Good progress is also being made on two aircraft repainting projects at Newark Air Museum.

During the summer most of the surface preparation work has been completed on the MiG-23, 024003607 ‘07’ and the main surfaces are now being primed and top coat paint applied.

Work on Gloster Meteor T.7 VZ634 has also been carried out during the summer, with the final detailing work and application of the markings now underway. It is hoped that the work on VZ634 will be completed in time for the Day/Night Photo Shoot that is taking place on Saturday 28th October, 2023.

With more good weather in the forecast other projects are expected to progress well into the autumn.

Things also look nicely set for the final outdoor Aeroboot event of the year on Saturday 16th September, 2023; and the associated event to mark the 60th Anniversary of Vulcan XM594 entering squadron service in September 1963. This event will run on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th, September, 2023.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

On 25th July, 2023 installation work started on a bespoke scaffolding system around the nose and forward fuselage of Avro Shackleton WR977 at Newark Air Museum (NAM). This will allow teams of museum volunteers to work on this significant restoration and repainting project in safe conditions.

In 2023 NAM successfully installed jacking pads underneath the aircraft, which allowed refurbished jacks to be installed under both wings of the aircraft. This allowed NAM to make the aircraft safe; helped to mitigate issues with the main undercarriage structures; and allowed the visiting public to once again have some access inside the aircraft.

The installation of the new scaffolding by Inspired Scaffolding Services from Bilsthorpe near Newark will allow for restoration work to be undertaken on the front section of WR977 in a safe and secure manner. This work will include: sealing the main cockpit glazing; in-depth cleaning; conservation of, and the painting of this area of the aircraft.

For most of the work period, WR977 will remain as part of the museum’s open cockpit offer. The modest contributions for accessing this iconic aircraft (when possible) will contribute towards the ongoing fund raising campaign to cover the scaffolding hire costs and the cost of the weekly safety inspections.

The current anticipated timeframe for the work is ten weeks; from the end of July through to the first week of October.

In these challenging times NAM is seeking support to help fund the costs associated with the hire and regular safety inspections of the scaffolding. This NAM fund raising campaign can be accessed via the following Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wr977-scaffolding-2023

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Cockpit-Fest 2023 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 works well by integrating both aspects of the weekend.

The two-day event was well attended and drew a lot of positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike. Amongst the attendees were visitors from Hawaii, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and from across the UK. One young school girl chose to attend Cockpit-Fest with her father who was exhibiting at the event, rather than go to her Year 6 Prom!
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) – Bill Fern (SYAM), Jaguar GR1, XX736

Visitors Award Non-Cockpit – Richard Fryer, Flying Helmets display

Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Ritch & Max Blood, Provost T1 cockpit

Cockpiteers Award Non-Cockpit – Richard Fryer, Flying Helmets display

Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Bill Fern (SYAM) –
Vickers Valetta cockpit

Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Ian & Gary Morton –
Dove, G-ANAP cockpit

Cockpit-Fest will be back next year, on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June, 2023

www.newarkairmuseum.org

The recent spell of good weather has allowed the staff and volunteers at Newark Air Museum to complete the long-overdue move of the Reid & Sigrist Desford VZ728, G-AGOS into its final display position in Hangar 1. Here the aircraft will reside alongside contemporary airframes such as the General Aircraft Monospar, de Havilland Tiger Moth and Avro Anson.

Good progress is also being made on the repaint of Gloster Meteor T.7 VZ634; and the final top-coat has now been applied to the repaired spine panels on Avro Vulcan XM594.

With continued good weather in the forecast other projects are expected to progress at a steady pace.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Arrangements for the 2023 Cockpit-Fest are well advanced at Newark Air Museum’s site in eastern Nottinghamshire; close to the border with Lincolnshire. The museum is a registered charity located on part of the former site of RAF Winthorpe; this year’s Cockpit-Fest is once again taking place in its traditional June time-slot; on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th June, 2023.

This will be the twenty second (22nd) time that like-minded enthusiasts have displayed their aircraft cockpit sections at the museum. Cockpit-Fest has become a fixture on the aviation calendar and each year attracts many visiting cockpits and associated displays. Cockpit-Fest allows the owners the chance to display their prized exhibits to their fellow enthusiasts and the general public.

At this year’s event a diverse range of aviation will be represented; this incorporates a range of military jet cockpits and civilian types; plus, several of the on-loan cockpits that resident at the museum; some cockpits will be displayed at the event for the very first time.

In addition, a diverse range of visiting cockpit related exhibits are also expected to be displayed around the 16-acre site; alongside an Aeroboot / Aerojumble aviation and avionics sale. Here enthusiasts and the public can search out those aviation artefacts, books and models.

The event is supported by a range of organisations and individuals; with the visitors being encouraged to have a say in deciding, which is the best cockpit by voting on their favourite display and from these results, prizes are awarded.

Cockpit-Fest also attracts other visiting displays like local history groups; re-enactors; and even more aviation related displays such as clothing and historical artefacts.

Full details about the events and a full list of visiting cockpits and displays can be found on the Museum Events page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org

At Newark Air Museum along with the restoration work being undertaken on Fairey Gannet XP226; further museum volunteers have recently started work on a partial repaint of de Havilland Sea Vixen XJ560.

As with the Gannet, this work had been planned for 2022, but it was delayed by the major repaint work required on Vulcan XM594. In recent weeks some surface preparations work has been carried out on the upper surfaces of the Sea Vixen and in recent days the first primer has now been applied to the nose.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Amongst the diverse efforts to prepare for the museum’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Restoration Manager at Newark Air Museum has signed off to start on the restoration work on Fairey Gannet XP226.

This much need work had been planned for 2022, but it was delayed by the major repaint work required on Vulcan XM594. In recent weeks some surface preparations work has been carried out on the Gannet, and with the warming temperatures in recent days the first primer has now been applied to the fuselage spine.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Newark Air Museum have confirmed their regular contribution of a pair of Family Entry tickets for the prize pot in the Airscene 2024 Airshow Calendar Competition.

Newark’s first airframe was secured in 1963 thereafter the museum was formally incorporated as a Limited Company no.930888 and registered as charity no.256434 in April and September 1968 respectively.

After a number of years spent preparing its permanent site on the Winthorpe Showground a former World War II training base, the museum was officially opened to the public on Saturday 14th April 1973.

At Easter 1990 the museum opened its first Aircraft Display Hall to the public it provided 1,860 square metres of space. In 1994 the trustees instigated negotiations to purchase farmland on the museum’s southern boundary with the aim of guaranteeing the museum’s long-term future. Formal searches and formalities were eventually completed, allowing the purchase of 5.01 hectares of farmland to be completed prior to Christmas 1995.

In November 2004 the Museum opened its second Aircraft Display Hall to the public on completion of an extremely successful project in conjunction with the Heritage Lottery Fund.We continue to evolve and have achieved Accredited Museum status and the VAQAS quality standard.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

On 14th April, 2023 the Newark Air Museum (NAM) will have been officially open to the public for fifty (50) years. To celebrate this golden jubilee anniversary, NAM is hosting a two-day special event on the weekend of 15th and 16th April, at its site in eastern Nottinghamshire, close to the Lincolnshire county border.

Various themes will be marked during the event to recognise both NAM’s past achievements, and also with an eye to the future developments and associations.

One particular aim is to try and get as many people as possible to attend the celebrations, who were at the official opening back in 1973. NAM already has a number of people amongst its membership who fit that profile, but the museum trustees are keen to make contact with any members of the public who were at the official opening in 1973.

The official opening in 1973 was marked with the release of a special First Day Cover, copies of which were flown across the local area in various aircraft. If anyone attends the Golden Jubilee event with an original First Day Cover, that person will be allowed free admission to the museum celebrations.

Looking to the future, the event will be the first time that NAM has hosted a display from the Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark, who will be present on both days and who are creating exciting opportunities within aviation.

Ross Tarnowski, ASI’s, Head of Learning and Skills for Engineering and Technology said: “It is great to see Newark Air Museum reach their 50th anniversary and a significant milestone in their rich history. Since opening, the museum has gone from humble beginnings to one of the largest volunteer managed aviation collections in the UK. I am really pleased that the Air & Space Institute has a partnership with the museum which allows our learners access to this unique collection.

The educational benefit for our students is exceptional, and we are already discussing with the museum how the 3D printing of aircraft components (including cockpit switches and covers) can be integrated into supporting the upkeep of such a prodigious collection. Further collaborative projects are planned to ensure that ASI and its students can continue to aid such a valuable local organisation and charity.”

Final preparations for the event are still being refined but NAM volunteers will have lots of open cockpits available for visitors to look at; along with visiting displays and some possible celebrity appearances. Plus, an outdoor Aeroboot aviation sale that will be running on both days, is already filling up with sellers quite nicely and should be a good opportunity to grab some aviation bargains.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

For more than twenty years Newark Air Museum (NAM) has hosted an ongoing social history project to record the history of its Avro Vulcan, XM594.

The aircraft flew over 1,400 sorties; spread over 5,300 hours of flying; during twenty years of service with the RAF.

So far over 100 former aircrew members have freely given NAM access to their Log Books, this has allowed NAM to record details on around 700 of the sorties.

In the lead up to the 60th Anniversary of XM594 entering operational RAF squadron service with the RAF Scampton Vulcan Wing in September 1963, the museum is aiming to expand on this total. Ideally NAM would like dates of sorties; crew member details etc., in time for the event on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th September, 2023.

To gather as wide a picture as possible of XM594’s service life NAM is particularly keen to record specific anecdotes, memories and, or stories to accompany these Log Book entries. Any in-service pictures would also be appreciated.

So if you flew in this Vulcan, or know of somebody who did, then please contact the museum so that with your agreement NAM can obtain copies of the information, for inclusion in the Newark Air Museum Archive.

Details can be sent via email to admin@newarkairmuseum.org and NAM will pass on the details to Bill O’Sullivan who is cataloguing this information.

www.newarkairmuseum.org