Saturday 26th June 2010

10.30am – 3pm

All guests must pre-register

Come and celebrate the Museum’s annual joint service Armed Forces Day on 26th June.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is inviting Veterans, young and old, from all three services to join as one to celebrate the Museum’s Armed Forces’ Day on Saturday 26th June. During this special reunion, hosted by Museum staff, all Veterans will be treated to a full day’s programme of events and activities including a talk entitled ‘An Event on 30th August 1940′, plus special film screenings. Both depict the Battle of Britain, marking this years 70th Anniversary.

Veterans will be treated to tours around the Museum’s Conservation Centre. Here, Veterans and their guests will be able to view work on current restoration projects, such as the Handley Page Hampden, in an area not normally open to the public.

In addition to these activities the Museum will be holding a raffle on the day enabling Veterans to win tickets to some of the top local attractions, specially commissioned items and much much more.

Attendance at this event is by pre-registration only; with all pre-registered Veterans and their guests receiving a FREE drink on arrival. There will be a special lunch available at a discounted rate for guests to enjoy together in a designated area surrounded by aircraft. There will also be a chance to speak to some of the exhibitors including the Aerospace Museum Society, Robert Harrop figurines and Tony Bramham military drawings.

All-in-all this promises to be an exciting day that will enable Veterans to meet up with old friends, reminisce over shared experiences, and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and setting of the Royal Air Force Museum. With former Service Men and Women joining in from across Shropshire and the West Midlands, Armed Forces’ Day is set to be a truly memorable and sentimental gathering for Veterans and their guests to enjoy.

To make your reservation please call 01902 376 252 or send an email to the Museum at cosfordarmedforcesday@rafmuseum.org, stating your name, telephone number, service you were in and the name of your guest.

Entry to the Museum is free of charge. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm). For further details about Armed Forces’ Day please visit www.rafmuseum.org.

The Belgian F16 is leading a packed line up for Airbourne 2010 as the international aircraft is the latest to be confirmed to appear at this year’s Eastbourne Airshow. 

Airbourne is getting set to welcome a packed display of fast planes in 2010 as the Blades Aerobatic Formation team are also confirmed to be flying at the event this summer joining a programme that already includes the iconic Red Arrows.

Organisers of the world’s biggest free seafront airshow have just confirmed that the high performance international jet and Blades display team, famed for flying for the Beckhams, will dazzle visitors when Airbourne returns from 12-15 August.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, Cllr Neil Stanley said “We are very excited to be welcoming the international F16 and highly skilled Blades display team for Airbourne 2010 and adding to what is already shaping up to be one of our best airshows yet. With the Eurofighter Typhoon already confirmed to fly in this year’s programme, the addition of the Belgian F16 makes Airbourne a truly international affair and I hope airshow enthusiasts have made a date in their diary for what promises to be a flying extravaganza!”

The F16 and Blades are the latest displays to join an action-packed programme that promises crowd favourites, the Red Arrows, as well as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight commemorating 70 years since the Battle, and the Breitling Wingwalkers set to dazzle with their gravity-defying stunts aboard the wings of their Boeing Stearman Biplanes.

The agile Eurofighter Typhoon will impress visitors with its display over Eastbourne seafront this summer, with the RAF Tucano, Hawk and Tutor also set to display.

It’s not just the skies that will be filled this August either. Airbourne promises just as much action on the ground, with entertaining arena displays including the Essex Dog Display Team, evening concerts at Eastbourne Bandstand, an interactive RAF Village with replica aircraft, plus the return of the Friday evening Come Fly With Me display.

For more information on Airbourne 2010 or to find out how to upgrade the airshow experience with a day out in the Aviator Club hospitality marquee, visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 0871 663 0031.

At a fundraising dinner last night, The Royal Air Force Museum announced its vision for the future.

As part of its modernisation and development plan the Royal Air Force Museum has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain Exhibition building at its London site.

The provision of suitable funding, and the agreement with interested parties and authorities with whom the Museum is consulting widely, will dictate when the Trustees of the Museum will take the final decision to proceed with construction.

It is very fitting that in the year of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain the Royal Air Force Museum, as part of its modernisation and development plan, has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain exhibition building at its Hendon site in London. Provisionally called the “Battle of Britain Beacon”, the plan looks towards the construction of a striking, landmark building which will do appropriate justice to this most defining event in the world’s history. The exciting concept will allow wider public access and ensure that the Museum’s unique collection of Battle of Britain aircraft, memorabilia and archives is preserved for the education and enjoyment of future generations. The building in its final form will include the latest audio/visual techniques to bring to life all aspects of the Battle, from the work of the groundcrews, whose tireless endeavours kept the aircraft in the air, through the life of the civilian population, to the gallant efforts of those who fought in the skies above Great Britain.

The new exhibition building will complement the successful modernisation already achieved at Hendon with the refurbishment of the Graham White Hangar, the imminent refurbishment of the former airfield watchtower and the opening of Milestones of Flight exhibition building. It will also allow the current somewhat restricted Battle of Britain Hall on the site to be used to display more of the Museum’s aircraft and archive collection. The Museum’s Cosford site has also seen the opening of the impressive National Cold War exhibition building opened in 2007 which has ensured the preservation of many of the important Cold War aircraft which we under threat

Currently the Museum is consulting widely about the ‘Battle of Britain Beacon project.’ The Museum hopes to complete the project within the lifetime of the surviving Veterans of the Battle.

http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org/

The Royal Air Force Museum has today launched a national photography competition as part of its calendar of activities to commemorate 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Accordingly, it is inviting members of the public to send via the Museum’s website , www.rafmuseum.org, their photographs of various Battle of Britain Events that will be taking place around the country this summer. 

Paul Hudson, Head of Marketing, at the Royal Air Force Museum states:

‘ During the course of summer 2010 all organizations who are part of the Royal Air Force Family, will be holding a range of events from air shows to historic weekends to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those young pilots who fought so hard to protect our freedom and liberty during the summer of 1940.

The Museum would like members of the public who are attending such events to help us document this summer’s events by submitting their photographs via the Museum website so that we may create an electronic archive of this year’s commemorations for future generations.’

To participate in this competition, all that people have to do is to attend one of the 70th anniversary events listed on the Royal Air Force’s website, www.raf.mod.uk, and then send their best images online to the Museum. The competition is open to all UK residents and has two categories; one for best image taken by a child and one for best image taken by an adult. Prizes will be awarded for each winning photograph with each image being displayed at the Museum as part of the Museum’s annual RAF PR Photograph of the Year exhibition in January 2011.

For more information about the competition please visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 020 8205 2266. To view the Calendar of 70th anniversary Battle of Britain events please visit http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/battleofbritain70thanniversary.cfm

BRISTOL BRIGAND TF.1 RH746

1946 Built by the Bristol Aircraft Company at Filton to contract 4628, c/n 12634, as one of the first production batch of thirteen Bristol Type 164 Brigands, RH742 – RH754, equipped as TF.1 torpedo-fighters, which served at Development Units at Gosport and Thorney Island from May 1946, but never entered service with first-line Coastal Command Squadrons.

16 Mar 46 Awaiting collection from Filton.

5 Apr 46 Issued via Controller, Research and Development (CRD) to Bristol, Aircraft Co, Filton.

18 Jun 46 Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Boscombe Down, Wilts. Photo – Air Enthusiast September/October 1999 p.29. See also RAFM P005275-6 and PC79/1/7-8.

Air Torpedo Development Unit (ATDU) Gosport, Hants -present 31 July 1947.

15 Oct 47 Bristol Aircraft Co for unspecified repair.

29 Apr 49 ATDU Gosport; still present 31 December 1949.

(Undated) Ministry of Supply – Controller of Supplies (Air) – CS (A)

(Date unknown-possibly 1956-58) Struck off Charge for scrap and delivered to the famous Clayton Vale, Failsworth (Droylesden, South Manchester) scrapyard of Unimetal Ltd, situated at a former mill.

Noted as being present at Failsworth in the 2nd Edition of ‘Wrecks and Relics’ (1963)

Part of a large collection of aircraft, including Meteor 7/8/9s, Provost T.1s, Vampire T.11s, three Supermarine Swifts, many Balliol T.2s, Neptune MR1s and Firefly AS.5/6s, acquired by the yard in the mid 1950s which remained dumped and decaying until the yard was cleared in May1981.

The Brigand lay for many years on its side with one wing lying on top of the gutted fuselage and the other nearby, corroded and covered in graffiti, with the cockpit area particularly battered and the engine nacelles also extant in the 1970s.

18 May 81 Fuselage by road to North East Aircraft Museum (NEAM), Usworth, Sunderland (along with Swift F.4 fuselage, a Balliol cockpit and Firefly fuselage), being on loan from the yard’s owner. Placed in store.

19 Apr 2001 Fuselage and a few smaller components including rudder and tailcone to Kemble Airfield, Glos for display with Bristol Aero Collection (BAC),Photo as displayed – Wrecks and Relics 18th Edition, 2002.

April 2010 Aircraft remains purchased by RAF Museum.

This is the only Brigand in the UK, albeit incomplete. The only other known partial survivor is one wreck recently reported in Malaya – the Malaysian jungle wreck is former 45 Squadron aircraft RH755 which crashed in January 1951. It comprises several large components, including a tail fin, undercarriage leg, propeller unit and complete engine. Some parts possibly recovered for Malaysian AF Museum.

 www.rafmuseum.org

The Royal Air Force Museum Trustees are pleased to announce that Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye OBE has been selected as the Director General, Royal Air Force Museum with effect from 9th June 2010.

Peter Dye is the current Director Collections and Deputy Director General. He has been Acting Director General since 1st February.

Prior to joining the Museum, Peter served in the Royal Air Force for over 35 years. With a degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College, he has more than 20 years experience of frontline operations, including the maintenance and support of numerous aircraft types ranging from the Victor and Vulcan to the Jaguar and Tornado. He was awarded the OBE for his achievements in support of the Jaguar Force during the Gulf War.

His grandfather and father both served in the Royal Air Force during the First and Second World Wars respectively, imbuing him with a deep affection for the Service and a passion for its people, achievements and traditions. This has been reflected in his writing on aviation history and, in 2004, his successful efforts to erect a memorial at St-Omer to those members of the British Air Services who had served in France and Belgium during the Great War. He is currently studying for a part-time PhD, at Birmingham University, on the Royal Flying Corps.

Air Vice-Marshal Dye says:

“Since joining the Museum I have been hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of its staff and their many impressive achievements in the face of considerable challenges. I am delighted to be able to lead the Museum as it builds on these successes and to have the opportunity to work with its many friends and supporters in creating an exciting and innovative future”

www.rafmuseum.org

The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce that its attempt to obtain the world record for the most model Spitfires constructed in a day has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records. 

The attempt, run with the support of Airfix and Ebury Publishing, took place on 19th December 2009 with participants arriving from afar a field as Singapore and Australia to participate. Members of the public worked throughout the day at the Museum, with each individual who successfully completed their model rewarded by taking it home to keep.

Paul Hudson, Head of Marketing at the Museum, stated:

“I would like to thank Airfix and Ebury publishing for presenting us with the opportunity of hosting this world record attempt. But most of all I would like to thank each one of our visitors who braved some incredibly inclement weather to assist us with this endeavour. It is through their efforts that we are able to celebrate this award. This world record belongs not to the Museum or our partners but to the families and modellers who assisted us on the day.”

It is particularly gratifying to find out about this award in the run up to the Museum’s celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, later this year.”

In total 250 model Spitfire aircraft were constructed and painted over a 6 hour period.

The Royal Air Force Museum London is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with last admission at 5:30pm. To learn more about the various free family activities that the Museum offers, please visit www.rafmuseum.org/london or call the museum’s 24 hour information line on 0208 358 4964. Admission to the museum is free.

Lawrence of Arabia’s launch is the last RAF boat to set sail on historic final voyage.

Date: April 30th – May 4th

A Seaplane Tender from the 1930s is to sail around the south coast and up the Thames to complete a display at the Royal Air Force Museum. It will be the last RAF boat to fly the RAF Ensign on the water.

Docking at: Newhaven; Dover; Ramsgate; Sheerness & St Katherine’s Dock

The small launch, ST206, was used by the RAF to ferry passengers and crew to and from the giant flying boats of the 1930s and was used as a fire tender and rescue launch during the Second World War.

The launch was developed by TE Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia – in his little-know career after his famous desert exploits in World War One. He entered the Royal Air Force’s Marine Section in 1925 under the pseudonym TE Shaw and worked with the British Power Boat Company to develop faster and more effective rescue boats after witnessing a fatal seaplane crash in 1931. The project made a vital contribution to speed boat design and ensured that the new generation of boats specially designed to rescue pilots during the Second World War were faster and more effective.

The 1930s was the golden age of the flying boat and enormous craft flew around the world offering luxury conditions for international travellers. The RAF used them as transport and long-range escort bomber aircraft in Coastal Command. ST206 was built to service the Short Sunderland and will join the RAF Museum’s Sunderland on display at Hendon, North London.

Nearly every major port in England was used as a rescue base and ST206 will visit many former seaplane bases on her journey where the RNLI have kindly offered their facilities. The launch will set sail at Lymington on a four day journey by sea to St Katherine’s Dock in East London and then on to Shepperton Marina. En route it will be docking at Shoreham; Newhaven; and Dover. At Shepperton it will be lifted out of the water and placed on a lorry for the final leg of its journey as it travels by road to the Royal Air Force Museum London.

The boat will be skippered by its previous owner Phil Clabburn with a crew that includes veteran members of the RAF Marine Branch. The voyage and subsequent restoration for display of the launch has been organised by the RAF Museum’s Marine Craft Team Volunteers. As part of the voyage, they will also be recreating the speed trails conducted by T.E. Shaw on ST206.

The RAF formed its Marine Section in 1918 to service the needs of its extensive and expanding fleet of seaplanes. Its motto was ‘The Sea Shall Not Have Them’ and the service saved 13,000 lives during World War Two. The branch was disbanded and its remaining role was privatised in 1986.

www.rafmuseum.org

Visitors to the world’s biggest free seafront airshow can enjoy a first class day out being wined and dined from the UK’s sunniest seafront as Eastbourne Airbourne launches its 2010 Aviator Club hospitality packages. 

Set in an arena-side marquee offering front row seats next to all of the action on the ground with spectacular views of the flying line above, the Aviator Club offers a supreme experience for anyone looking to enjoy an extra special day out at Airbourne.

Whether visitors are looking to celebrate a special occasion to companies looking to wine and dine business clients, the Aviator Club offering a champagne welcome, three-course summer lunch and dedicated Aviator Club Bar, presents the ultimate VIP experience.

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said “We’re very excited to launch the Aviator Club hospitality packages for Airbourne 2010 and offer visitors an opportunity to upgrade their airshow experience and enjoy being wined and dined while watching dazzling flying displays. With seats directly next to the action-packed arena displays, Aviator Club guests can look forward to putting their feet up and soaking in the airshow atmosphere in a prime position on Eastbourne seafront, directly alongside the display teams.

“With extended packages available on Friday for the return of our evening Come Fly With Me event, visitors can opt for an Aviator experience on any day of Airbourne with a packed line up of flying already confirmed for the fabulous four day event.”

Come Fly With Me, the extended display of flying to live music on the ground from the Swing Street Band on the Friday evening of Airbourne, is back for a second year in 2010 and offers all airshow visitors the chance to enjoy an extra dose of spectacular flying action.

With the flying line up already looking set to be bumper-filled when Eastbourne International Airshow returns from 12-15 August, visitors can look forward to crowd favourite the Red Arrows, the impressive Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight marking 70 years since the Battle, and a daredevil performance from the Breitling Wingwalkers.

Aviator Club hospitality starts from £55+VAT, with the extended Friday evening display promising extra refreshments and treats from just £60+VAT.

For more information or to book a place in the Aviator Club at Eastbourne’s spectacular free seafront airshow this August visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 415442.

Airbourne, the world’s biggest free seafront airshow, is getting ready to zoom back to the UK’s sunniest place this summer promising dynamic flying displays, thrilling arena attractions, evening concerts and its very own radio station – and offering an array of opportunities for companies to jump on board and raise their profile to hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Eastbourne International Airshow has already got off to a fantastic start with the official launch party last month securing a sponsor for the popular Red Arrow display, as well as several other exciting leads.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has confirmed to display on every day of Airbourne 2010 from 12-15 August as it commemorates its 70th anniversary, and with other displays including the impressive Eurofighter Typhoon and new Breitling sponsored Wingwalkers also set to entertain visitors this summer, the airshow promises plenty of exposure for companies interested in sponsoring the event.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Susan Morris said “Airbourne 2009 was bigger and better than ever before being the most visibly busy in the event’s history, but this year we already have a cracking line-up confirmed and are looking forward to building on last year’s success.

“From the fantastic assets confirmed to fly at Airbourne through to the Aviator Club hospitality marquee, Friends of Airbourne membership scheme and record-breaking souvenir programme; the event offers a wide range of sponsorship opportunities, big and small, and we would like to hear from anybody interested in supporting this major Eastbourne event while raising their company’s profile at the same time.”

This year airshow organisers Eastbourne Borough Council are again looking to work with the local business community to raise funds to continue staging this spectacular event.

Several local businesses from across the south east attended the launch party at Towner in February and have already promised repeat sponsorship deals for the 2010 event.

With sponsorship packages ranging from as little as £250 right up to the headline sponsor at £75k, with the chance for businesses to tailor make packages specific to their needs, Airbourne is renowned as a major international event with significant footfall and offers the platform for businesses to reach mass crowds, both visitors and residents, over the four day event.

Securing a record 25 sponsors in 2009 including TravelInsured.co.uk, Eastbourne Borough Council are looking to attract even more sponsors in 2010 and would be interested to speak to companies about the best ways for their business to benefit from the event.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, trade space, programme advertising and corporate hospitality available at Airbourne visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 415436.