The Sywell Aviation Museum reopens for its 19th season as traditional, on Easter Saturday – 11th April 2020. The free event includes visiting aircraft cockpits, military vehicles, re-enactors and more and maybe some aerial visitors!
Open from 1030-1630 hours the Museum is then open for the season every weekend and bank holiday between 1030-1630hrs until the end of September and every Tuesday/Wednesday between 1200-1600hrs from the end of May to the end of October.
2020 is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (BoB) which is recognised as the country’s finest hour. This summer the Royal Air Force Museum is inviting the country to remember this significant story of bravery, international alliances and ingenuity both at the Museum and on tour.
The RAF Museum is FREE to enter and has sites at both London and the West Midlands. Both sites are an amazing day out for all the family and will be commemorating the BoB 80 with a series of special events and exhibitions.
On tour:
The Museum is giving members of the public a rare chance to see a real Spitfire from our collection in various public spaces. This will include Coventry, Telford, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Cosford, Wolverhampton and Barnet. The Spitfire on tour will enable members of the public to find out more about this iconic aircraft and the role each town and city played during the BoB.
London:
The London Museum is home to the most complete set of Battle of Britain aircraft in the world including the ‘fighter four’: Spitfire, Hurricane, Messerschmitt 109 and Fiat CR42, all participants in the BoB. This year they will be supported by new displays telling the wider BoB story, including a fine art exhibition. There will also be a series of events for all the family, including The Battle of Britain Vintage Festival, Spitfire 10K and Family Run, and a Battle of Britain Aircraft Access event.
Cosford:
Home to the world’s oldest Spitfire, the Cosford Museum houses both British and German aircraft from the BoB era. See the RAF’s frontline fighters, the Spitfire, Hurricane, Gladiator and Defiant face to face with their German rivals the Me 109 and Ju88, all examples of the type used in the BoB. Previously unseen objects from the Museum’s archive collection and a Dowding System interactive area will enhance the aircraft displays. The summer events programme will include the popular Spitfire 10K and Family Run and a BoB Proms with musical acts suitable for all the family.
Earlier this year the RAF Museum launched the Hurricane 80K Challenge, a virtual race commemorating 80 years since the BoB. Participants have exactly 80 days to complete 80K and be rewarded with a bespoke challenge medal, proceeds will go the RAF Museum, registered charity 244708.
The RAF Museum is open daily from 10am and entry is FREE. For more details visit www.rafmuseum.org
All current serving members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces who are visiting the Royal Air Force Museum London before 15 March, will receive a special thank you gift.
The Museum will be offering all current serving personnel and their families, who visit MathsAlive!, the Museum’s latest exciting interactive exhibition specially created for children, a free ride on the 4D Theatre plus a limited edition MathsAlive! branded tote bag and Rubik’s cube (terms and conditions apply).
To take advantage of this offer serving personnel simply need to show their Military ID Card to staff at the entrance of the exhibition.
MathsAlive! can be found in Gallery 4’s temporary exhibition area, next to the 4D Theatre. Here, children will discover 18 thrilling and intriguing interactives that will help them explore the world of Maths through games and play. Maths has never been so much fun!
So, if you know a young person who loves dance, music and nature or would love to compete in a down-hill snowboard race, drive a Mars rover across the surface of the red planet or fight off computer viruses from within a giant computer game, take-off to the RAF Museum London! Admission to MathsAlive! and to the Museum is free.
MathsAlive! is open daily from 11.30am – 3.30pm during weekdays and 10.30am – 4.30pm at weekends and during February Half Term. For further details about this offer visit www.rafmuseum.org.uk/whatson. The exhibition is generously supported by Raytheon UK.
Anson VX-B (K6183) was the first of Bircham Newton’s aircraft to be shot down in World War 2 on September 5th 1939, just two days after Britain declared war on Germany. The story of this plane and its fortunate New Zealand pilot, who survived to become one of the first prisoners of the war, can be read in the RAF Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre at Bircham Newton has a unique collection of memorabilia from the former Royal Air Force station’s past service, which spanned more than 44 years, including two world wars and the Cold War. On display are photographs and personal memories of servicemen who served there and other related items from its fascinating history.
The 2020 Season of OPEN DAYS will begin on Easter Sunday
Easter: Sunday, 12th and Monday, 13th April
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend: Friday, 8th and Sunday, 10th May
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend: Sunday, 24th and Monday, 25th May.
Sunday, 14th June/ Last Sunday in June: 28th June
Sunday, 12th July/Last Sunday in July: 26th July
Summer Bank Holiday Weekend: Sunday, 30th and Monday, 31st August
Last Sunday in September: 27th September/Last Sunday in October: 25th
Remembrance Sunday: 8th November
The Centre is open from 10am until 4pm. FREE ENTRANCE and CAR PARKING Disabled access and toilets are available. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available.
www.rafbnmp.org.uk
Schoolchildren have dug deep to help Bournemouth become more green by planting trees at a special ceremony – the first of its kind under a new council-backed project.
The Council pledged to offset the Bournemouth Air Festival carbon footprint created from jet fuel emissions last year after partnering with nationally accredited Carbon Footprint Ltd.
For each tree planted a tonne of carbon will also be saved in the Amazon Rainforest, as part of the partnership, through an avoided deforestation project. This project is audited and certified by the internationally recognised Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
Last summer aircraft used 95,211 litres of fuel – equating to 240 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
This project forms part of a wider BCP Council-backed commitment following its Climate and Ecological Emergency declaration, last summer. Dedicated officers are working with councillors to deliver the Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency commitments by way of numerous initiatives, including working towards becoming a plastic-free local authority.
Councillor Lewis Allison, Cabinet member for Tourism, Leisure and Communities, said: “We are so proud to be able to take the first step in this all-important project with the help of Avonwood Primary School children. The school has been very supportive and we’re privileged to be able to plant these trees in their grounds. We will not see the effects of these trees immediately – it will in fact take many years – but it is a small and necessary step towards becoming a more carbon-neutral environment and one these schoolchildren will reap the benefits from.
“This tree-planting ceremony has marked a momentous occasion in our commitment to offset the carbon footprint of all displaying aircraft at last year’s Air Festival. We are dedicated to delivering our Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan and this project forms a very important part of that plan.”
Chris Jackson, Headteacher at Avonwood Primary School, said: “All of us at Avonwood Primary School are excited to lend our school grounds to the tree-planting project and to be involved in this fantastic community event. We’re always keen for opportunities like this to help our pupils have a positive impact on their local and global communities as part of providing an Education with Character. Through this initiative, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of being kind, respectful and socially responsible and our children have enjoyed putting this learning into practice. We are all looking forward to watching our saplings grow and helping to create a legacy that will benefit both current and future pupils.”
Today’s (WED) ceremony was the first opportunity the saplings could be planted. Officers from the Council’s Parks department were consulted to determine the most appropriate planting conditions.
Now in its 13th year, Air Festival organisers are currently working on content in the air, on land, and sea for the forthcoming summer’s attraction.
The Royal Air Force Museum is offering young adults aged 14-15 years the chance to become a high-flyer in STEM, as applications for the highly commended Summer Time Advanced Aerospace Residency (STAAR) programme officially open on 10 February 2020.
With 60 places up for grabs, the Museum is calling on secondary school teachers across the UK to nominate students who they feel demonstrate an interest in and aptitude for one or more STEM subjects. Successful STAAR recruits will experience life as an RAF engineering trainee, and over a five-day period they will live, work, learn and solve tasks together.
With exclusive access to real aircraft and engines, this immersive hands-on programme will see recruits exploring aircraft design, gaining an understanding of an aircraft’s needs and test how innovative new materials and technologies are changing the landscape of aviation. Recruits will learn about important historical missions, explore current conflicts and potential ways in which technology will need to evolve in the future. Working together in teams, recruits will plan mock missions, fly drones to gather intelligence, and by the end of the week develop their own advanced aerospace system.
Julie Brierley, Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Access and Learning Manager said:
“The STAAR week will challenge participants and encourage them to think outside the box. The opportunities and resources that STAAR offers students is second to none and invaluable for those interested in future careers in the world of advanced aerospace. We hope by the end of the week, they will leave with a sense of achievement and an enthusiasm for the future.”
STAAR is fully funded by the global aerospace and defence technology giant, Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the Royal Air Force Museum. Created to address a skills gap in the STEM industries, STAAR is an engaging programme that develops the skills needed by the next generation of engineers and innovators, encouraging them to study and consider taking up careers in STEM related fields. The programme of activities is delivered by the RAF Museum in association with RAF Cosford, RAF Youth and STEM team and Tablet Academy.
Nick Chaffey, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman UK and Europe said:
“The STAAR programme is an incredible opportunity for students to learn new skills and experience the challenges and excitement of the aerospace industry. We are proud to support STAAR because we know it is vital to bring classroom STEM studies to life and provide young people with the opportunity to learn practical skills; it also gives them visibility of tangible career paths that they can pursue. Our work with the teams at the Royal Air Force Museum and RAF Cosford makes the STAAR programme stand out as an exemplar of hands-on STEM activity and we hope inspires the next generation into the aerospace sector.”
Two STAAR residential weeks are planned for up to 60 students and will be held jointly at RAF Cosford and the RAF Museum Cosford on 20-24 and 27-31 July 2020, with 30 recruits taking part each week. Two places each week will go to students on the Jon Egging Trust Blue Skies programme. Participants will also work towards a CREST Award and an Industrial Cadet Award during the programme.
Applications open on 10 February and must be completed by a teacher explaining why their student is suitable. For more information on the STAAR programme visit www.rafmuseum.org/STAAR. The closing date is 24 April, successful applicants will be notified early May. The class of 2020 will then be invited to attend the RAF Cosford Air Show on 14 June, where they will have the opportunity to meet with fellow recruits, STAAR partners and enjoy a day viewing the very pinnacle of the aerospace industry.
Date: 21 April – 10 July 2020 (registration now open)
Cost: £20 per person
To commemorate 80 years since the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force Museum has launched the Hurricane 80K Challenge, encouraging keen runners and novices alike, to run 80K in 80 days.
The Hurricane 80K Challenge is a virtual race that commences on 21 April 2020 and runners have exactly 80 days to run, walk, swim or bike 80K in a location of their choice. Participants will have access to a downloadable log sheet to record their 80K before being rewarded with a bespoke, commemorative 80K Challenge medal.
As a virtual race, the 80K challenge can be completed anywhere in the world. Online registration is now open and runners from across the UK and as far as Germany and Norway have already signed up. Participants have 80 days until 10 July, poignantly the start of the Battle of Britain, to complete the challenge.
Entry costs £20 per person and all proceeds from the Hurricane 80K Challenge will go towards the RAF Museum, registered charity 244708. Limited edition Hurricane 80K Challenge t-shirts are also available to purchase when registering online.
RAF Museum London Public Events Manager, Ella Hewitt said:
“The Hurricane 80K Challenge is an opportunity for people across the globe to challenge themselves and pay respect to ‘The Few’ who served and lost their lives during the Battle of Britain 80 years ago. 80K in 80 days is quite a task, but it can be completed anytime, anywhere, and we’ve already had lots of interest from abroad and RAF bases across the UK. It’s great to see people getting behind the challenge.”
The Hurricane, often overshadowed by the Spitfire, was the number one fighter plane during the Battle of Britain, inflicting the most losses and causing the most amount of damage to the Luftwaffe during the engagement. Having fought in all major theatres of the Second World War and playing a crucial role in protecting Britain during the summer of 1940, the Hurricane 80K Challenge is giving the aircraft the spotlight it deserves.
To register for the Hurricane 80K Challenge visit www.rafmuseum.org. Entry costs £20 per person, or £32 per person with the souvenir t-shirt. Additional booking and postage charges apply for overseas participants.
The annual Spitfire 10K will also be returning to the RAF Museum London on 29 August and RAF Museum Cosford on 30 August 2020. All runners will be given the name of a Battle of Britain RAF pilot to wear with their race number, in memory of those who defended our skies during the summer of 1940. Spaces are limited and filling up fast. For further details or to register you place visit www.rafmuseum.org.
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 K9942 displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been presented with a prestigious ‘Engineering Heritage Award’ by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The awards, established in 1984, celebrate the contribution of mechanical engineering past and present, recognising artefacts, sites and landmarks of significant engineering importance.
The Spitfire was recognised for the contribution and vital role it played both in terms of protecting our nation and its pioneering engineering. The award was presented to RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton by current Chair of IMechE’s Engineering Heritage Committee John Wood, with fellow IMechE members in attendance.
Built in Woolston, Southampton in 1939 this early Mark 1 is the world’s oldest surviving Spitfire. Designed by R J Mitchell, the Spitfire combined strength, lightness and streamlining with the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. From the beginning pilots recognised it as a thoroughbred combining a perfection of design with superb handling characteristics.
RAF Museum Cosford Curator, Tom Hopkins said:
“The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It won immortal fame during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. Although Hurricanes outnumbered Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, it was the Spitfire which captured the imagination of the British public and enemy alike. The Spitfire was developed into many subsequent variants and continued to serve with the RAF until well after the end of the Second World War.”
Chair of IMechE’s Engineering Heritage Committee, John Wood said:
“The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is delighted to present this award to the Spitfire to recognise the huge contribution, its designers and pilots made during the Battle of Britain. The UK’s large aerospace industry is built on the rich heritage of engineering innovation which is a legacy of aircraft such as the Spitfire.”
Spitfires first went into service in August 1938 with No.19 Squadron and by the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. Production rapidly built up and by July 1940 there were nineteen Spitfire Mk 1 squadrons available. 1,566 Spitfire Mk 1’s were built and the example on display at RAF Museum Cosford is the oldest surviving example of its type. The aircraft can be viewed daily from 10am in the Museum’s War in the Air hangar. Entry to the Museum is free and further details can be found at www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.
This is the 129th Engineering Heritage Award to be presented by IMechE, which has over 120,000 members across the UK and overseas, with over 400 members based in Shropshire. By holding events and working on engineering initiatives, they aim to raise the profile of engineering across a broad spectrum of industries and offer practical guidance and support to engineers. Further details can be found at www.imeche.org.
Forthcoming events taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford during 2020:
Visitors can expect to see all the big favourites making a return, including the Cosford Food Festival, Outdoor Cinema, Spitfire 10K and Large Model Air Show as well as new events including a VE Weekend Street Party taking place over the first May bank holiday weekend.
RAF Museum Cosford Public Events Executive, Nathan Davis said:
“2020 promises to be another big year for the RAF Museum Cosford with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain being a big theme running through this year’s events line-up. Not only will we commemorate this important milestone in Royal Air Force history with a brand new display arriving in the Spring, I’m excited to announce we will be holding a Proms in September with musical acts suitable for all the family, marking 80 years since the Battle of Britain.”
The busy schedule of events caters to the Museum’s wide and diverse audience and begins the year with a Photography Night Shoot where the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 and British Aerospace Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) will be wheeled out of the hangars. Displayed outside and lit with LED lighting, this evening event will give photographers and aviation enthusiasts alike the exclusive opportunity to capture images of the aircraft like never before (limited places remaining).
The summer months will see many of the biggest events in the Museum’s calendar take place. Held on the airfield in July will be the Large Model Air Show packed with flying displays and family entertainment, followed by the popular Cosford Food Festival which this year will feature 2019 Master Chef: The Professionals winner Stu Deeley from Birmingham. The Vintage and Handmade Festival will be back for a third year in August and September will see two more Outdoor Cinema screenings where hundreds of films fans can enjoy watching classic movies under the stars and surrounded by aircraft.
Nathan Davis continues:
“We look forward to welcoming back repeat visitors, along with those just discovering us for the first time. Tickets are already on sale for many of our events and they’re filling up fast. The first Pillows and Pilots Sleepover date is already fully booked and we have just half the places remaining for the second date in March. One of our most sought-after events is the Spitfire 10K and over half the 1,500 places available have already been snapped up by keen runner’s eager to get their hands on the bespoke medal and the chance to race across the airfield.”
Later in the year visitors can expect to see much more of the aircraft on display during the Open Cockpits Weekend in October and the annual Conservation Centre Open Week in November where aviation fans can go behind the scenes and speak with the team who carries out the work.
Organisers are confident the RAF Museum’s great offer, combined with an exciting events programme will make a visit to remember!
For further information on the events taking place throughout 2020, visit the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. Admission charges apply for some events and activities. Events may be subject to change and additional events may be added during the year. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry is FREE of charge.
Keep a look out in 2020 for the RAF Museum’s Spitfire tour of the West Midlands, details coming soon…!
