and emotional.
Councillor Lisa Rutter, Deputy Mayor of Barnet was present on Sunday and after watching some outdoor displays, she enjoyed a tour of the Museum and also judged the best 1940’s child, fancy dress competition. Says Councillor Rutter:
“I believe the RAF Museum is a great asset in the Borough of Barnet and this is something which I believe should be maintained and treasured as it provides the stimulus for young people to understand the history of the Battle of Britain.”
Museum Director General Peter Dye:
“The Museum is committed to working for and within the local community and the Battle of Britain Weekend is our way of strengthening this relationship. We are proud to share the success of the weekend with all our visitors.”
The end of Summer theme weekends have taken their place as an eagerly anticipated annual event for the local community. Work has already begun on next year’s event which promises to be bigger and better.
The Battle of Britain Anniversary continues at the Museum with a special concert at 1439 on Saturday 18th September by the Hendon Chapter of the Salvation Army Band.
