Posts Tagged ‘January’

Last chance for savings on tickets!

Monday, January 29th, 2024

RIAT Savings

Savings come to an end on the 31st…

You have until midnight on Wednesday 31st January to grab yourself a discount on tickets or enclosures. Once they are gone, they are gone – so be quick to secure your ticket!
End of all discounted Saturday prices

Saturday Early Bird General Admission tickets will be ending on Wednesday 31st January, going up to full price.
At the same time, our 5% off offers on all Saturday enclosures will also be coming to an end.

We have limited availability on a number of Saturday enclosure upgrades, with many close to selling out. So secure your place now at the best possible price.

https://www.airtattoo.com/tickets-hospitality/hospitality-packages/

Operation Percy: Celebrating 80 Years

Thursday, January 25th, 2024

RAF Museum Operation Percy

Date: 29 January – 29 February 2024 (Registration now open)
Cost: £20 per person / £15.00 Armed Forces entry

If your new year’s resolution is to get active, why not join forces with the RAF Museum for Operation Percy, a brand-new fundraising challenge!

Those taking part in Operation Percy will be challenged to complete 80KM or 80 laps in honour of Percy the Parachuting Penguin, the lucky mascot of Flight Lieutenant Stan Chapman of 158 Squadron Royal Air Force. The challenge will commence on 29 January, exactly 80 years since Stan and Percy’s daring parachute escape from a damaged Halifax Bomber.

Once signed up, participants will each receive a welcome pack and exclusive RAF Museum running T-shirt allowing you to complete the challenge in style. Pledge to fundraise £80 for the RAF Museum, and once you’ve hit your fundraising target you will be rewarded with a limited-edition Operation Percy commemorative coin. Challengers will have until the leap year on 29 February to complete the distance.

Percy is one of several lucky mascots on display at the RAF Museum, each with a remarkable tale to tell. Percy’s story began over Berlin on 29 January 1944, when the Halifax HX333 ‘J Jane’ he was on board was hit by flak and badly damaged. Flt Lt Stan Chapman quickly tucked his lucky mascot, Percy the Penguin, inside his flying jacket and parachuted out. They landed safely and were soon captured by German soldiers and spent the rest of the War as prisoners in Germany. Stan believed Percy was lucky because he and all his crew mates survived being shot down that night. The element of risk involved with flying, especially in wartime, is why over the years aviators try to ward off bad luck by having lucky charms or mascots.

RAF Museum Individual Giving Manager, Sophie Wallace said:
‘Support and fundraising from challengers will help the RAF Museum keep stories like Stan and Percy’s alive and shared for many years to come. Challenges like this are a great way for us to share some of the more unknown stories of the RAF, while raising vital funds. Registrations for Operation Percy are now open, and participants can take part in this virtual challenge anywhere in the world, and run, walk, cycle, or swim their way to victory. Those who want to see the real Percy and find out more about his story can visit the RAF Museum Midlands where he’s on public display.’

Let’s make Percy proud! For more information and to register for Operation Percy visit www.rafmuseum.org.
Entry costs £20 per person and all proceeds go towards supporting the RAF Museum’s mission to preserve the stories of the RAF and the brave men and women who served. Members of the Armed Forces Community (Cadets, serving personnel, veterans, and reservists) can register for the discounted rate of £15.00.

RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre 2024 Open Days

Sunday, January 21st, 2024

RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre

2024 Open Day Schedule:

The 2024 schedule of Heritage Centre openings, which begins on Easter Sunday, is included below:

First Open day – March 31st Easter Sunday

Sunday, 14th of April

Sunday, 28th of April

Sunday, 12th of May

Sunday, 26th of May

Sunday, 9th of June

Sunday, 23rd of June

Sunday, 14th of July

Sunday, 28th of July

Sunday, 11th of August

Sunday, 25th of August

Bank Holiday Monday 26th of August

Sunday, 15th of September

Sunday 29th of September

Sunday 13th of October

Sunday 27th of October

Final Open day November 10th Remembrance Sunday
Note that the Centre will be open from 10am until 4pm on each of these days. Parking and entrance will be Free, and disabled access and toilets will be available.

www.facebook.com/groups/455568478629653

Harvard news round-up from Newark

Monday, January 8th, 2024

Newark Harvard

The long-term in-depth restoration of the North American Harvard II B in Newark Air Museum’s on site workshop continues and recently work has been undertaken on preparing to refit the restored nose cowlings to the fuselage.

The previous owners had modified the cowling fixtures and fittings, which has been challenging the museum’s team of volunteers. However, a recent glimpse into the Workshop indicates that
progress is being made.

The airframe being restored is 42-12417 (Dutch AF B-163 and RCAF FE930) and the restoration programme is now well underway, with rumours of a potential reassembly being made sometime this year.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

10% off enclosures selling fast

Monday, January 8th, 2024

RIAT Enclosures

15% off enclosures is now gone… hurry before 10% off goes too
Our 15% off enclosures offer has now ended, however you can still get up to 10% off if you buy your tickets today.

You’ll have to be quick though as we’re selling fast.

Sold Out:
Saturday Cotswold Club
Saturday Aviation Club
Saturday First Class Lounge
Saturday Lightning Pavilion

Others are hot on their heels. So don’t delay get yours today!

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages/

Save the Arthur Scarf Victoria Cross Medal!

Sunday, January 29th, 2023

Scarf VC Medal

The Royal Air Force Museum is calling on the public’s support to help keep Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf’s Victoria Cross medal in the UK.

Arthur Scarf was the recipient of the only Victoria Cross awarded to the Royal Air Force for services in the Far East during the Second World War. This incredibly rare medal, and Arthur’s Story, is a national treasure which represents an extraordinary and highly poignant story of great personal courage, and the RAF Museum is determined for it to remain within the UK.

The Museum is a registered charity and has just a few months to raise £660,000 to match the auction bid placed by an overseas buyer. If successful in the mission to acquire this one-of-a-kind medal, the VC will be preserved in the RAF Museum’s national collection on public display in London, for future generations to see.

The Museum is hoping to raise £250,000 of the required funds through public donations. Money raised will be added to a contribution being made from the Museum’s own funds, and a potential grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Donate to #SaveTheScarfVC on the Museum’s dedicated Save the Scarf VC GoFundMe page.

RAF Museum Historian and Head of Collections, Dr Harry Raffal said:
‘Not only does Sqn Ldr Scarf’s Victoria Cross represent his outstanding devotion to duty and supreme act of bravery, it is also a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by all the British and Commonwealth service personnel fighting in the Far East, and the role of the RAF within this context. This unique medal is part of our nation’s heritage, and a significant element to a decisive moment in British history. There is an imminent risk of it leaving the UK, but we’re hopeful that with public support we can prevent this from happening, and for the medal to remain on our shores. If we’re successful, the medal will be displayed at the Museum, in the heart of our collection, helping us to share the stories of all those RAF personnel who fought, lived and died in the conflict.’

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest decoration for valour in the British armed forces, awarded for an act of extreme bravery in the face of the enemy. Such is the medals legendary status, recipients are often revered as heroes. Only 22 Victoria Crosses were awarded to RAF personnel during the Second World War, and just one, for their service in the Far East – the VC that was awarded to Arthur Scarf.

Scarf joined the RAF in 1936 aged 23, and three years later was sent to Singapore with No. 62 Squadron to join the forces in the Far East. On the 9 December 1941, he led a formation of Bristol Blenheim aircraft in a daylight attack on Japanese forces occupying airfields in Burma, what is today Thailand. As Scarf became airborne, a formation of Japanese bombers swept over the airfield destroying every British aircraft on the ground.

Realising that none of his squadron’s aircraft had survived the Japanese bombing, Scarf was determined to complete his squadron’s allotted task. Flying low for some 30 miles into enemy occupied territory, Scarf skilfully evaded several attacks by Japanese fighters, and released the bombs whilst his crew manned the machine guns. With the task complete and now heading home, more Japanese fighters arrived attacking at close range. Greatly outnumbered, hopelessly outgunned and in aircraft slower than the enemies, Scarf flew at tree top height, desperately seeking whatever protection he could find. Despite evading the worst of the Japanese attacks, machine gun fire riddled the Blenheim. Scarf was mortally wounded but continued to fly the aircraft while being held upright by his crew mates and managed to make a controlled crash landing at a nearby British controlled airfield without injury to his crew, but Scarf died from his wounds shortly afterwards.

The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously in 1946 and was presented to his widow, Elizabeth, by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

Arthur’s heroic story can inspire future generations for many years to come. To support the RAF Museum’s mission to raise the money needed to save Scarf’s VC medal from leaving the UK, visit the Save the Scarf VC GoFundMe page.

RAF Museum Midlands 2023 Events Diary

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Model Mania at RAF Museum Midlands

Forthcoming events taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands in 2023:

RAF Museum Midlands Events diary 2023

This year, visitors to the RAF Museum Midlands can expect to see some brand-new additions to the events calendar including a fun packed STEM week during February half term, an out of this world Jet and Space Week in October, and the chance to enrol in Elf Cadet Training next Christmas.

The busy schedule caters to the Museum’s wide and diverse audience, offering something new for repeat visitors, and for those visiting the Museum for the first time in 2023.

RAF Museum Midlands Public Events Manager, Amy Bertaut said:
‘We’ve refreshed our public events programme this year to ensure we’re offering fun and affordable family activities throughout the school holidays. Each half term has a unique theme, ensuring there is something for everyone. Pilot Training at Easter will see families take part in a series of challenges, and in May we’ll be turning back the clock and exploring life in the 1940s. In October we’ll be exploring space with a huge mobile planetarium and blasting rockets in our STEM zone. We also have some exciting plans for the entire summer holidays which we will be announcing very soon.’

Some of the big outdoor events will be returning this year, including the Spitfire 10K in August where participants will race across the airfield and down the runway. Step into the Danger Zone with a series of action-packed films for all the family when the popular Outdoor Cinema event returns in September. The Cosford Food Festival and Large Model Air Show will be taking a break from the schedule this year, instead, the Museum has big plans for a six week long event during the summer holidays.

Event organisers are confident the exciting events programme, combined with exploring the Museum’s vast collection of aircraft, and the interactive experiences in Flight Zone will make a visit to the Museum one to remember!

For further information on any of the events taking place at the RAF Museum Midlands throughout 2023, visit www.rafmuseum.org/midlands. Admission charges apply for some events and activities, tickets are available online. Events may be subject to change and additional events may be added during the year.

The Museum is open daily from 10.00am and admission is free.

Sywell Aviation Museum Events 2023

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Sywell Aviation Museum

15th January 2023 – The Rich Tapestry of Life (Winter Talk)

A talk by David McIntyre.

David always wanted to be a pilot; his father was an RAF instructor at Sywell during 1942/43 on Tiger Moths, and later went on to fly Lancasters with 106 Sqn at the end of WW2. During this time, David’s father met a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot who in later years became David’s uncle. David flew Canberra PR7.s on Cold War intelligence gathering, then Vulcan (nuclear) bombers. He became an instructor himself, on Jet Provosts at RAF Brawdy; including an emergency ejection!

19th February 2023 – A Tale of Two Lancs (Winter Talk)

Mike Chatterton is a former RAF Shackleton and Nimrod pilot. He was posted to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 1989 and became their Lancaster pilot, skills which he transferred to East Kirkby when he began taxiing their own Lancaster ‘Just Jane’. He retired from the RAF in 2013 after nearly 40 years. He is very proud that his father was also a Lancaster pilot, and they often provided a ‘double act’ at Coningsby and East Kirkby!

19th March 2023 – Operation Exodus & The Fate of Lancaster PD339 (Winter Talk)

A talk by Roger Kirkham & Bill Lockerbie. On 26th April 1945 Lancaster PD339 of 50 Squadron RAF was returning to base following a delivery of repatriated Allied POWs as part of Operation Exodus. The aircraft crashed close to Delapre Home Farm near Hardingstone. Both speakers are experienced tour guides at Delapre Abbey and have extensively researched this incident with a view to erecting a memorial to those involved on the 80th anniversary in 2025.

**Admission to each talk is £5 per person. Groups may book tickets in advance (tel: 07711 363392). All talks are held in the Cirrus Room at the Aviator Hotel

8th April 2023 – Easter Saturday Grand Opening

1030-1630

One for your new diaries! As ever the Museum reopens on Easter Saturday with its Grand Opening!

For you old hands you’ll know what to expect – though we can’t guarantee the weather this year!

Military vehicles, re-enactors, aircraft cockpits, trade stands and the usual volunteer-run chaos that is our 22nd Grand Opening and it’s all free! We’ve set up an Event Page so you can keep up to date with the latest news…
You never know something sexy and Rolls-Royce powered may turn up!

Military vehicles/classic vehicles must book in in advance please – visiting historic aeroplanes are also very welcome but please do let us know you’re coming so we can have cake ready! To book in please email sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com

AND REMEMBER IT’S ALL FREE!

12th March 2023 – Model & Book Sale

Yes it’s back by popular demand! Please click on the link below for details! In the meantime we would be extremely grateful for the donation of aviation books, model kits and accessories, diecast models, aeronautica etc to sell on the day to help raise funds to keep us going! Sincere thanks to all those who have helped so far – if you can help please contact us by Facebook Messenger, email to sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com or call 07968061708.

www.sywellaviationmuseum.org.uk/airfield-events/

 

Newark Air Museum Events 2023

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Vulcan XM594

Here at Newark Air Museum, a registered charity, we’re already starting to make plans for our 2023 special events. 2023 is a significant year in the museum’s long history as it will be celebrating 50 years of being officially open to the public and we hoped that you might be able feature them in your event listing sections.

11th & 12th February 2023 – Vulcan delivery 40th Anniversary

On the weekend of 11th/12th February 2023 it will be forty (40) years since Avro Vulcan XM594 landed (actual landing date 07.02.83) on the former wartime runway at Winthorpe Showground to go on display at the museum; the year 2023 it is also the 60th anniversary of its entry into RAF service.

To mark the anniversary, the museum trustees will allow members of the museum’s Cockpit Opening Team to provide FREE cockpit access to the Vulcan on the weekend – this will be available for visitors who pay to come into the museum and who advise the museum in advance of their plan to participate.

The museum will be open from 1000 to 1600 hours, with last admissions to the site being at 1500 hours. Admission costs to the museum site will be: Adults £10.00, Over 60s £9.00 and Children £5.50.

*NOTE This event was first advertised early in December and there is now a reserve list for cockpit access to the Vulcan.

15 & 16 April 2023 – 50th Anniversary Gala & Aeroboot / Aerojumble

This two-day event is being hosted at the museum, to mark fifty years since the museum was officially opened to the public, on 14th April 1973. The original opening ceremony was led by AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane KBE, the former Officer Commanding 5 Group Bomber Command at the time of the famous Dambusters Raid; he was introduced to the gathered enthusiasts by the museum’s then President, Air Cdr David Bonham-Carter.

Since those humble beginnings, with just eight aircraft on display the museum has developed into one of the UK’s largest volunteer managed aviation collections, which now displays around one hundred aircraft and cockpit sections from across the history of aviation. Several of the current exhibits are unique to UK aviation museums and they always attract particular interest and attention.

Various displays will illustrate how the museum has developed across those fifty years, and members of the museum’s open cockpit team will be on hand to give visitors the opportunity to look inside our aircraft; (a small additional charge will be made for aircraft access).

An outdoor Aeroboot/Aerojumble event will run alongside the Anniversary Gala, with sellers from across the UK expected to attend.

24 & 25 June 2013 – Cockpit-Fest 2013 & Aeroboot / Aerojumble aviation and avionics sale; this regular two day event provides the perfect opportunity for the public to view a diverse range of visiting aircraft cockpits. {Normal admission rates apply}

www.newarkairmuseum.org

RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre Opening Schedule for 2023

Tuesday, January 10th, 2023

RAF Bircham Newton

We will open on the following dates in 2023:

First open day – Easter Sunday April 9th

Sunday April 30th

Sunday May 28th

Sunday June 11th

Sunday June 25th

Sunday July 16th

Sunday July 30th

Sunday August 13th

Sunday August 27th

Bank Holiday Monday August 28th

Sunday September 10th

Sunday September 24th

Sunday October 15th

Sunday October 29th

Last open day – Sunday 12th of November Remembrance Sunday

As usual we will be open from 10am until 4pm. Entrance and parking will be free, and disabled access and toilets will be available.

https://rafbnmp.org.uk/