Posts Tagged ‘July’

2020 Christmas Competition boosted by prize bundle from RAF Museum

Sunday, July 26th, 2020

RAF Museum Battle of Britain T-Shirt

THE RAF Museum have generously offered a prize bundle towards this years Airscene Christmas Competition, which already includes family entry tickets for Newark Air Museum and the Museum of Berkshire Aviation. As 2020 is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the prizes have been sourced from their commemorative range of products and includes the following 3 prizes:

Emma Bridgewater Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary mug
https://www.rafmuseumshop.com/bob-80th-anniversary-mug-by-emma-bridgewater.html

Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary T-shirt
https://www.rafmuseumshop.com/battle-of-britain-80th-anniversary-print-t-shirt.html

Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary Beanie Bear
https://www.rafmuseumshop.com/bob-80-beanie-bear.html

This years theme is “Aerobatics”, and in a departure from the usual rules, entrants are invited to submit ONE entry taken at any airshow between 2013 and 2018. Entries should not have been entered into any other competition past or present, and must not be available for sale prior to the closing date. This competition is open to UK entrants only.

The Airscene 2020 Christmas Competition will now open on 1st September, and will close on 14th December with results announced on Christmas Day.

Trial re-opening of RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre

Sunday, July 26th, 2020

RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre re-opening

Sunday 30th of August
Open from 10am until 4pm.

We have now received approval from our hosts at the National Construction College to conduct a trial re-opening of the RAF Heritage Centre on Sunday, 30th of August. www.rafbnmp.org.uk

The centre will be opened in compliance with current covid 19 guidance. Hand sanitisation will be required and face masks or some form of face covering will be recommended when you are inside the Centre. We are going to implement a one-way system with social distance markers similar to that found in shops and supermarkets. We are also going to limit the number of family groups inside the centre at any one time to a maximum of three. In addition, there will be a welcome desk outside where you can sit down and meet the staff in the open air to discuss any specific items of interest or to ask questions. Strict social distancing will also apply here.

Disabled access & toilets will be available, and car parking and entrance will be free. Please don’t all turn up at exactly 10am, which would result in queueing to enter the Centre. Staggered arrival times would be more convenient for us all. DO VISIT IF YOU ARE ABLE!

If this trial opening is successful, and our hosts agree, we hope to conduct further openings in September, October and on Remembrance Sunday in November.

Brooklands Museum to re-open on 1st August

Sunday, July 26th, 2020

Brookland Museum re-opening

It’s time to ‘Get back behind the wheel’ as Surrey’s most famous historical site and home to an incredible collection of cars and aircraft, is set to reopen its doors after 4 months of closure.

Fans of Brooklands are now able to book timed-entry tickets in advance to step back in time and see up-close, the cars that raced across Brooklands’ famous race circuit over a hundred years ago. The aircraft on display were all built at Brooklands, including the Hurricane, the Wellington Bomber and of course Concorde.

Whilst some new safety procedures and hygiene measures have been put into operation, the site, renowned for its quirky charm will see many of its key exhibits out of the sheds and on display outside. Not forgetting the army of exceptional volunteers that are ready and waiting for visitors to get under the bonnet of the place again.

Alex Patterson, Director of Collections, Interpretation & Heritage said:
“We are thrilled to be reopening in a couple of weeks and have invested a lot of time preparing the Museum so that the experience for our visitors is the best it can be, as well as being safe.

We’ll have daily live demonstrations of our cars and motorcycles on the track and an exciting new trail has been developed so that people can explore outdoors as much as possible.”

Speaking of the impact of being closed due to Coronavirus, Tamalie Newbery, Director and CEO for Brooklands Museum said:
“Being closed has been financially challenging but we’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve had, especially through our ‘LoveBrooklands’ campaign; an initiative set up when we closed in March which has raised much-needed funds to enable us to reopen.”

Brooklands’ famous motoring and aviation events are still postponed for the moment but this summer promises a great Brooklands experience with a few surprises to boot.
Check out the Museum’s vintage-style reopening video on the website www.brooklandsmuseum.com and be reminded of just how much you’ve missed Brooklands this summer.

Chocks away for the Virtual Spitfire 10K race!

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020

RAF Museum Spitfire 10K

Date: 29 August – 15 September 2020
Cost: Standard entry – £22.50
Discounted entry – £20.50 (Armed Forces Community including Veterans, Personnel and Cadets)
Family Run entry – £10.00
(booking fee applies, additional fees apply for entries from abroad)

The popular Spitfire 10K held annually at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford and London is going virtual this year!

The RAF Museum starts the Battle of Britain commemorations with the annual Spitfire 10K event, but in a slightly different format. Ordinarily, the event would see runners racing across the airfield at Cosford and through the streets of north London, but with the health and wellbeing of participants in mind, organisers are making the 2020 Spitfire 10K event a virtual one and online applications are now open.

Participants of the Virtual Spitfire 10K are invited to join others in a virtual race across the country over the August bank holiday at 10.00am on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, the original race days, for the real race experience. Trophies and prizes are up for grabs, and runners who submit their times will appear on the leader board.

Or, why not complete the 10K at a more leisurely pace and tailor the racing experience to fit your schedule and ability, by splitting the distance into a few runs or walks. The virtual race gives participants the opportunity to complete the 10K any time between the 29 August and 15 September, wherever and however they want – running, cycling, rowing, or even walking the dog!

The Virtual Spitfire 10K challenge will end on 15 September, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Participants will then be rewarded with one of the highly sought after 2020 Spitfire 10K medals, an absolute must for any runner’s medal collection!

The Museum is delighted to announced that the “RAF Spitfires” (RAF Rugby 7s Team) will be taking part in the Spitfire 10K. The team members will be running the race, raising funds for the RAF Museum and will be sharing their tips and tricks on how to get ready for the race with other runners on social media.

Any families with younger children who would like to join in the fun can sign up for the Spitfire Family Run, a shorter 1km race suitable for all ages, and participants will be rewarded with a medal upon completion.

RAF Museum Public Events Manager, Ulrike Stuebner said:
“It’s great to see that more than 1,000 runners have decided to support the RAF Museum by transferring their entry from the physical race to the virtual challenge. We’ve also had more than 500 new sign ups since tickets opened and there is still plenty of time for people to register. The great thing about the virtual race is that it can be completed anywhere, and participants will each receive one of our spectacular bespoke medals, which are guaranteed to be popular. Some exciting new additions for the virtual race include a Spitfire 10K Facebook community group, where you can read tips to motivate yourself to get moving, share photos, running routes, hikes and dog walks, it’s a great opportunity to talk to like-minded runners. We also have a brand-new technical running t-shirt and vest again this year, and have created a running playlist to help keep you motivated when completing the 10K.”

The Spitfire 10K is held to commemorate the Battle of Britain and the Royal Air Force personnel who defended Britain’s skies during the summer of 1940. Participants will each receive a roll of honour card with the name of a Battle of Britain Pilot to wear as they complete their 10K, sharing the story of those who served in this pivotal aerial campaign with a new generation.

Help us honour those who defended our skies during the Battle of Britain by fundraising for the RAF Museum and pledging to raise £80 for the 80th anniversary and receive your race day t-shirt for free.

Spitfire technical t-shirts (£10.00), running vests (£12.00) and cotton family run t-shirts (£5.00) can be purchased when registering for the Virtual Spitfire 10K. If purchased before the 1 August, t-shirts will be posted with the race packs, all purchases after this date and overseas participants will receive their t-shirts with their medal.

All those who enter the virtual race will get a head start for the 2021 Spitfire 10K by receiving advanced notice of the race entry details at both museums.

Register for the Spitfire 10K Virtual race online at www.rafmuseum.org. Entry costs £22.50 per person (UK entries), a discounted rate of £20.50 is available for the Armed Forces Community. A booking fee and additional fees for entries from abroad will apply. All proceeds from the event will go towards the RAF Museum, registered charity number 244708.

The Museum is now open daily with a range of measures in place to ensure a safe and great day out for the whole family. While still offering FREE entry to all, visitors are kindly asked to pre-book their arrival time online at www.rafmuseum.org.

Aerospace Bristol to ‘return to flight’ on 1st August

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020

Aerospace Bristol re-opening in August

The family visitor attraction, which offers the chance to step aboard the last Concorde ever to fly, is certified as ‘Good to go’ by Visit Britain, with new Covid-19 safety measures in place

Aerospace Bristol has announced that it will reopen its doors to visitors from Saturday 1st August, with tickets available to book now at www.aerospacebristol.org.

The museum will open from 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets must be booked in advance and numbers are strictly limited to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Rachel Chivers, Visitor Services Manager, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to Aerospace Bristol from the start of August. The museum is always so popular in the summer, with children enjoying our time-travel trail, the outdoor play area, the interactive exhibits and, of course, all the amazing aeroplanes, helicopters and space technology on display.”

Aerospace Bristol is set to open its doors having received ‘Good to go’ certification from Visit Britain. The ‘We’re Good To Go’ COVID-19 industry standard and consumer mark confirms that the attraction adheres to Government and public health guidance.

New safety measures include a one-way route around the museum, with visitors encouraged to stick to the ‘flight path’ as they follow the story of Bristol’s aerospace achievements. The story begins with the formation of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and some of the earliest powered flights, before exploring Bristol’s contribution to two World Wars, the space race, the supersonic Concorde, and the cutting-edge technology of today’s aerospace industry.

“We’re fortunate that the museum is situated in large, spacious aircraft hangars”, Chivers adds. “There’s lots of space between the exhibits and an easy-to-follow one-way route, which will allow people to enjoy a family day out while maintaining safe social distancing. We also have a large outdoor space, where the kids can enjoy the Little Pilots play area, while the grown-ups grab a coffee and bite to eat from the cafe.”

The museum’s star attraction – the last Concorde ever to fly – will be open, with visitors able to step on-board the supersonic jet and glimpse into the cockpit.

Due to the confined nature of the aircraft, visitors will be asked to take extra precautions if they wish to go on board Concorde as part of their visit. These include wearing a face covering while on-board and using hand sanitiser both prior to boarding and upon exiting Concorde.

The museum exhibition includes a stunning show projected on to the side of Concorde, giving visitors the chance to learn all about a remarkable aircraft that cruised at 1,350mph – twice the speed of sound – and reached altitudes of 60,000 feet, where passengers could see the curvature of the Earth from their windows.

Tickets to Aerospace Bristol are available to book now at www.aerospacebristol.org. Discounted family tickets are available, as well as reduced price tickets for seniors and students. Aerospace Bristol tickets include free return visits for 12 months from the date they are first used.

Adopt a piece of RAF history!

Monday, July 20th, 2020

Adopt an Artefact at RAF Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum has announced an exciting new programme which offers members of the public the opportunity to adopt one of over 50 objects within the Museum’s collection.

Adopt an Artefact’ is a unique opportunity for everyone to be part of the RAF’s story, while raising funds for the RAF Museum. With a collection of more than 1.3 million items, spanning more than a century of RAF history, Adopt an Artefact highlights a selection of iconic objects, each with their own fascinating story to tell.

Adopt online at rafmuseum.org, where you can explore the Museum’s unique collection and browse through more than 50 items up for adoption, including everything from lapel badges, lucky mascots and a Red Arrows flying suit, to aircraft and even fragments of the Möhne Dam and an Operation GRAPPLE commemorative beer mat, there really is something for everyone! Available to adopt across three tiers (Standard, Enhanced and Exclusive), starting at £25.00, adoptions last 12 months from the date they are adopted. Adoptees can make their adoption go even further by opting to add Gift Aid which will increase their donation by 25% for no extra cost.

All adoptees will receive a digital adoption certificate and photo of their adopted artefact, along with exclusive updates and information on your chosen object throughout the year. Recognition of your adoption will feature alongside the object on Collections Online, the Museum’s new digital collections system. If purchased as a gift, or in memory of a loved one, you have the option to include a dedicated message along with the name of adoptee. Artefacts can be adopted on an individual or corporate basis and those adopting one of the Exclusive tier items will receive additional benefits tailored to their adoption.

Within the Standard tier, objects can be adopted by several people and include many unusual items such a pack of Playing Cards with Hidden Maps. Used by RAF prisoners of war in Germany, during the Second World War, playing cards were often used to smuggle maps into prison camps. Or how about the small but mighty Twinkletoes the Cat, the lucky charm of Arthur Whitten Brown. Twinkletoes flew alongside Brown and Captain John Alcock on the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight in a Vickers Vimy in 1919, quite an adventure for a pocket size cat. A Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery Coupon Card is the perfect guilt free chocolate adoption for anyone with a sweet tooth – thank goodness sugar rationing ended in 1953! If accessories are your thing, step into the world of RAF 1940/50s sweetheart fashion by adopting an RAF Evening Bag, there’s not a Prada or a Gucci logo in sight but the opportunity to adopt a one-off adorned with a pair of pilot’s wings on fabric from the skies. Other items in the standard tier include a Jamaica Uniform Badge, Burma Star and even Powdered Egg!

Items in the Enhanced tier are exclusive to one adoptee and include the Uniform of Avis Hearn. After refusing to leave her post at an RAF radar station while under devasting attack by German dive bombers, her actions were to see her awarded one of only six Military Medals given to WAAFs during the Second World War. Or how about adopting a small dish containing links to one of the most infamous Second World War stories, The Great Escape. Sand from Stalag Luft III Parade Ground, The Great Escape, is a small but fine testament to the 76 Allied prisoners, the majority RAF aircrew, and their legendary feat of engineering. Other artefacts in the Enhanced tier include a Red Arrows Flying Suit, RAF flying ace Douglas Bader’s Log Book and a Fordson Balloon Winch.

The Exclusive tier consists of thirteen aircraft, each available to only one adoptee and includes aircraft such as the Hawker Siddeley Gnat T1, previously flown as Red 3 by the world-famous Red Arrows, thrilling crowds with their precision formation aerobatics! The Gnat T1 was the RAF’s standard advanced training aircraft for some time, and the initial equipment of the Red Arrows until replaced by Hawk T1s in 1980. Or how about adopting something with a royal connection? The Westland Sea King HAR3 was flown in 2011 by HRH The Duke of Cambridge, while serving as a Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley. It was the very first in RAF service, providing search and rescue cover for both military and civilian personnel across the UK, and only retired in 2015. Other aircraft in this tier include the Panavia Tornado GR1B, Avro Lancaster 1 and Boulton Paul Defiant I.

To celebrate the launch, the Museum is offering up to 20 people the chance to adopt the iconic Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb. Ordinarily, this item would feature within the Exclusive tier, however for the launch of Adopt an Artefact, you can adopt this item for £200 within the Standard tier, the ultimate gift for any aviation fan.

View your adopted artefact during a visit to the Museum, where each object can be found on display at either the Museum’s Cosford or London site, with the exception of just one – Douglas Bader’s Log Book. Stored in the archives, a private viewing of the log book can be arranged for the adoptee of this item.

Edward Sharman, Head of Development RAF Museum, said:
“Support from adoptees will help the Museum continue sharing the RAF Story, past, present and future, to engage, inspire and encourage learning for current and future generations. Whether you’re adopting an artefact for yourself, as a gift for an aviation fan, or someone currently serving in the armed forces, it may even be a personal tribute to honour and remember a loved one, this is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the RAF’s history and to receive something unique in return for your support.

Each item tells its own fascinating RAF story, whether it’s a cute stuffed toy with an adventurous past, clothing that tells more than just a fashion statement, from tiny badges with major honours to large iconic Battle of Britain aircraft, there is something to inspire and connect everyone. Support the RAF Museum and adopt today, and share your special adoption story.”

For more details on how to Adopt an Artefact and to browse the items available, visit www.rafmuseum.org.uk/support-us/adopt-an-artefact

The Museum is now open daily with a range of measures in place to ensure a safe and great day out for the whole family. While still offering FREE entry to all, visitors are kindly asked to pre-book their arrival time online at www.rafmuseum.org.

Virtual Air Tattoo Attracts International Support

Tuesday, July 14th, 2020

RIAT

Air arms representing more than 20 countries from around the globe will be taking part in a special event this weekend being organised by the team behind the Royal International Air Tattoo and supported by the Royal Air Force.

The Virtual Air Tattoo is a free-to-view, live-streamed event that will take place from 11am to 3pm on Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19, the same weekend the actual airshow was due to be staged.

Hosted by Air Tattoo commentators and aviation experts Ben Dunnell and Mark Manwaring and featuring special welcome messages from Sir David Jason and Carol Vorderman – the Virtual Air Tattoo will give viewers a flavour of the real event planned for 2020 with dramatic virtual flying displays, pilot interviews, special guests and unique aircraft footage.

Highlights include:
• Displays created by Virtual Airshows, performed by Europe’s top flight simulator pilots including the Virtual Red Arrows and Swiss, French and Italian teams.
• Footage from some of the most exciting Air Tattoo participants, including 2019 displays by the MiG-21 LanceR & EAV-8 Harrier.
• Live interviews with the Red Arrows as well as pilots from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF Typhoon Display Team.
• Unique behind-the-scenes footage of military aviation including a flight on a recent Royal Air Force air-to-air refuelling mission.
• Messages, interviews and special aircraft tours courtesy of participating international aircrew.

And with tickets for next year’s 50th anniversary airshow going on sale at the weekend, the Virtual Air Tattoo will take a look back at some of the event’s aviation highlights since it was first stage in 1971.

Among the nations taking part in the Virtual Air Tattoo are Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the US and UK – with Sri Lanka and Singapore being represented for the first time ever – albeit virtually! Video support for the Virtual Air Tattoo has also come from aerospace industry, including BAE Systems Leonardo, Airbus Northrop Grumman, MBDA and Rolls-Royce, with additional help from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other long-term sponsors.

Whilst the Air Tattoo will deliver the main broadcast, the RAF will host two additional channels, one providing extended footage of RAF content featured in the Virtual Air Tattoo and the other, broadcast live on Twitch, hosted by the RAF’s Video Gaming and Esports Association who will be staging a number of socially-distanced esport competitions.

Working with PlanesTV, the programme will be hosted from a live studio and, as well as featuring special guests, the show will invite viewers’ questions via social media, making the Virtual Air Tattoo a truly interactive experience.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Paul Atherton said: “The Royal Air Force has been a great partner for the virtual Air Tattoo as they are for the Royal International Air Tattoo each year. Their support in providing behind-the-scenes access to, and footage of, its aircraft, facilities and people has been pivotal and we now look forward to sharing this content with our online visitors. We are confident that this, coupled with the incredible material created by our international friends and the virtual world of air displays will wow our audiences.”

Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, said: “I am delighted the Royal Air Force has joined forces with RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises to deliver a trailblazing Virtual Air Tattoo. We look forward to exhilarating displays from our allies around the world, getting behind the scenes with the RAF and our industry partners as we showcase our talent, and sharing special moments from previous Air Tattoos as we approach the airshow’s 50th anniversary next year.”

During the event, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the Air Tattoo’s parent charity. Text TRUST to 70490 to donate £5 (Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message). Also through Virgin Money Giving: https://bit.ly/rafcharitable

Click interested/going on our Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1379812842184720/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RIATOfficial

IWM Duxford welcomes back visitors with a packed programme of Battle of Britain 80 commemorations

Monday, July 13th, 2020

IWM Duxford re-opening (image by Lee Chapman)

This summer will mark 80 years since the German Luftwaffe began its long series of air attacks, signifying the start of the Battle of Britain. IWM Duxford is pleased to announce that it will be opening its doors on Saturday 1 August, offering visitors the chance to tread the same ground as the young fighter pilots and operational staff of 1940 at this former sector station and participate in a season of new exhibitions and events to commemorate the Battle of Britain 80 years on.

Re-opening of IWM Duxford
The doors to IWM Duxford have been closed for over four months but, from Saturday 1 August, they will re-open once again to welcome members of the public back to Europe’s largest air museum. Visitor numbers to the historic site will be limited to ensure the safety of staff and visitors and those looking to visit should book tickets online in advance for an allocated time. IWM Members will receive access to priority booking from Friday 10 July with public bookings opening on Wednesday 15 July.

New Exhibition Openings
Originally scheduled to open in July, The Ops Block: Battle of Britain will now open on 15 September, the anniversary of the day the Battle of Britain reached its climax. The exhibition will grant the public access to newly transformed and previously unseen historic Second World War rooms. Visitors can step foot into the former nerve centre of RAF Duxford to discover accounts of those who lived and worked here and immerse themselves in a multi-sensory recreation of the Ops Room, experiencing the tension felt on the ground on 15 September 1940. Visitors can explore three dedicated ‘people stories’ rooms and learn about the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce, controllers and pilots who served at RAF Duxford.

The newly transformed Battle of Britain Exhibition will also reopen on 15 September, featuring iconic Second World War aircraft, interactive displays and Duxford-specific stories. The exhibition will also explore Duxford’s shared history with the Supermarine Spitfire as the base of the first operational Spitfire squadron. An airworthy Spitfire will be displayed in the hangar while a replica, positioned outside between the hangar and newly opened Ops Block, will complete the visitor experience.

Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show
Despite the cancellation of two air shows earlier in the year, IWM Duxford’s annual Battle of Britain Air Show will be taking place as planned on Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September. With tickets now limited in order to ensure social distancing, Duxford Battle of Britain Proms has been added to the event schedule on Friday 18 September with afternoon flying entertainment followed by a concert featuring The D-Day Darlings. On the ground, there will be vintage fairground activities and market stalls, military vehicle displays, bunting workshops, flight line walks and plenty of music and dancing. Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mustangs and other remarkable aircraft will take to the skies for spectacular flying displays and sunset flypasts. As one of the only air shows taking place in the UK this year, Duxford’s Battle of Britain Air Show is a summer must-see in this commemorative anniversary year.

Battle of Britain Events
This summer and autumn will also see IWM Duxford host a number of new Battle of Britain events and activities including bespoke tours, photography workshops and panel discussions. Highlights include the Life and Death in the Battle of Britain walking tour with IWM historian Carl Warner, who will provide an insight into the psychological pressures young fighter pilots faced in the summer of 1940, and a panel discussion with author, historian and broadcaster James Holland. There is also the chance to sit in the cockpit of an airworthy Mk1a Spitfire or gain after-hours access to the site for Battle of Britain 80: The Night Shoot for an opportunity to capture Duxford’s historic buildings and airfield through your camera lens. For a full list of events, please visit the IWM Duxford website.

IWM Books and Gifts
To coincide with this momentous anniversary, IWM Shop launches a new range of Battle of Britain inspired products which will be available to purchase online and in our new Battle of Britain gift shop at IWM Duxford. Items include a luxury, leather holdall with Spitfire lining, a Spitfire fountain pen made from the metal of a 1940 Battle of Britain Spitfire P7350 and an exclusive limited-edition W T Author No 1940 watch, inspired by aircraft gauges of the Battle of Britain era.

IWM will also be releasing its seventh title in its Wartime Classics fiction series, Squadron Airborne by Elleston Trevor (author of The Flight of the Phoenix). Set for publication on 10 September, this fast-paced novel has been brought back into print by IWM and focuses on one week at a fictional fighter station during the height of the Battle of Britain, inspired by the author’s personal experience as an RAF engineer. For full details of IWM’s product ranges and publications, please visit the IWM Shop.

Battle of Britain Artworks
To mark the Battle of Britain 80th anniversary, IWM will be working with partners to proactively loan from its rich art collection for the first time thanks to the generous support of the Art Fund . Three Battle of Britain artworks will be displayed at four distinctive venues, alongside unique works from our partners’ collections, with each display exploring and illustrating a different and locally-relevant perspective on Second World War aviation. From August, ‘An Aerial Battle’ by Francis Dodd, ‘Squadron Leader G L Denholm, DFC’ by Thomas Cantrell Dugdale, and ‘Untitled’ by Eileen Agar will tour between Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in Bournemouth, the Harris, Preston, The Collection in Lincoln and Touchstones Rochdale. Each partnership display will be complemented by an associated events programme.

As the Battle of Britain raged in the skies in the summer of 1940, a range of artists were quick to record and interpret this vital event, many of whom were commissioned by the War Artist Advisory Committee. Highlights from IWM’s collection include ‘Battle of Britain’ by Paul Nash, ‘Fitters Working on a Spitfire’ by Raymond McGrath and ‘Corporal J. D. M. Pearson GC, WAAF’, by Laura Knight which is displayed in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at IWM London.

Ultimate Warbirds and Breitling Jets Signal Arrival of New Displays at Eastbourne Airshow

Monday, July 29th, 2019

Breitling Jet Display Team

The Ultimate Warbirds and T-33 Shooting Star will join the world’s largest civilian jet display team, the Breitling Jets, in signalling the arrival of new displays to Eastbourne International Airshow this year, sponsored by Ginsters.

Featuring 55 flying displays at the free seafront show from 15 – 18 August, the new teams will join Airbourne favourites the Typhoon, Chinook, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Wingwalkers and The Blades in four days of awe-inspiring aerial action.

Also joining the line-up of brand new displays for Eastbourne, is the first appearance of a Sea Fury T-20, the Strikemaster as a pair display and the first visit of the Gazelle Squadron duo.

While the Breitling Jet Team travel over from French shores in their six L-39 Albatross jets to bring their first ever display to Sussex, flying the flag for Norway is the T-33 Shooting Star, which will perform alongside its former cold war ‘enemy’ the MiG-15.

For fans of historic fighters, the inaugural arrival of the Ultimate Warbirds will see a co-ordinated four-ship display of four of the most iconic fighters in history in an Eastbourne first, featuring the Spitfire, TF-51 Mustang, Hispano Buchon and P-47 Thunderbolt.

Eastbourne Borough Council Director of Tourism and Enterprise, Phil Evans said “This year sees one of our most varied displays with teams from France and Norway and plenty of new aircraft to enjoy, including the only south coast visit by the world renowned Breitling Jet Team. Our thanks go to Ginsters and our many other sponsors for their support in keeping Airbourne flying high!”

The new displays join other returning favourites including the Tutor, Mustang, Rich Goodwin Pitts Special, Fireflies, The Tigers Parachute Display Team and the Tucano, which flies back as part of a farewell tour after a five year hiatus from the airshow circuit.

On Sunday evening, the FireFlies look set to delight with a shimmering twilight performance using LED lights and wingtip pyrotechnics, co-ordinated for the first time to both music and aerial fireworks. A dazzling firework finale follows at the earlier time of 9.30pm, sponsored by Ginsters and supported by the Eastbourne Hospitality Association and Frontier Fireworks.

Airbourne returns from 15 – 18 August with a military exhibition and Virtual Reality zone, big wheel, helicopter pleasure flights, simulators, children’s entertainment, Bandstand concerts, film screenings and much more. Entry is free.

A very limited number of hospitality places and exclusive seating are available to book and the airshow programme with full flying times, hits stockists from 10 August, with pre-order available now.

Airbourne is proudly sponsored by Ginsters, Boundless by CSMA, Caffyns, More Radio, Eastbourne Motoring Centre, Euro Self Drive, Environment First, Gemini Print, Stagecoach, Stone Cross Garden Centre, The View Hotel, W. Bruford, Eastbourne Hospitality Association and Frontier Fireworks.

To donate online or to book hospitality, seating or trade space, visit www.eastbourneairshow.com

Students take-off on RAF Stories mission!

Wednesday, July 24th, 2019

RAF Stories

Calling all North Wales residents…the Royal Air Force Museum needs you!

The RAF Museum has teamed up with students at Bangor University in North Wales, on an exciting community project to capture the memories of residents who share connections to the RAF.

RAF history is imbedded in North Wales which is home to RAF Valley and the Museum wants to tap into this wealth of knowledge, experiences and personal recollections.

Over the last two years, the Museum has captured stories up and down the country with hundreds now available online for the public to view. By working together with the University, the Museum has expanded its reach, with a team of student’s ready to work throughout the summer capturing stories, whether that be about courage, love, tragedy, friendship, bravery, triumph, humour, happiness, sadness and everything in between. Together this catalogue of stories will expand and enrich our understanding of the RAF today.

Students have undergone interview and recording training with the Museum’s Community Engagement Officer and Digital Content Producer and will now spend the summer months interviewing and recording residents. All stories captured will then be uploaded to the RAF Stories website for audiences around the world to hear first-hand some of the inspirational and ground-breaking recollections from former RAF personnel and their families about their RAF journey.

Dr Teresa Crew, Employability Lead for the School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences at Bangor University said:
“It’s an honour to be involved with the RAF Museum on this interesting and worthwhile project. Our students are excited to be involved as the project will help them gain extra knowledge that they can apply to their course. It will help them develop transferable skills for employment and further education, but importantly they can be part of the RAF Museums drive to tell the stories of the men and women who served in the Royal Air Force.”

In 2018 the Museum worked with fifteen students from the University of Leicester and De Montfort University, who contributed over 200 hours of volunteer time, collecting memories from fifteen residents in the Leicestershire area. The Museum is hoping to have similar success in North Wales during its second project working with students.

RAF Stories is a global oral history project which digitalizes and makes accessible engaging, historical and contemporary stories of people’s personal connections to the RAF and the service’s influences on their lives.

RAF Museum Community Engagement Officer – RAF Stories, Jess Boydon said:
“We are looking for stories from anyone with a connection to the Royal Air Force. You could be a current serviceman or servicewoman, a veteran, an air cadet, have family links to the RAF or any other connection. You could share an hour with us, or a quick five-minute anecdote. All stories help to widen our understanding of what’s it like to be a part of or influenced by the RAF. We believe everyone has or knows someone with an RAF story and by working with students at the University we’re making it easier for more people to get involved with the project and we hope people will take up the opportunity.”

If you live in North Wales or beyond and would be happy to visit Bangor University to have your stories recorded please get in touch by email rafstories@rafmuseum.org or telephone 01902 376237.

Visitors to the RAF Museum Cosford can hear first-hand some of the remarkable stories collected to date. A new series of free talks sharing some of the widely diverse RAF Stories, will take place at the Museum, commencing on Saturday 3 August with guest speaker Candida Adkins, daughter of famous female Spitfire Pilot, Jackie Moggridge. Candida will be sharing stories about her mother who, after becoming the first woman to do a parachute jump in South Africa, travelled to England when the war broke out. She joined the Air Transport Auxiliary where she flew 72 different types of aircraft and was given the Kings Commendation for valuable services in the Air. She later joined the Women’s Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, got her Wings and went on to fly commercially, as an airline captain.

 The talk will commence at 2.00pm and is free to attend, lasting approximately one hour, including time for questions. As spaces are limited, visitors are advised to book their tickets in advance via the Museum’s website www.rafmuseumorg/cosford to avoid disappointment.

For anyone who would like to contribute to the RAF Stories project, the new RAF Stories App is available to download for free, where you can discover and share the stories of others, or record and upload your own using your mobile device, keeping the story alive and relevant for generations to come. Visit www.rafstories.org for more details.

The RAF Stories project is proudly supported by National Lottery Players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.