PUBLIC ASKED TO MARK THIS YEAR’S ARMED FORCES WEEK BY WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FORCES

• The National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Army Museum, Royal Air Force Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission are marking this year’s Armed Forces Week by launching a virtual walking event, In the Footsteps of Our Forces
• The four organisations are appealing to the public to take inspiration from Captain Sir Tom Moore and get active; by participating in a 5,10 or 25K walk around historic sites in their local community, reflecting on the incredible contribution of our service personnel
• Participants can choose their distance and join hundreds of others across the country to walk in honour of those who serve. As a virtual walk they can participate and complete the challenge from anywhere in the world and all will receive a medal for their achievement

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), National Army Museum (NAM), the Royal Air Force Museum (RAFM) and Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) are delighted to announce the launch of a country-wide celebration of our service personnel in conjunction with this years Armed Forces Week (21 – 27 June). All four organisations have come together to host a virtual walk event In the Footsteps of Our Forces, and are appealing to the public to reflect on and celebrate the role of our Armed Forces today and in the past.

The virtual walk will kick off on Monday 21 June, Armed Forces Week, and will end on Sunday 4 July. The public will have two weeks to complete their chosen distance of either 5, 15 or 25K. They will also be able to download one of the suggested routes which will take then around museums, war graves, memorials, historical sites and places of remembrance. All of those who complete the walk will be awarded a commemorative medal to mark their achievement

Entry for the In the Footsteps of Our Forces walk is £18 and the money will go towards the three museums, and the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF), which are all registered charities. A discounted ticket of £15 is offered for the Armed Forces Community (including veterans, cadets and serving personnel). If five or more friends or family members enter, they will be eligible for a 10% discount on tickets. If a group of 10 or more enter then a 15% discount will apply. Tickets must be purchased in a single transaction, and medals will be posted to one address.

All four charities preserve the history of the Armed Forces and inspire with stories of sacrifice and courage and have seen visitations to their sites severely impacted in the last year. The money raised will support each organisation in helping to continue to tell the stories of those who served and are still serving in the Armed Forces today.

Amongst the suggested routes includes the routes around historic Hendon, the home of the RAF Museum or through the streets of military Chelsea, the home of the National Army Museum. You can explore the historic docks of the Navy in Portsmouth or use the War Graves app to discover the War Graves and memorials on your doorstep.

The four organisations who worked together last year in creating virtual programmes to commemorate the 75th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day and have been nominated for a Museums and Heritage Award for best Partnership and, are excited to working together again.

Dominic Tweddle Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy says: “Only last week in Portsmouth alongside Admiral Nelson’s Flagship, HMS Victory, we bid farewell to the Strike Carrier Group as it undertook its deployment. This was the largest concentration of maritime and air power to be deployed from the UK in a generation and demonstrates the scale of the UK’s military commitment still today. It is proof that our role as a museum continues to be connecting the work of our service personnel today, with the experience of those 100, 200 and 300 years ago and we hope that that is something that participants in this walk will reflect on.”

Justin Maciejewski, Director of the National Army Museum says “Last Summer we were all humbled at the incredible efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore as he celebrated the work of our NHS through a personnel walking challenge. Inspired by this spirit and determination we hope the public will undertake their own walking challenge in support of the heritage organisations that celebrate and commemorate the work of our Army, Navy and Air Force and perhaps pay a visit to Captain Sir Tom’s Portrait now proudly on display in our Chelsea Museum.”

Maggie Appleton, CEO of the Royal Air Force Museum continues: “The pandemic has required us to think again about the way we commemorate important anniversaries and events. Last year’s incredibly successful VE and VJ Day virtual events in collaboration with our partners, has driven us to seek more ways in which we can work together and it is wonderful to be commemorating the work of our three services together with our colleagues at the other service museums and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”

Claire Horton, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission says: “We think that this walking challenge is a fantastic opportunity to get people out and exploring the war graves and memorials in their local areas and to connect those with the stories of historic and modern service personnel told at our partner museums. Working together in this way helps us all to illustrate the evocative, inspiring and poignant stories we all seek to highlight throughout our work.”

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: “Our Service Museums and the CWGC do vital work in keeping the story of our Armed Forces and their sacrifice alive for future generations. I hope that during this Armed Forces Week, service personnel and members of the public can reflect upon their incredible contribution through this endeavour.”

For further information on how to get involved in In the Footsteps of Our Forces please visit one of the partner websites www.nmrn.org.uk, www.nam.ac.uk, www.rafmuseum.org.uk, www.CWGC.org.

The spectacular Midlands Air Festival is set to take to the skies with a line-up that will thrill spectators, delight families, and impress even the keenest aviation enthusiast, when it returns to Ragley Hall estate in Warwickshire on 4 – 6 June 2021.

Topping the bill will be the RAF Red Arrows when they make their UK debut performance for 2021 with a new display across all three days of the event. The RAF Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Spitfire pair and RAF Falcons will also feature at this year’s event.

Not only will this be the public’s first opportunity to see the new displays for the 2021 season, but this will also be the first Red Arrows full display in the UK since the pandemic, due to the inevitable cancellation of events up and down the country in 2020.

The ticketed event will also feature the largest display of special shape hot air balloons in Europe in its twice daily mass ascents, an exhilarating progamme of civilian and military air displays and its signature Nightfire event which promises fun for all the family on the opening night. In addition, organisers have secured the mighty B-17 bomber and Rich Goodwin in his radical high powered Muscle Biplane to feature in the exhilarating programme of air displays.

As well as a jam-packed afternoon of air displays, the event will feature over 120 hot air balloons that will be rising high in the twice-daily hot air balloon mass ascents at dawn and dusk, providing an unrivalled spectacle. Special shapes that have been confirmed for the event include Wes the Wolf, the Cornetto Ice Cream, the giant Saucepan, Buddy the smiling friend, Up, Fox, Queens Guardsman and Ordnance Survey.

During the afternoon of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June, the flying display programme will keep visitors’ eyes to the skies. The audience will be treated to WW2 Warbirds, WW1 air displays, fast jets, helicopters, gyroplanes, high energy aerobatic displays, aerial ballet and flying circus acts as well as parachute and formation display teams, all contained within beautiful surroundings of the Ragley Estate.

The Midlands Air Festival will also be bringing back its spectacular signature Friday evening Nightfire show, when darkness falls aircraft fitted with pyrotechnics, fireworks and lighting systems to their wings will take to the skies, followed by a beautiful nightglow where hot air balloons will light up in a choreographed dance of fire all set to music. The finale of show will be a massive firework display to close a truly unforgettable evening.

Tickets are selling fast and selected tickets available from the Midlands Air Festival website. Children under 14 can attend for free, when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance and will be limited to allow for any government distancing guidelines that may be pertaining.

www.midlandsairfestival.com

A Battle of Britain airfield in Essex provided the setting yesterday (May 31) for a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

North Weald airfield was the Air Tattoo’s first home when it was established in 1971 and to mark the occasion an aircraft that took part in the inaugural airshow returned to join the celebration.

The Jodel D140C Mousquetaire, registration G-ATKX, was among 80 aircraft to take part in the first Air Tattoo, which was organised by the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA). Around 12,000 people attended in 1971 and what differentiated it from previous annual air displays held at the airfield was the involvement of aircraft from international air arms.

Tim Prince and fellow Boscombe Down air trafficker Paul Bowen were among the original Air Tattoo organising team, led by Sqn Ldr Jack Currie, and with the support of thousands of volunteers over the years, they went on to establish the event as the world’s largest military airshow.

Tim was at North Weald to welcome back the Jodel and he was joined by the Air Tattoo’s current CEO Paul Atherton; one of the airshow’s first volunteers Peter March; author of ‘Air Tattoo 50’ Ben Dunnell and Alan Smith, Chairman of RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises. During the event, a special 50th anniversary cake was cut and Tim was treated to flight in the Jodel, piloted by owner Phillip Petitt.

Tim said: “Returning to the birthplace of what is now the Royal International Air Tattoo has been very special for me as I am reminded of all of the wonderful people who volunteered their time and energies and came together to stage Air Tattoo 71; whether civilian, RAF, Army, Royal Navy or Air Cadets we all stepped into the unknown and staged an event that was to become world famous as the stage for the air forces of the world to meet annually in a spirit of friendship and cooperation whilst inspiring the next generation of aviators through the magic of flying.”

Paul Atherton said: “The Air Tattoo has an illustrious history and its success over the past 50 years is a result of the incredible support provided by the US Air Force, the Royal Air Force, international air arms and the aerospace industry. That this support continues to this day is testament to the professionalism, passion and hard work of the organising team, many of whom are volunteers, who come together each year to stage this unique event.

“Of course, it’s hugely disappointing for everyone involved that the pandemic has meant we’ve been unable to stage an Air Tattoo in its 50th year but we plan to be back bigger and better in 2022 to open a new and exciting chapter in the event’s history.”

The Royal International Air Tattoo, which is staged in support of the RAF Charitable Trust, will take place at RAF Fairford on July 15-17, 2022.

www.airtattoo.com

As the Royal Air Force Museum prepares to open its doors to visitors for the first time in more than three months, they have enlisted the help of their social media fans to help get the message out.

Posters designed by members of the public are being used by the Museum through their online platforms to promote the Museum’s reopening on Monday 6 July.

Over May half term the Museum launched a poster competition through its social media channels, calling on members of the public to design a poster to be used by the Museum during the reopening phase. 100 entries were received across three age categories – Over 18s, 10-18 Years and Under 10s.

The three winning designs now feature on the Museum’s website home page and social media accounts, and along with six runners up designs, will be displayed at both the Cosford and London sites for a period over the summer. A photo gallery and video of all the entries received can now be viewed on the RAF Museum’s Facebook page.

Winners will each receive a £100 prize bundle from the RAF Museum Shop, kindly sponsored by The Art Society Wrekin and six runners up get an RAF goody bag thanks the RAF Youth & STEM Team. Entries were received from across the country with two of the winners being local to RAFM London in Borehamwood and High Barnet, and two of the runners up local to RAF Museum Cosford in Telford and Birmingham.

Michelle Worthington, RAF Museum Communications Manager said:
“We were blown away with the response we received to the Poster Competition, across all age categories. It’s been wonderful to see the huge effort people have put into their designs; we have been really impressed with the creativity shown and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all. We are thrilled to be showcasing the winning designs online as we prepare to reopen, and we look forward to seeing them on display within the Museum soon.”

The Museum will be reopening its doors on Monday 6 July 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

RAF Museum welcomes back visitors to a great and safe day out

Following recent advice from the Government and Public Health England, the RAF Museum is pleased to announce that we will be re-opening our doors to visitors on Monday 6 July.

With the health and safety of visitors and colleagues in mind, the Museum will now be asking visitors to pre-book their arrival time at www.rafmuseum.org. While still offering free entry to all, the new timed ticket approach will guarantee the space needed for a safe an enjoyable day out.

The Museum has been working hard behind the scenes to prepare new social distancing measures in preparation for re-opening, a one-way visitor flow and a limit of the number of people in each building will be in place when the Museum reopens on 6 July. Hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance to each hangar and throughout each building. Hand washing facilities are also available in all Museum buildings. We also encourage visitors to act in a manner that respects the safety of others.

The RAF Museum is unique in terms of our size, we offer wide open spaces – both inside and out, and a range of exhibits that will engage the whole family. Both sites have large green spaces, ideal for a summer picnic and we are also offering take-away food at our restaurants. Onsite parking is available, and the Museum shop will also be open and take contactless payment.

Barry Smith, Director of Visitor and Commercial Development, RAF Museum:
“We are incredibly happy to welcome our visitors back and have implemented a range of measures across both sites to ensure a safe and great day out for the whole family. Our friendly staff are also committed to creating a considerate and respectful environment for all our visitors. With our expansive spaces and engaging exhibits, we are the ideal day out for the summer.”

www.rafmuseum.org

Before Christmas 2019 the Newark Air Museum announced the impending arrival of Eurofighter Typhoon DA4, ZH590. As part of this project a new section of hard-standing was laid behind the Museum Café and four aircraft were moved to the western end of the site’s existing hard-standing area.

This work all took place just before the Covid-19 pandemic was declared and the country went into lockdown. At that time there were twenty (20) separate aircraft movements that were needed to take place to complete the project ready for the arrival of DA4.

As the museum trustees started to undertake the Covid-Secure reviews and assessments for their 16 acre Gateway Aviation Site, it became apparent that it would be useful to complete these remaining aircraft moves before the museum re-opened to visitors. Not only would it mean the museum was ready to receive Eurofighter Typhoon DA4, but it would also simplify the implementation of a new one-way route around Display Hangar 2.

Following the Government’s announcement that heritage sites were amongst the locations able to reopen in early July, the plan was quickly reactivated. The first of these moves then took place on Wednesday 24th June, 2020.

At the present time several aircraft are temporarily located outside Hangar 2, but these will be move back undercover once the Wessex helicopter XV728 has been moved over to form the centre piece feature of a new admission area for the museum site. Also due to remain outside is Canberra B2 (mod) WV787, which will remain in its new display position on the new hard-standing area behind the Museum Cafe.

At the present time the museum still does not have an arrival date for Eurofighter Typhoon DA4, which has been delayed by the lockdown. The current aim is to have the Newark Air Museum site open to receive visitors on Monday 6th July, 2020.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Join the Royal Navy International Air Day on Saturday 11 July for a free action-packed live streaming featuring the best displays from Air Day this century!

2020 was set to be one of the best Air Days yet, so it was with great disappointment that the event was cancelled earlier this year. Fortunately, there is now no need to miss out. The organisers have collaborated with Planes TV to bring you an online Air Day for free! This will be an opportunity to see a large variety of incredible Air Day displays from the last 20 years, including performances from aircraft operated by the Royal Navy, past and present such as the Sea Hawk, Sea Harrier, Sea King and F-35 Lightning; foreign military fast jets such as French Navy Super Etendards and Polish Air Force MiG-29; and some rare and wonderful participants like the Vulcan bomber, South African Airways 747 and the huge Antonov An-124. As well as the display footage, there will be fascinating commentary from Royal Navy personnel, display pilots and operators. Get ready to turn up the volume and enjoy ‘Air Day – Rewind’ with the best acts of the last two decades and a few surprise displays from the mid-90’s all from the comfort of your own home.

If you would like to join the Royal Navy International Air Day for this thrilling live stream it will take place on Saturday 11 July 2020 from 11:00 to 17:00 and can be seen live on the Royal Navy International Air Day Facebook page and various other platforms. Look out for the display schedule which will be released in due course.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/yeoviltonairday
Website: www.royalnavy.mod.uk/airday (social media links at bottom of this page)

The Newark Air Museum (NAM) is a registered charity and throughout the Covid-19 lockdown NAM has been trying to generate vital funding by selling aviation kits and books, through its associated trading operation the Newark Air Museum Shop. Until now this has been via and Order & Collect system.

Recent changes to the non-essential retail trading guidelines mean that NAM is now re-opening its shop on Tuesday 16th June 2020. A full set of Covid-Secure Risk Assessments have been completed for the Shop and it will operate on the following basis:

• The Shop will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Opening times will be 10am to 11am for museum members and 11am to 4pm for the public
• Only one shopper will be allowed into the Shop at a time & there will be a contact number by the entrance for people to use to gain access (please bring your phones)
• Social distancing measures will be in place and Covid-Secure procedures will be used
• Contactless payments are preferred, but credit cards, cheques and cash will be accepted
• Shoppers will be encouraged to collect kits and books off the displays themselves; but they will be discouraged from opening kits and spending time ‘reading’ the books
• Normal access routes to the Shop will be in operation i.e. off Drove Lane via the entrance next to the Motor Auction Site
• A queuing area has been set up outside in the car parking area; N.B. there will be NO access to the wider museum site, display buildings or café

To help people to decide whether or not to come and shop, NAM has created virtual product lists, which feature photographs of the key sections of the Museum Shop to try and provide an idea of what is in stock. Shoppers are encouraged to email in to request copies of these lists for these main product areas:

Italeri Aircraft Kits
Revell Aircraft Kits
Airfix Aircraft Kits
Airfix Quick-Builds
Tamiya Aircraft Kits
Trumpeter Aircraft Kits
Assorted Aviation Books

For any such enquiries NAM will email out details explaining how shoppers can check for stock availability and request a price for the items. As things start to operate normally, the stock availability will change and NAM cannot be held responsible if an item is no longer available when shoppers arrive.

The museum trustees appreciate that this is not a perfect solution, but it does act as a step towards normal opening and help generate vital fund at this challenging time. This gradual reopening process will also provide important experience to help NAM to evaluate and understand how social distancing measures might need to be implemented elsewhere on the larger site when the museum is eventually able to reopen.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Date: 6-7 July 2019

Time: Gates open 8.30am

Cost: £8.00 in advance (until 3 July) / £10.00 on the gate

A flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster is set to wow crowds at the forthcoming Large Model Air Show taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July. The flypast is in addition to the hundreds of model aircraft taking to the skies during the two-day family event.

The Large Model Air Show is part of the Museum’s ‘Summer of Spitfire’ programme of events and activities where visitors can expect to see a spectacular mass formation Spitfire flypast, followed by the chance to get a closer look at the models in the static display line-up later in the show. Listen out for the unmistakable sound of a real Spitfire as the BBMF treat visitors to a Spitfire and Hurricane flypast on Saturday and Lancaster flypast on Sunday, an exciting highlight both days not to be missed! (weather permitting)

The popular event takes place on the airfield at RAF Cosford and even offers visitors the unique opportunity to camp on the airfield, so why not turn the weekend into a mini break and enjoy the exclusive overnight airfield access and weekend entertainment.

On offer both days will be the chance for flying novices to get behind the controls and have a go at flying a scale model aircraft in the ‘Future Pilots Zone’. Families will be kept fully entertained with children’s fun rides, trade stalls and a craft tent to peruse around, alongside an assortment of military vehicles and a Rolls Royce car display (Saturday).

Ticket holders will also have access to the RAF Museum where they can view over 75 historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire Mk1 and a rare reconnaissance Spitfire PR. XIX. Displayed side by side until 1 September, these aircraft illustrate the diverse roles in which the Spitfire served, ranging from a fighter interceptor to high altitude photographic reconnaissance.

The Spitfire theme will continue throughout July and August as the Museum pays homage to one of the most iconic aircraft in history with a packed programme of events and activities.

On selected dates throughout August interactive family friendly Spitfire Storytelling will take place in the War in the Air hangar located next to the Spitfire and delivered by costumed re-enactors. Enjoy Behind the Barriers access for a closer look inside the world’s oldest Spitfire, accompanied by a Second World War handling collection. Capture the fun in the Spitfire Selfie Station packed with giant Spitfire props and uniforms to try, a perfect memento of your visit.

There will be more Spitfire fun throughout two of the Museum’s big summers events, the Cosford Food Festival and Vintage and Handmade Festival taking place on the 20—21 July and 17-18 August respectively. Soak up the festival atmosphere whist sipping on a glass of Spitfire Heritage Gin, keep a look out for the stand at both events selling the prestige gin by the glass and the bottle. There will be plenty of Spitfire themed fun for youngsters to enjoy at the Cosford Food Festival including Spitfire cupcake and biscuit decorating. At the Vintage and Handmade Festival children can get crafty in the mini makers tent making peg Spitfires before heading to Spitfire School in the Second World War hut!

The Museum will host two exclusive RAF Stories Spitfire talks with Candida Adkins, daughter of female Spitfire Pilot, Jackie Moggridge who will be sharing her personal stories about her mother on 3 August. On 31 August, listen to the first-hand experiences from Air Cdre Paul Godfrey who enjoyed a distinguished RAF career, including three seasons with the BBMF flying the Spitfire, Hurricane and Chipmunk.

Step inside the new Virtual Reality Zone and experience the thrill of flying in a Spitfire. Located in the Test Flight hangar, this brand-new experience places you in the cockpit and 10,000 feet in the air for a panoramic view of a real Spitfire flight. With the use of VR goggles, fun focussed visitors can enjoy a 6-minute flight and see first-hand what it’s like to taxi and take-off in a Spitfire, and of course….no flight would be complete without a circuit of the airfield, including low passes and a loop de loop, before landing and taxiing into the hangar. The footage developed exclusively for the RAF Museum is the first of several new VR experiences on board real aircraft to become available, with more flights arriving soon. The experience costs just £5 per person and is suitable for visitors ages 13+.

The Summer of Spitfire will conclude on the 1 September at the annual Spitfire 10K and Spitfire Family Run. The 10K will see 1,500 runners take to the airfield and sprinting down the runway, each wearing their roll of honour card, paying tribute to Pilots who lost their lives during the Battle of Britain. Upon completion, runners will be rewarded with a bespoke 2019 Spitfire 10K medal. The 10K is already sold out but there are a limited number of places still available for the Family Run that will see hundreds of families with younger children run a shorter 1km race route around the Museum grounds, past iconic aircraft.

For more details on the packed Summer of Spitfire programme of events and activities and to view a wide range of Spitfire Merchandise including many exclusive items visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.

The Museum is open daily from 10.00am. Admission is free.

Cockpit-Fest 2019 proved to be another great event at the Newark Air Museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. Once again the Cockpit-Fest and Aeroboot display areas were located alongside each other on the Southfield Site, which is now going to be a permanent arrangement. The two day event was well attended and drew a lot of positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike.

The museum trustees were particularly thankful to a host of people: all of the Cockpiteers and Exhibitors, their friends and families; the Aeroboot stall holders; the museum staff, aircraft openers and volunteers who helped during the build-up, during and after the event.

Support for this year’s event came from the following people and organisations:

Ken Ellis (‘Wrecks & Relics – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest’ Awards)
The Museum Shop
Jane Knox-Kiepura & Kiepura Aviation

As now seems to be the case with Cockpit-Fest there was a diverse range of cockpits and supporting displays on show and everyone who displayed at the event was a winner and a credit to this wonderfully diverse hobby. Below are this year’s official results:

Grand Champion (Visitors Award) – Lynx AH.7 – XZ220, Andy Rawden

Visitors Award Non-Cockpit – Mainly Military Models display

Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Lynx AH.7 – XZ220, Andy Rawden

Cockpiteers Award Non-Cockpit – Jet Provost and BAC167 Strikemaster cockpit panels display, Alana Cordran

Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Buccaneer S.2B – XW550, The Buccaneer Aviation Group
Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Venom FB.1 – WK393, Tony Collins

Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Wyvern cockpit rig, Rob & Dan Carter

Newark Air Museum Cockpit-Fest Long Service Award (attended all 20 events) – Tony Dyer

Newark Air Museum Cockpit-Fest Long Service Award (attended all 20 events) – Naylan Moore

Cockpit-Fest will be back next year with an International event, on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June, 2020

www.newarkairmusem.org