June Update at Newark Air Museum

Newark Sigrist Desford

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

Newark Air Museum Cockpit-Fest 2023

Newark Cockpit Fest 2023

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

May Update at Newark Air Museum

Sea Vixen XJ560

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

April Update at Newark Air Museum

Newark Air Museum Gannett XP226

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 give early boost to competition prize pot

Vulcan at Newark

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

Newark Air Museum’s Golden Jubilee

Newark Golden Jubilee

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

Vulcan XM594 Log Books – The Search Goes On!

Vulcan XM594 crew

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

Newark Air Museum Events 2023

Vulcan XM594

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Newark Vulcan Delivery 40th Anniversary

Newark Air Museum Vulcan XM594

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

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

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

The museum trustees anticipate that this will be a popular event, so to try and ensure that people have sufficient time inside the cockpit and that they are not waiting around outside, they are implementing a timed ticket system for going on board Vulcan XM594.

To help the museum formulate the timed ticket schedule they need to hear from people who plan to visit on the weekend and we would ask them to email in the following bits of information by 1600 hours on 1st February 2023: Estimated arrival time and The likely number of people in your group & their approximate ages

Once this information has been submitted the museum will draw up the timed visit schedule for people to go on board XM594 and notify people of their allocated time. The museum does reserve the right to close the offer before the stated date if the uptake is so great that it cannot cope with the number of visitors requesting the free access to the Vulcan. Further details will be posted on the News & Information page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org

Please be aware that because of the restricted space in the cockpit the Vulcan can only take 3-4 people at a time; please also be aware that access to the Vulcan is also dependent on a height restriction and visitors to the aircraft will have to be at least 1.00m (one metre) in height.

If you would like to look inside the Vulcan for FREE on the weekend please send the museum an email with the requested information via admin@newarkairmuseum.org to indicate your interest, and please state “FREE Vulcan 40th Anniversary Visit” in the subject / topic section of your email.

In addition, a series of talks by ex-Vulcan aircrew is planned to take place throughout the weekend – further details will follow.

Of course a donation towards museum funds would always be appreciated for anyone taking part in this activity!!

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Reid and Sigrist Desford at Newark Air Museum

Desford at Newark Air Museum

On Friday 19th August, 2022 the Newark Air Museum (NAM) took delivery of the Reid and Sigrist (RS) Desford aircraft onto its site in north eastern Nottinghamshire. This was the culmination of months of organisation in association with Leicestershire County Council (LCC), who has transferred ownership of the unique aircraft to the museum; and with Windmill Aviation, who restored the aircraft.

The delivery flight was completed onto part of the former RAF Winthorpe site. This was made possible thanks to the generous support and co-operation of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society and the Newark Motor Auction company, plus all of their staff.

After defueling and the removal of some items, the RS Desford was moved into a temporary undercover display location in Hangar 2 at the museum. Since delivery day, the museum, trustees, volunteers and staff have been busy with behind the scenes preparations for moving the RS Desford into its final display location in Hangar 1.

During the museum’s discussions with LLC over the transfer of ownership of the RS Desford, an Interpretation Plan was drawn up for the aircraft. This will include a new display that will utilise some of the archive material that was transferred to NAM along with the aircraft. This will be implemented after NAM finalises the required work schedule to move the RS Desford into Hangar 1, where it will be housed alongside some contemporary exhibits.

Some aspects of this relocation project have already been completed, including repositioning the Tiger Moth; and folding the wings on the Monospar, which is now ready for its temporary move. Additional planning work is also underway with regards to other tasks required to ensure that the various temporary airframe moves can be implemented in a safe and choreographed manner, and hopefully without too much disruption.

At a more detailed level NAM engineers have been undertaking an assessment of the RS Desford to see how it can become part of various events and activities at the museum in a safe way, that befits its unique status. Any future activities will be undertaken in accordance with NAM’s obligations as an Accredited Museum and for the long-term protection of the airframe.

www.newarkairmuseum.org