Tackling the guerrillas of Oman is focus of museum lecture

Date: 19 August 2016

Time: 12.30pm

Cost: FREE

For more than two decades a series of counterinsurgency operations were fought in the Sultanate of Oman on the South-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The military action taken against the activities of guerrillas in these regions will be the focus of the next Cold War Lunchtime Lecture held at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford later this month. The lecture entitled ‘The RAF and Counterinsurgency Warfare in Oman during the Cold War’ will be presented by Dr Ross Mahoney, Aviation Historian at the RAF Museum on Friday 19 August at 12.30pm.

This forthcoming lecture is the third in the new series of lectures launched earlier this year, which each cover a different topic related to the Cold War. During this next lecture, Ross will discuss two major counterinsurgency campaigns fought in the Sultanate of Oman from the early 1950s through to the mid-1970s and how air power played a vital role in defeating the revolutionaries. Up for discussion will be the campaign fought against an uprising in the Jebel Akhdar during the 1950s and the campaign conducted in the Dhofar region against insurgents supported by Yemen which ran for just over a decade.

The role of air power during this period ranged from strike operations, such as the role played by BAC Strikemasters at the Battle of Mirbat in 1972, through to the support of ‘hearts and minds’ operations using helicopters and light aircraft. Based on research undertaken for the RAF Museum’s exhibition on the relationship between the Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) at its London site, this lecture will explore the origins of these campaigns, the role of air power in supporting their conduct and the formation of the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force. Finally, the lecture will consider the development of relations between the RAF and RAFO, after the end of the Dhofar War through to the present day.

RAF Museum Aviation Historian, Ross Mahoney said:

“It gives me great pleasure to be delivering one of the Museum’s Cold War lunchtime lectures at Cosford. The lectures, which form part of our research programme, are a significant activity for the Museum. Additionally, the opportunity to lecture on research undertaken for one of our exhibitions is important as it allows us to examine further the RAF’s role in this region of the world and the impact the Service has had on the development of air forces around the globe.”

The Cold War lunchtime lectures form part of the RAF Museum’s Research Programme for 2016.  ‘The RAF and Counterinsurgency Warfare in Oman during the Cold War’, is the third of four lectures taking place at Cosford this year.  The programme also consists of the Trenchard Lectures in Air Power Studies and the First World War in the Air Lunchtime Lectures, which are held at the University of Wolverhampton, the Royal Aeronautical Society in London and the RAF Museum in London respectively.

This FREE lecture will be held in the RAF Museum’s National Cold War Exhibition lecture theatre at 12.30pm on Friday 19 August.  As spaces are limited, organisers advise visitors to book their tickets in advance via the museum’s website to avoid disappointment.

For further information about the museum’s research programme or to book your FREE ticket to the lecture, please visit the museum website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.  The museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the museum is FREE of charge.

October Model Show Spectacular: 15th October 2016

Fleet Air Arm Museum Model Show

The October Model Show is the largest event of its kind in the South West and is a must for all model enthusiasts.

Visitors will be able to see a broad array of scaled-down models of real aircraft, see club and trade exhibitors from across the UK and meet the enthusiasts who live and breathe model making.

Advance Tickets will be withdrawn from sale on the 14th October 2016. For any queries please contact the ticket box on 01935 842617. SAVE 20% and buy online!

Tickets for the event can be found by clicking here (after 1st July 2016).

www.fleetairarm.com

Thunder Day at Yorkshire Air Museum

Thunder Day at Yorkshire Air Museum

• Live engine runs by aircraft from across the history of flight

• From WW1, through WW2 to Cold War Jets all running for visitors to experience

• WW1 era SE5a and Eastchurch Kitten biplanes in action

• The huge engines of the C47 Dakota and De Havilland Devon

• Cold War Jets in action with the Nimrod and Victor Lusty Lindy

• A chance to see the Museum’s AVRO 504 exhibition, returned from the Somme

The Yorkshire Air Museum will reverberate with the sound of aircraft engines on Sunday 7th August as they stage the latest of their very popular “Thunder Day” events this season.

These events really capture the imagination of visitors at the peak of the Yorkshire summer holiday season, as they provide a great opportunity to see, hear – and indeed smell – a variety of the Museum’s historic aircraft as their engines are powered up to provide a unique experience of the history of flight.

The Museum’s Thunder Day gets under way with a pair of wonderful WWI bi-planes. The Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a fighter and the diminutive Eastchurch PV8 Kitten “Zeppelin killer”, evocative of the period of “string and canvas” aircraft.

World War Two and beyond is represented by the Museum’s C47 Dakota, the smoky start up action of her big Pratt and Whitney radial engines are always a great photo opportunity for visitors.

Running to accompany the Dakota is the pretty 1947 De Havilland Devon. This VIP transport aircraft is known to have carried Lord Mountbatten during its service with the Royal Air Force

These historic aircraft with their 70 year old engines are maintained by a team of volunteer aircraft engineers and give visitors a chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these old aircraft coming to life.

The Museum’s collection of Cold War Jets is one of the largest in the UK and the unique experience of hearing these mighty aircraft starting in close proximity is what makes Thunder Days so popular with visitors.

The Museum’s BAE Nimrod MR2 XV250, known as the “Mighty Hunter” in its role as Cold War submarine finder will be live, with her four Rolls Royce Spey engines running up to take off power.

The second of the Cold War Jets and one of the most famous faces of the Museum will be as popular as ever. Handley Page Victor XL231 “Lusty Lindy” V-Bomber / K2 Tanker, which served in the Falklands and first Gulf War as an air-to-air refuelling tanker.

She will really make the ground shake as her four Rolls Royce Conway’s produce their awesome bellow, much loved by her loyal followers. Bring your earplugs!

These two Cold War jets are operated by volunteer engineering teams and give a real insight to the complex procedures of typical service operations of the period. a time when the nuclear threat was never far from the headlines.

The Museum’s own in house fire and rescue team will also be on hand, not just to ensure safety but also to join in the celebration of running these exciting aircraft. The Fire Team will be giving visitors a chance to operate the powerful fire hose of the 38 tonne Pathfinder rescue vehicle. Parents might want to step back!

The Fire Team will also be giving an exciting demonstration of the fire fighting capability of the huge 38 tonne Reynolds Boughton “Chubb” airport fire tender and the rapid intervention 6 wheel Range Rover vehicle, culminating with a casualty extraction from one of the Museum’s aircraft.

A full schedule of events can be found at the Museum’s website http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/event/august-thunder-day/

YouTube video to link or embed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dKRGpEeVps

New RAF Chief visits Museum

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier

Today Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the RAF’s new Chief of Air Staff visited the RAF Museum in North London

Whilst at the Museum, Sir Stephen spoke to CEO Maggie Appleton about the Museum’s plans for the RAF’s Centenary in 2018 as well as the fundraising campaign ‘Names on a Plane’

Sir Stephen also took a tour of the Museum and also dropped into our Archive department where he was shown documents and prints relating to his time at 2 Sqn.

Say’s Maggie Appleton, RAF Museum CEO: “It was wonderful to share our plans to celebrate and commemorate the RAF’s Centenary with Sir Stephen. We are committed to making our London site more accessible, vibrant and focused on the RAF’s story. Our multi-million pound transformation will use our collections as dynamic storytellers and ensure the site becomes an inspiring space for all our visitors, reflecting our historic roots as RAF Hendon, exploring today’s RAF and imagining the future.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier is the Chief of the Air Staff, in command of the Royal Air Force, leading a Whole Force of some 35000 Regular and Reserve personnel, and 5000 Civil Servants, supported by thousands of contractors. He is personally accountable for the safe and effective operation of over 700 manned and unmanned aircraft and for meeting the airpower needs of Defence, which currently means thousands of people and every front-line force committed to operations world-wide. In addition to sustaining his people and this exceptionally high level of commitment, he is also responsible for delivering the significant growth in the RAF’s front-line capability announced in the 2015 Defence Review.

www.airmuseum.org

Lincolnshire’s Vulcan Trail

Lincolnshires Vulcan Trail

On 20th July 1956 the first Vulcan to be delivered to the RAF was flown into the then recently upgraded RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Yesterday to mark the 60th Anniversary of that delivery flight Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) launched a new Lincolnshire’s Vulcan Trail leaflet that features details of the county’s various connections with the famous V-bomber.

The launch took place at the Waddington Airfield Viewing Enclosure (WAVE), which is located on the A15 road opposite the famous ‘Black Buck 1’ Vulcan, XM607. The short launch ceremony was conducted by Phil Bonner from AHL and was attended by several former Vulcan personnel.

The trail leaflet feature various site across the county that have Vulcan connections and briefly steps over the county’s borders into South Yorkshire with Vulcan to the Sky at Robin Hood Airport; and into Nottinghamshire to the Newark Air Museum, which displays Vulcan XM594, which is regularly open to the public.

Copies of Lincolnshire’s Vulcan Trail can be obtained from AHL and the sites that are featured on the trail.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Golden Era Vintage Motorcycle Run heads for Yorkshire Air Museum

Golden Era Motorcycle Run

The Yorkshire AIR museum is delighted to be once again hosting the “Golden Era” Vintage Motorcycle Run. This is the 8th consecutive year that organisers from the North East Vintage Motorcycle Club have teamed up with the Museum to stage this highly evocative gathering of Vintage and Veteran Motorcycles, all pre dating 1931!!

In fact, of the 55 entries, 14 machines are 100 years old or more, with the earliest example being a 1910 Douglas Model C, with this marque being joined by a 1914 Model U (original and un-restored) and a 1914 2&3/4 HP model.

The once famous Yorkshire make of Phelon & Moore,of Cleckheaton, is represented by a 1912 465cc example, very rare indeed. Another Yorkshire manufacturer, Scott (Shipley) is represented by 3 1929 Flying Squirrel’s and a 1930 Super Squirrel. A Scott Flying Squirrel engine can be seen in one of the museum’s real curiosities in the Mignet HM14 Pou-du- Ciel (Flying Flea) aircraft!

The entries will gather at the Museum in the morning before departure for the nostalgic countryside run, returning from 12 noon for public display.

Ian Richardson, Museum spokesman, said: “We are looking forward to once again seeing these historic machines so lovingly cared for by their owners, and we know from past years that some have been in the family for generations, which is quite extraordinary. This gathering has become very popular with visitors as it forms a very rare opportunity to see the machines running as well as on static display, which is quite a spectacle.”

www.yorkshireairmuseum.org

Jaguar Update

Sepecat Jaguar Newark Air Museum

Earlier in the year volunteers at Newark Air Museum undertook an ‘armament upgrade’ on their Sea Harrier airframe.

In recent weeks this excellent programme of work that allows their airframes to take on a more authentic ‘in-service’ feel has moved on to SEPECAT Jaguar T2A XX829.

The museum’s resident ex-armourer has completed work that has allowed external tanks to be fitted to the inboard pylons on XX829.

This work has given the airframe more of an operational appearance and the aircraft will feature as part of the museum’s Fleet & Foreign Aircraft Days on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September 2016.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Pokémon Go at the RAF Museum!

Pokemon at RAF Museum

The RAF Museum is over run with Pokémon Go characters and facilities!

The RAF Museum is known for its legendary aircraft collection but alongside these iconic exhibits it now houses 6 Pokéstops, a Gym and numerous characters from the game that has taken over the world!

Say’s Kevin Carter, Head of Digital Experience: “My kids are gamers and they popped in to the Museum last week and were excited about the huge number Pokémon characters on site. Since then we have noticed a number of visitors playing the game here. As a free Museum with free wifi, they are most welcome!”

Visitors to the RAF Museum are able to use our FREE WIFI facilities to help them catch characters like Hypno, Drowzee, Spearow and many more!

The Museum has a Gym by the replica aircraft in the car park. We also have a total of 6 Pokestops, which usually placed on locations of interest or tourist spots. These are popular destinations for players as they deliver items such as Pokeballs (to catch other pokemon), Potions and Revives (to heal or revive a fainted Pokémon) and are very important to the game.

Chocks away for visitors with smart phones!

www.rafmuseum.org

RAF Museum volunteers celebrate Legion d’honneur award

Arthur Jones with RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton

Two volunteers at the Royal Air Force Museum have been awarded France’s highest distinction Legion d’honneur for their services to secure France’s liberation during the Second World War. To honour and celebrate their remarkable achievement, Leading Aircraft Woman, Rose Davies and Lance Bombardier, Arthur Jones were guests of honour at a drinks reception hosted by the RAF Museum American Foundation.

The awardees attended the reception held at the RAF Club in London on Thursday 7 July 2016, also attended by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, along with RAF Museum Trustees, CEO Maggie Appleton and other distinguished guests. Following a welcome from Major General Frederick Roggero USAF (ret’d), President RAF Museum American Foundation and a message of thanks from Colonel Murand, Air Attaché French Embassy, museum volunteers Rose and Arthur along with former Battle of Britain Pilot Wing Commander Tom Neil, were presented with their medals. Guests then enjoyed an afternoon of champagne and canapés.

The prestigious Legion d’honneur is awarded to D-Day veterans by the French government as a way of thanking those who fought and risked their lives for France’s liberation. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Legion d’honneur is France’s highest distinction, awarded in recognition for both military and civilian merit. Very few British nationals have received the award since the French President announced in June 2014 that all British veterans who took part in military operations in France between 1944 and 1945 would be awarded.

Rose Davies first volunteered at Cosford for the International Women’s Day event held in 2015 where she gave an inspirational talk, inspiring the next generation of women about future careers in the RAF, and spoke about her time in service as a Radar Operator.

Arthur Jones has been a regular volunteer at the RAF Museum’s Cosford site for many years, volunteering in a variety of roles including working with school groups and giving talks at special events. He is also one of the regular faces in the museum’s Visitor Centre each Tuesday, where he shares his experiences with visitors.

The RAF Museum congratulates both Rose and Arthur on receiving this outstanding award.

www.rafmuseum.org

Air Tattoo Honours Top Guns

RIAT Chief Executive Award

A highly successful Royal International Air Tattoo 2016 at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire ended with the crowning of the airshow’s ‘Top Guns’ at the traditional Sunday night hangar party.

The ceremony was introduced by Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. HRHPrince Feisal of Jordan presented the first of the evening’s trophies, the King Hussein Memorial Sword, in memory of the late HM King Hussein, patron of the International Air Tattoo from 1983-89. Awarded for the best overall flying demonstration, it was presented to the Croatian Air Force aerobatic team, the KrilaOluje (Wings of Storm). This was the first appearance of the KrilaOluje, flying six Pilatus PC-9M turboprop trainers, and of the Croatian Air Force at a British display. The award was bestowed for, in the words of the citation, “Precision aerobatics in challenging conditions incorporating novel manoeuvres”. Team leader Lt Col DamirBariši? said: “We are very happy to be among all these friends, all these people who share the same passion for ‘old-school’ flying in these days when everything is becoming unmanned and automatic. Of course it’s a big honour to receive such an award, especially on the first occasion we’ve been here.”

The Paul Bowen Trophy, presented in memory of the Royal International Air Tattoo co-founder Paul Bowen for the best jet demonstration, went to Capitaine Jean-Guillaume Martinez for his French Air Force Rafale C display. The judges said that ‘Marty’, in his first season as the Rafale display pilot, had put on “consistently accurate, powerful and superbly executed solo jet demonstrations”. Handing over the award was Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chief of the Defence Staff designate. “I’m really happy”, said ‘Marty’. “I really thank my team for the job they’ve done — it’s wonderful.”

The best individual flying display was adjudged to be that given by Capt Peter Fallén of the Swedish Air Force in the JAS 39C Gripen. He was presented with the Sir Douglas Bader Trophy by RAFCTE chairman and RAFCT Trustee Alan Smith for “a faultless, flowing and dynamic flying display”. “I’m so happy”, said Peter. “I didn’t expect it, because you try to do your best all the time.”

The recipient of the RAFCTE Trophy, presented for the best flying demonstration by an overseas participant, was the French Air Force Ramex Delta team comprising two Mirage 2000N nuclear strike aircraft. The citation said that they put on “a superbly co-ordinated and choreographed pairs tactical demonstration”. This was an emotional occasion for Ramex Delta, as RIAT was their final ever display — the team is being disbanded. One of the pilots, ‘Pierrot’, said afterwards: “We are very proud, because it was very special to attend this year’s RIAT. This was our last airshow ever, and it was a great deal of pleasure for us to fly today. For us — the pilots, the team, the squadron — it’s a special honour because this year is the 100th anniversary of our squadron, the ‘La Fayette’ squadron. It’s a good ending to the incredible experience that was Ramex Delta.”

The night was a double success for Ramex Delta, as the Mirage 2000N they displayed in, whichfeatured a special colour scheme to mark the ‘La Fayette’ squadron centenary, won the award for best livery as voted for by the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo (FRIAT). It was presented by Tim Griffiths, Key Account Manager for Jeppesen.

Turning to the ‘home team’, the Steedman Display Sword is presented by the Royal International Air Tattoo in memory of the late Air Chief Marshal Sir Alasdair Steedman, chairman of the International Air Tattoo (1981-1988) for the best flying demonstration by a UK participant. The winner was BAE Systems test pilot Nat Makepeace for his routine in a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, displayed with a full underwing weapons load to represent the upcoming Phase 3 Enhancement configuration for the type. In the judges’ view, this was “a powerful demonstration of the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon in representative operational swing-role fit.” In Nat’s absence, the trophy was collected by Sir Kevin.

The As The Crow Flies trophy for the best overall flying demonstration as judged by members of FRIATwas presented by RAFCTE Non Exec Director Jim Glover and presented to Major Dan ‘Rock’ Dickinson from the US Air Force Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. 2016 was the first time for six years that the F-22A had displayed at the Air Tattoo, and once again the thrust-vectoring air superiority fighter proved a stunning performer. In ‘Rock’s’ words, “First of all, we’re honoured to be here. There are so many professionals here, and to share the stage amongst all the great pilots and crews, not to mention all the people who put on this awesome airshow. It’s humbling, but at the same time we’re super-excited.”

A special presentation by Air Tattoo Chief Executive Andy Armstrong, his own RIAT CEO Award for an outstanding contribution to the show, went to all involved in the debut Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II deployment to Britain. This star attraction at RIAT 2016 involved F-35A models from the US Air Force and F-35Bs from the US Marine Corps and the United Kingdom, and was the subject of a great deal of planning by a host of individuals and organisations on both sides of the Atlantic. Andy Armstrong said: “It was an amazing display. They brought six jets, and it was an extraordinary amount of effort to bring them. We were so pleased to have them here.”

www.airtattoo.com