Following many months of planning, we regret to inform you that the Royal Navy International Air Day 2020 has been cancelled. The show was due to take place at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, on Saturday 11 July.

This decision to cancel has been made as a prudent measure and in accordance with Government guidance on Covid-19. We are making sensible and proportionate adjustments to non-essential activity, these decisions are made on a case by case basis to minimise the impact of Covid-19. Our priority has always been to deliver a safe and enjoyable event for our patrons. In times of such unprecedented uncertainty, the Royal Navy, RNAS Yeovilton and AHA Events Ltd have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the Royal Navy International Air Day 2020.

All tickets purchased will be refunded – more details to follow in due course. In the meantime, we ask for your patience while we undertake this process due to current working conditions. Updates will be made via email and our social media channels.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal patrons, sponsors, exhibitors, participants, emergency services, contractors, station personnel and the many other stakeholders for their continued support in making Air Day the success it has become.

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/yeovilton-airday.

Further to recent updates from Her Majesty’s Government on the response to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, we have taken the very difficult decision to postpone the 2020 RAF Cosford Air Show which was to be held on Sunday 14th June.

The success of the Air Show relies on many organisations coming together to provide a safe and enjoyable show, given the timescale and current situation we cannot guarantee normality by June. We must also accept that our emergency services need to concentrate on the matter in hand and not be distracted by non-essential activity such as Air Show support.

Although we are disappointed to be in this position, we believe it is the right decision to protect the health and well-being of our visitors and serving personnel; this is, and always will be, our top priority.

We want to reassure customers who have purchased tickets that they will be valid for the new date which is still to be arranged. Customers who cannot make the new date will be able to use their tickets for the 2021 show. There will be a refund process in place for those who wish to cancel completely. Please be patient whilst we set this process up.

The reasons that have led to postponing the Air Show mean that we are extremely busy and that we will not be able to take phone calls at this time. However, if you need to contact us, please email admin@cosfordairshow.co.uk or message us through our Facebook page. We will continue to post updates to our website and repost to social media.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

It is with enormous regret and disappointment that we have to announce the cancellation of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, due to take place from 17 to 19 July, as a result of the challenging and unprecedented environment presented by COVID-19.

This decision has not been taken lightly and a significant amount of work sits behind this course of action. The crisis, which is worsening by the day, and the implications of which are becoming more profound, has led us to conclude that the most prudent course of action is to cease any further planning to deliver this significant event.

The Air Tattoo is reliant on the support of a wide range of stakeholders, not least the participation of international air arms, medical professionals, military security teams and our Emergency Services, many of whom are delivering a fundamental contribution to fighting this crisis. We believe delivery of our event would distract them from this.

At the heart of this difficult decision is our firm belief that staging the Air Tattoo this year would not only run counter to the current Government advice but would also be beyond what we could reasonably ask of our supporters. We recognise that our decision will have a negative financial impact on our valued suppliers and traders, on the local economy that benefits so much from the large influx of people who arrive in the area for one week in July, as well as on our parent charity. For this we apologise.

We would like to thank all our partners, the RAF, USAF, sponsors, the world’s air forces, our amazing volunteers and of course the public who turn up year on year to support our magnificent event. We seek your patience and encouragement over the next few weeks as we plan for the future in order to return in 2021 to celebrate the Air Tattoo’s 50th Anniversary.

www.airtattoo.com

Dear all, sadly as expected the Sywell Aviation Museum Trustees have decided to cancel the Grand Opening on 11th April 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The safety of our visitors and our own trustees and members remains paramount at all times so we’re sure that you will understand our decision.

Further, the Museum will remain closed throughout April and May but we aim to reopen on Saturday 6th June 2020 (without a Grand opening) subject to the situation with coronavirus at that time.

We’re really disappointed too as we have worked really hard over the closed season to get ready to welcome you all and of course the lack of income will have an impact on us as well.

Nonetheless nothing is important as everyone’s health and we’d like to thank you all for your continued support and interest in Sywell Aviation Museum.

We hope to see you later in the year and in the meantime wish you and yours all the best. Stay safe!

The Sywell Aviation Museum Team

www.sywellaviationmuseum.org.uk

Despite the gradual lock-down of the UK in response to the Covid-19 virus work has restarted at Newark Air Museum on further restoration work on Avro Vulcan XM594.

The distinctive wing shape of this former Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber is clearly visible in the accompanying photograph, which shows museum volunteers undertaking some awkward and tiring work on XM594.

Members of the Vulcan Repainting team have just started work on the underside of the port wing of XM594, which will progress throughout the year as and when the current health crisis allows access to the museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. Last year the same team undertook similar de-corrosion work, surface preparation and repainting work on the underside of the starboard wing.
Elsewhere a lot of cleaning and renovation work has been undertaken on the aircraft, much of which has been focused in the aircraft’s cavernous bomb-bay. This work has seen the Vulcan Repair Team able to operate the Rover APU to once again start cycling the opening and closing of the bomb bay doors.

Nice to report work is still ongoing on significant parts of the country’s aviation heritage even in these challenging times.

Avro Vulcan XM594 was flown to the former RAF Winthorpe airfield from RAF Waddington on Monday 7th February 1983. At the time XM594 was the only Vulcan aircraft disposed of by the RAF that was flown into a non-licensed airfield.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

This is to inform you that in the light of Government recommendations regarding the Coronavirus/COVID.19 outbreak, the RAF Museum has closed its public sites at London and Cosford to the public. This includes cancellation of any events in that period.

I have been advised that the closure period will be at least until Friday May 1 2020.

Until then, our Business Continuity Team have put in place systems which will enable the Museum to continue our business operations with staff working from home and accessible by email or mobile.

We will also share updates on plans for re-opening through our website and social media channels.

This will inevitably mean restricted/ no access to archives and exhibits, however please do not hesitate to contact me with regards any Museum matters – always willing to try!

I look forward to inviting you back in to the RAF Museum soon.

Kind Regards

Ajay Srivastava

www.rafmuseum.org

We have taken the decision to cancel the Indoor Aeroboot /Aerojumble Sale that was due to take place in Hangar 2 on Saturday 4th March, 2020.

This decision has been reached following some detailed in-house discussions; and the pessimistic outlook regarding the current coronavirus situation. It was not taken lightly and we do appreciate that this could upset some people. However, many sellers and buyers often travel long distances to attend the event and it was felt necessary to give these people as much notice as possible of our intentions.

At the moment we feel unable to set a revised date for this sale, but the eventual choice will aim not to clash with any other known Aerojumble type event, any other museum event, or any major events on the adjacent Showground.

Details about what to do with existing seller locations / passes will be taken at a later date. In the fullness of time if anyone is unable to attend on any revised date we will arrange to for a refund.

Emails will be sent out to our Aeroboot contacts this evening, but if you know of anyone who was planning to attend, either as a seller or as a buyer we would be grateful if you could make them aware of the cancellation and the re-arranged date.

Once again sorry for any inconvenience these changes may cause but we are convinced that it is the right decision.

More updates will be released as and when they are confirmed.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Newark Air Museum has won a 2019 Visitor Attraction Accolade in the Welcome category, which recognises that the museum is one of the outstanding visitor experiences on offer across the country.

The museum’s Award follows a VAQAS (Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme) assessment last autumn and was based on the score the museum gained during a secret visit by the VisitEngland assessor.

This Award was one of only six (6) made this year in the East Midlands and of seventy three (73) across the country

 The following statement was issued by VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes:
“England’s attractions provide visitors with amazing experiences and these accolades recognise the outstanding customer service and quality on offer across the country.”

He continued, “From Best Told Story interpretation to Hidden Gem and overall Gold, these accolades show that there is an attraction capable of capturing everyone’s imagination creating lasting memories and spreading the economic benefits from tourism.”

In conclusion, “The 73 attractions are being recognised as a result of the exceptional experience they provide visitors from story-telling to food and drink and from customer service to overall winners.”

Howard Heeley responded on behalf of the museum trustees: “We are honoured to have been recognised in this way by VisitEngland. This Accolade is a tribute to all of the hard work put in by the museum members and our staff, each and every day the we are open to the public; well done to all of them!”

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Date: 27 March 2020 – 28 March 2021
Location: Mezzanine Gallery, Hangars 3-5
Cost: Free

A collection of works by BA and MA Fine Art and Printmaking students from Middlesex University London will go on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London later this month. This vibrant new display is the result of the Museum’s community co-production and co-curation initiative in which local communities develop their understanding of collections though outreach.

Students were invited to respond creatively to a selection of drawings and watercolours chosen for the Museum’s forthcoming exhibition, ‘In Air and Fire: War Artists, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz’, opening to the public on 27 March. As well as closely engaging with the works behind the scenes, attending a drawing workshop, students engaged with displays around the Museum to consider wider visual and historical contexts for their subject-matter.

Middlesex University Associate Professor of Painting and Printmaking, Steve Mumberson said:
“The opportunity for students from the MA Printmaking, MA Fine Art and BA Fine Art to see and draw from works by original war artists – both well-known and unknown figures – proved to be a formative experience. Seeing works by little-known women war artists, either purchased by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee or produced independently, resonated with the students in different ways. It stirred them to reflect on the major events of the war and how these affected their grandparents across the world, both in terms of military involvement and socio-culturally. As for those of us who are older, the project has more immediately sparked thoughts about our parents’ involvement during those difficult months from the summer of 1940 and throughout the Blitz. This exhibition of our work represents those researches and engagements, personal to us all.”

The student’s art outreach project will showcase a wide range of works, featuring different approaches to printmaking – linocut, woodcut, etching, screenprint, and digital – as well as painting and installation.

Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at Middlesex, Mark Hunter said:
“Middlesex University has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the RAF Museum. Students from across Dance, Photography, Illustration, Fine Art and Printmaking have collaborated with the Museum on a range of projects: the most recent of which saw our Fine Art and Printmaking students engage in a piece of outreach work by creatively responding to items from the collection. This was a wonderful opportunity to further our links in with the RAF Museum, the local community and the borough of Barnet more broadly”

The artwork will be displayed in the Mezzanine Gallery, adjacent to the ‘In Air and Fire’ exhibition in the Museum’s Art Gallery from 27 March 2020 until 28 March 2021, entry is free. For more information visit rafmuseum.org/london.

Furthering engagement with the local community, the Museum’s Heritage Outreach Officer led consultations with local community groups to garner their thoughts and opinions about some of the war artists’ works. These comments will be reflected in select community captions within two of the exhibition sections ‘Shelter and Civil Defence’ and ‘The Blitz’.

Five community groups; Age UK Barnet, Grange Big Local, Grahame Park Drop-in Group, ESOL (English as a Second or Foreign Language) learners, and the Museum’s ‘Art for Wellbeing’ cohort, actively participated in the consultation process, each group bringing a unique perspective to the works. Exhibition visitors will get to see which artworks were the most popular with each group and to join in the dialogue.

RAF Museum Heritage Outreach Officer, Rhiannon Watkinson said:
“With our local area having such strong links to The Battle of Britain and The Blitz – from the bombing of Colindale underground station to Fighter Command pilots flying out of RAF Hendon, I knew I had to invite discussion from our local community, to enrich participation with another layer of interpretation. The community captions also allow exhibition audiences to hear very different perspectives on the artworks – different voices.”

www.rafmuseum.org/london

Harrier 50th Anniversary event
Sunday 14th April 2019

On Sunday 14th April, 2019, the day after its Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble Sale, the Newark Air Museum is hosting an event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Harrier entering British military service back in April 1969.

This Harrier Day event has attracted visiting Harrier cockpits and Harrier related displays to the museum’s site here in north eastern Nottinghamshire. Here they will join the museum’s Sea Harrier ZA176 and VTOL (Vertical Take Off & Landing) test-bed aircraft Meteor FR9 VZ608, to help illustrate Nottinghamshire’s part in the VTOL Story.

The event will also include participation by Harrier and Sea Harrier veterans (air and ground crew); visiting authors; model displays; aviation artists. Visiting displays confirmed for the event include:

Mainly Military Model display
John Cox & museum – Falklands book of remembrance & scrapbook
Newark Air Museum model display – AV-8B and associated aircraft models
Airfield Research Group display
Harrier related sales stall
Phil Jarvis – Harrier GR.7 Simulator, ex RAF Wittering
Bikini Sate – Newark Air Museum re-enactors
Richard Scarborough – Harrier GR.3 & possible Sea Harrier cockpit & display
Dave Wright – Harrier GR.3 cockpit XZ138
Andy Godfrey – Harrier & VTOL artwork
Andy Ward – Large Model display
Nick Greenall & Harrier Special Interest Group – Display of about 50 detailed Harrier scale models
Martyn Steele & Ian Hodgkiss – Harrier GR.3 instrument panel; selection of Harrier stick grips
Gary O’Keefe & Al Partington – Harrier miscellany
Stephen Dring – 3D display/sales
Hucknall Flight Test Museum – Flying Bedstead model, display and videos
Harrier Preservation Group – model & display

Confirmed reunion attendees from the following:

Harrier Types
GR.1; GR.3; GR.3A; GR.7; GR.7A; GR.9; T.10; T.12

Harrier Squadrons
1(F) Sqn; 3 Sqn; IV (AC) Sqn; 20(R) Sqn

RAF Bases
RAF Gutersloh; RAF Wildenrath; RAF Wittering
The event is open to the general public and normal museum admission rates apply:
Adults £9.00, Over 65s £8.00, Children £4.50 and Family ticket [2 adults & 3 children] £24.00.

Opening times; 10am to 5pm; last admission 4pm.

Full event details and updated exhibit lists can be found on the News & Information page of the museum website: www.newarkairmuseum.org