The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota will be flying across the RAF Museum to honour the Veterans gathered from all three services.On the 13th of May the Royal Air Force Museum is inviting Veterans of all three Services to join as one to celebrate Veterans’ Day. During this special reunion, hosted by the Museum staff, the veterans will be treated to a full day of events and activities including talks, special films screenings and tours.

The event will be marked by a flypast of a genuine wartime Dakota, as flown by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The aircraft will arrive over the skies of the Museum, from a northerly direction at 1500hrs.

Also as a special treat, there is a FREE programme of music by The Jive Aces swing band from underneath the Lancaster (at 1130 and 1400hrs).

The Bomber Command Association will be supporting the event and will be holding a special raffle. There will also be exhibition stands by The RAF Benevolent Fund Enterprises and The Royal British Legion.

Every year this exclusive day gives Veterans the chance to catch up with each other, reminisce over shared experiences and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and surroundings of the Royal Air Force Museum. The annual event usually attracts over 500 veterans and with Service men and women joining in from across the country, it is set to be a truly memorable and sentimental gathering.

… AND IT’S ALL FREE

· Please note that this is a private event for the Veterans and their guests

· Veterans’ day will be celebrated at the Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL

· Entrance is free to all Veterans of the three services and guests

· Veterans wishing to register for the day should call the Museum on: 0208 358 4849

The winning images from the Royal Air Force’s Photograph of the Year Competition will be on view to members of the public at the Service’s London Museum from 10th January 2009.Consisting of 12 categories ranging from “The RAF Experience” to “Technical & Engineering”, this exhibition gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of RAF Personnel at work, rest and play both at home and in the field.

The Royal Air Force trains and employs a large number of photographers who deal with day to day technical and operational photography. Their bread and butter is the recording of aircraft and equipment damage, technical manuals, military incidents and accidents, media work and ground intelligence gathering, as well as administrative work such as photos for ID cards. But as photographers, they also get unique access to their service colleagues and equipment and they bring their creative eye to this environment.

With varying categories for professional and amateur photographers, this annual competition gives Service personnel the opportunity to showcase their talents by encapsulating in a single image the strength, character, dignity and humour of the Royal Air Force.

The reward for the successful photographer is the recognition of their talent with the successful photograph selected from all 12 categories as “PR Photograph of the Year” being used in official communications by the Chief of Air Staff, the highest ranking officer of the Royal Air Force.

Striking images range from the Engineering Category’s “Hot Stuff” to the visually stunning studies of nature in the competition’s Open Category, and the playful images of service personnel interacting with local children in Afghanistan. In total over 60 photographs will be on display in the Museum’s Milestones of Flight Gallery until mid April after which the exhibition will then relocate to the Museum’s Cosford site in Shropshire.

Rebecca Dalley, Group Business Development Manager for the Museum and Competition Judge, stated: “I was highly impressed with the standard of photography. I have long thought that the RAF training for photographers is one of the best around and this was confirmed by the excellent submissions to the competition. Knowing that many of the photographers are operating ‘in theatre’, it was great to see that they were able to take the time to prepare their submissions. There were many moving and well-thought-out images and it was a really hard choice to narrow down to few in each category. I was also delighted to see the excellent amateur photographs which were a credit to their originators. ”

Entry to the Royal Air Force Photographer of the Year Exhibition is free; as is entry and parking to the Museum. The exhibition will be shown daily from 10am to 6pm until April 19th. For further details please visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson or dial 020 8205 2266.

At a glittering Charity Champions Awards 2008 ceremony at Millbank, Westminster, London, the Rt. Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, won the prestigious Culture & Heritage Award for her support of the Yorkshire Air Museum and Royal Aeronatutical Society’s schools educational publication “Reach for the Sky”.Nominations were made by these and other charities, who wished to acknowledge the support of MPs to their projects and voting was undertaken by all UK MPs.

The new book, which has been carefully designed to fit into the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 and recent government guidelines, was issued free to all 26,000 primary schools in Britain this month. In accepting the award from top celebrity Esther Rantzen at the ceremony, Rosie Winterton said: “It has been a real pleasure to be involved with this worthwhile project which has been undertaken by these two charities.”

Yorkshire Air Museum Director Ian Reed, speaking at the ceremony in London, said they were delighted that Rosie had won the award which demonstrated her real support to the project, which she officially launched in London in June this year.

“We couldn’t have done it without her”, he said. “Aviation is Britain’s second largest manufacturing industry, employing over 260,000 people, and this country remains at the forefront of aerospace design and technology. It is important that this is reflected in the teaching and enthusing of our young children.”

Mr Reed also praised the support of Yorkshire Forward, British Airways, Virgin Galactic and EADS Astrium (European Aerospace Defence & Space Company) in this project.

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial is celebrating today after receiving confirmation of a substantial Heritage Lottery Fund grant towards its new ‘Aviation Pioneers’ exhibition.Ian Reed, Museum Director, comments: “This funding will, at long last, enable the wonderful stories of these world-famous Yorkshire based pioneers to be told in a thoroughly modern and interactive way for all ages, using historic artefacts alongside the latest computer and display technology”.

“Aviation Pioneers” will cover the work and discoveries of the world renowned “Father of Aeronautics”, Sir George Cayley of Brompton near Scarborough; Sir Barnes Wallis, designer of the R100 airship at Howden and his deputy, Nevil ‘Shute’ Norway, author and York based aircraft manufacturer, plus world-record aviator Amy Johnson from Hull and famous Leeds based aircraft manufacturer Robert Blackburn.

The exhibition will be of national importance, reflecting the growing reputation of the Museum within British aviation heritage. There has not been a major, permanent exhibition encompassing Yorkshire’s pivotal role in the development of aviation before now, and this additional funding will allow a ‘state of the art’ exhibition to be produced. The £100,000 permanent exhibition will explore the social importance of the discoveries and achievements of these Yorkshire based aviation pioneers and is planned to be opened in Spring 2009.

Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF, Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This project will help bring the stories of aviation to life for everyone to explore. HLF is dedicated to supporting projects that open up our heritage for locals and visitors to learn about and enjoy and the new exhibition will be a great addition to one of York’s many interesting museums.”

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

Airscene 2009 Calendar competition sponsor Anne Millbrooke’s latest publication has now been released.

For more info visit: http://www.airscene.co.uk/Abbreviations%20Acronyms%20and%20Alphabets%20of%20Aviation.htm

The book is now available for purchase from any of the following locations:

http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=38579

www.Amazon.com

www.Borders.com

www.Barnesandnoble.com

or from your local bookstore.

ISBN13 Hardcover: 978-1-4363-1317-9

Fifteen years ago, on the 25th November 1993, the Handley Page Victor XL231 was flown into retirement to the Yorkshire Air Museum, after a long and distinguished service career with the Royal Air Force. It was saved from the scrapheap by Andre Tempest, a Leeds businessman, after the aircraft was offered for purchase. The Yorkshire Air Museum was approached as the new ‘home’ for the aircraft, and this arrangement has secured the long-term survival of this still futuristic looking aeroplane.

As Andre recalls; “My Father and I bought the Victor mainly due to the 1993 Flypast magazine feature on the final operational days and a mention in there that no museum or collection had shown interest (to date) in preserving one due to the daunting task of looking after one. It seemed quite probable that every example except the one destined for Cosford was to be scrapped. We approached the Yorkshire Air Museum, who were in the process of restoring the Handley Page Halifax, and there was support for the idea of bringing the Victor to Elvington. Air Vice Marshall ‘Johnnie’ Johnson sent letters of support to the RAF on our behalf as he had commanded RAF Cottesmore when it housed No10 Squadron with its Victors and despite being a fighter ace he was a competent Victor captain.”

XL231 ‘Lusty Lindy’ is the only complete example of the distinctive HP Victor remaining in the world and is kept in ground operational condition, by the hard work and enthusiasm of Andre and his team, with the museum’s support. Only one other Victor is still capable of running, but is not complete, making ‘ours’ very special. (The flight to Elvington 15 years ago was scheduled to be the last ever flight of the Victor series, but a delay saw another one taking this honour, although it was duly dismantled for scrap!)

Ian Reed, Museum Director, comments: “The spectacular arrival of the Victor at the Yorkshire Air Museum was thus a significant occasion, as the type had rarely been seen in the north, although XL 231 had appeared on display at RAF Finningley for the Queens Silver Jubilee Review of the RAF, in July 1977. It is fantastic that this aircraft found a home back in Yorkshire and Lusty Lindy is far from ‘retired’, as she regularly entertains thousands of visitors to the museum and has in fact become something of an icon, with a global fan base.”

XL231 first flew on 28th December 1961 and went into service with 139 Squadron in January 1962 in conventional bomber role, but was upgraded to carry the Blue Steel weaponry, as part of the V-Bomber nuclear force. She was later to become the prototype for the K2 Tanker conversion, for the type’s later role in air to air refuelling. It was in this role that the aircraft played a vital part in the Falklands War, with 55 Squadron, firstly to train crews in this vital skill, and then in the Airbridge role from Ascension Island to the Falklands, in support of the Task Force, only finishing these duties in 1985. It then saw action in the Gulf War, in 1990/91, during Operation Granby, again in the refuelling capacity and it was here that it was given the nickname, ‘Lusty Lindy’. She finished her Service career on 15th October 1993, arriving at Elvington just over a month later.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

At last night’s glittering award ceremony, Yorkshire Air Museum came out as top Tourism & Hospitality venue for 2008.The judges recognised the extraordinary diversity of activities undertaken at the Museum, the growth and success of its businesses and the national and international recognition which it has developed.

In accepting the award, Museum Director Ian Reed, said

“to win the top Tourism & Hospitality Award 2008 within the current “European Tourism City of the Year” speaks volumes, and I thank everyone involved in helping us make this one of the most dynamic and loved museums of its kind in Britain – it is certainly more than just an “air museum”.

The Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial is a nationally registered museum, memorial and charity and the largest independent museum of its kind in UK. It employs 150 staff paid and unpaid and is currently undertaking a wide range of projects throughout Britain and Europe.

* The first phase of the Museum’s “Reach for the Sky” project launched by the Minister of State for Transport in London this year and supported by Yorkshire Forward, British Airways, Virgin UK and European Aerospace EADS is delivering the first History of Aviation, National Curriculum educational resource to all 26,000 Primary Schools in UK during 2008.

other projects include:

* A DEFRA supported project aims to make the Museum the first environmentally self-sustained museum/attraction in the North.

* An internationally recognised butterfly and moth conservancy, supported by the Environment Agency is planned to be completed during 2009.

* a £1.5 million project to construct new 28,000 sq ft hangar to house the increasing collection of internationally important historic aircraft.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

The final results for theme 10 “Hover” are now in and the results table is complete. The judges were almost totally unanimous this month; awarding the winner a total of 35 points. This will be slightly disappointing as that 1 extra point would have tied the winner in 3rd place overall.

Congratulations go to Adrian Glazzard who wins a ThinkTANK Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket courtesy of Snapperstuff.With the close of theme 10, comes the close of this competition, and I am please to announce that the Airscene Aviation Photographer of the Year 2008 is:

Neil Darby 179 points

Neil wins the following:

Limited edition print ‘Black Hawk – Special Delivery’ (UK) (value £85) courtesy of Skipper Press (www.skipperpress.com)

Icom Document Bag, Icom hip flask and Icom Swiss Army Knife (UK) (total value around £76) courtesy of Icom UK Ltd (www.icomuk.co.uk)

20″ * 16″ print of any of your submissions + £25 voucher courtesy of Togsprint (www.togsprint.com)

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Lens Drop in Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff (www.snapperstuff.com)

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Pixel Racing Harness courtesy of Snapperstuff

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Pro Speed Belt courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network (see below for details) + Showcase on Airscene

2nd place:

Dean Feltimo 178 points

Aviation History by Anne Millbrooke (Jeppesen Publishing) – courtesy of Anne Millbrooke

16″ * 12″ print of any of your submissions + £10 voucher courtesy of Togsprint

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Bum Bag Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene

3rd place:

Ian Hews 146 points

16″ * 12″ print of any of your submissions + £10 voucher courtesy of Togsprint

1 x ThinkTANK Photo Lens Drop in Pouch courtesy of Snapperstuff

FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene

3 runners up all win FREE banner advertising on the Uradnet aviation banner network + Showcase on Airscene:

Adrian Glazzard 145 points

Simon Thomas 145 points

Gergely Grosz 130 points

I would like finally to thank the wonderful sponsors, without whom this competition would not have been possible.

The stunning and spectacular aircraft action scenes in the latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace, has sparked a surge of interest in the legendary Douglas Dakota DC3, with visitors clamouring to see inside the Museum’s example of the amazing DC3 aircraft.

As more and more people see this record breaking 007 film, the Museum is expecting this trend to follow over the coming weeks.

The Dakota is open to the public most days and children in particular are fascinated and excited at getting inside and being able to imagine 007 wrestling the controls as the Marchetti fighter tries to shoot it down amongst the mountains of Bolivia.

Over 15,000 examples of this revolutionary 1930’s designed American transport aircraft were built, and over 400 are still flying around the world today.

The Museum’s example entered service with the Royal Air Force in January 1945 and went on to see wartime action in Malaysia, before returning to Europe as a passenger aircraft after the war had ended. From the aircrafts log book, it is estimated that it has spent over 11 years in the air!

Museum Director, Ian Reed, said, “the new 007 film is excellent and the DC3 shows what an amazing aircraft it is. I can understand youngsters (and the not so young) wanting to imagine what it is like inside this exciting old warbird in action, and I’m pleased we can provide the service”.

http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

2008 heralds the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. In this, the Royal Air Force’s 90th anniversary year it is fitting that we remember those whose sacrifice throughout the Service’s history have defended our ideals and way of life; as well as those they left behind.‘Lest we forget’ is a poignant and unflinching exhibition that highlights the sacrifices made during human conflict. It invites us to reflect on the loss of the individual and the impact that their departure has on their families and loved ones; whilst exploring the invaluable work of the agencies and support networks that have emerged during the last 90 years to bring practical aid and comfort to those RAF families who have suffered bereavement.

The central theme of the exhibition is the necessity of Remembrance. Synonymous with both World Wars, the act of remembrance is as relevant for families who have lost loved ones, whether civilians or Service personnel, in recent and current conflicts, as it was for our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

As an act of remembrance visitors are invited to interact with the exhibition by recording their thoughts and feelings on paper ‘bricks’. These will be used to produce a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ in the Museum’s Historic Hangars Gallery. In the run up to Remembrance Sunday members of the public will be able to contribute to our Poppy Collage by dedicating a petal on the 8th and 9th of November, to the memory of the fallen.

The museum is open daily from 10am – 6pm. Entry to the Museum, parking and participation in ‘Lest We Forget’ are all FREE. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum, London on 020 8205 2266 or visit the museum website, www.rafmuseum.org