RAF Museum Cosford – Page 15

Flypast planned for Armed Forces Day guests

Armed Forces Day

Saturday 28th June 2014

11.00am – 2.30pm

Veterans and their guests must pre-register

Dakota flypast 1:25pm (weather permitting)

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will once again participate in this annual event by hosting veterans young and old from all three services. During this special reunion, hosted by Museum Staff, all Veterans will be treated to a full day’s programme. There will be free refreshments for guests, on arrival at 11.00am, followed by behind the scenes access to the Museum’s Conservation Centre and a talk from Darren Priday our Conservation Centre Manager about the Dornier Do17 Project. For lunch, veterans will have the rare opportunity of dining with other guests amongst the aircraft and artefacts on display in the Museum’s Hangar 1.

During the afternoon, guests will be treated to musical performances from The Jays, a 1940s Singing Quintet who love nothing more than resurrecting the wonderful hits of the Second World War made famous by The Andrews Sisters and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Their toe tapping, memory jogging 1940s vocal harmonies will have Armed Forces Day Guests singing along to every song.

A highlight for Armed Forces Day guests and visitors to the Museum will be a spectacular flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota, scheduled for 1:25pm (weather permitting). All-in-all this promises to be an exciting day which will enable Veterans to meet up with old friends, reminisce over shared experiences, and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and setting of the Royal Air Force Museum. The day will conclude at 2.30pm where guests are free to wander round the Museum.

Event organiser, Louise Hammond says:

“It is an honour for the RAF Museum to be able to host so many Veterans and Serving Personnel for the annual Armed Forces Day. We have a fantastic day planned for guests and we look forward to welcoming new faces, as well as regular attendees to the event”

Attendance to the event is free of charge and by advance registration only. Any Veterans who would like to attend the event, are asked to book their place now by calling 01902 376 200 or for more information visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.

Great War Commemorative Exhibition heads to Cosford

Great War Exhibition

On display 15th June until 18th July 2014

FREE admission

The Great War Commemorative Touring Exhibition will be heading to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford this month as part of a year-long tour of the country.

The exhibition consists of two bodies of work of various media in which the artist’s hope to slow the clouding memories of World War One and in this way, pay their respect to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

This collection of work is brought to you by the Cheshire Artist Network, an organisation of over fifty professional visual artists who live and work in Cheshire. The network was founded over 10 years ago and their aim is to expand the opportunities for artists to develop their practice, as well as encouraging greater public appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.

During the opening week, there will be a lecture on the Art of War taking place on Thursday 19th June between 7.00-9.00pm. The lecture is free of charge and anyone wishing to attend is asked to register their interest in advance as places are limited, please email: cosford@rafmuseum.org or call the Museum on 01902 376200.

The Great War Commemorative Exhibition will travel the country during 2014 and will be on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford from Sunday 15th June to Friday 18th July 2014 in the Museum’s temporary exhibition gallery in Hangar 1. Entry to the Museum and to view the exhibition is free of charge.

For more information on The Great War Commemorative Exhibition and the wide range of exhibits on display at the Museum please visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200.

The Dornier Do 17 one year on…

Dornier DO17

Tuesday 10th June 2014 will mark the first anniversary of the moment the world’s last surviving Dornier Do 17 was successfully lifted from the bottom of the Dover Straits. The breath taking moment the aircraft surfaced from the water was captured live on TV and sparked interest from around the globe.

Just five days later on the 15th June, the Dornier was transported from Ramsgate, Kent, to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire and placed inside purpose built hydration tunnels. Here, the Dornier has been systematically sprayed with a low concentration citric acid based solution to arrest the damaging effects of nearly seventy years on the seabed. This process has helped to soften up and remove marine accretions, allowing direct access to the airframe structure and the subsequent neutralisation of corrosion impurities.

During the first stage of the aircrafts conservation, the Museum’s team of skilled Apprentices have worked tirelessly at gently removing marine growth from the fuselage with the use of plastic scrapers. Many of the aircrafts smaller components have been worked on by the RAF Museum’s Apprentices and volunteers, with several items now on display at the Museum’s Cosford and London sites.

Significant work has taken place in recent months on the airframe’s major assemblies. The forward fuselage has been de-riveted and separated from the tail boom, the latter section having suffered major damage during its period on the seabed. The separation of these two sections has enabled the conservation team to focus effort on the forward fuselage interior and this is progressing well. The spraying process has also proved effective on the propellers and both units will shortly be placed on purpose built stands in readiness for the next stage of their conservation.

The work undertaken on the Dornier so far hasn’t been without its difficulties. The hydration tunnels require daily maintenance in order to keep the spraying system operational. During the early phases of the project marine accretions, broken down by the citric acid based solution, began to clog up the filter system. The agar gel produced by the debris also caused difficulties and as a result, the filtration system was upgraded which counteracted the problem and improved the Museum’s ability to keep the system operating. Professor Mary Ryan from Imperial College London continues to offer guidance at each stage of the conservation process and has worked closely with the Museum from the project’s inception.

Darren Priday, Conservation Centre Manager at RAF Museum Cosford says:

“It has been a challenging year but the project has provided us with a lot of new information and we have learnt a lot about this process. It is long and tedious work but in the end the results will be there for all to see when the Dornier eventually goes on display at the RAF Museum London.”

Ian Thirsk, Head of Collections at RAF Museum says:

“Over the past twelve months the RAF Museum has made tremendous strides with the conservation of this unique aircraft. As the last surviving example of its type, the Dornier 17 will make a hugely significant addition to our German aircraft collection at Hendon and help us to communicate the wider story of the Battle of Britain to our audience”.

Visitors to the RAF Museum Cosford are able to view the Dornier and watch the process through viewing panels in the tunnels. For visitors wishing to gain even closer access to the aircraft, volunteers from the Museum’s Aerospace Museum Society will be working on Dornier components every Tuesday and Thursday between 10:30am and 3:00pm in the Museum’s Test Flight Hangar. It is a great opportunity for aviation fans to get close to this historic aircraft and to ask the volunteers questions about the vital work they are carrying out.

The Dornier Do17 Interpretation Zone, located next to the Dornier hydration tunnels and supported by wargaming.net, allows visitors to the Museum to explore the background of this legendary aircraft and tells the story of its recovery and the conservation process. Multi-media content includes archive footage of the aircraft in action and a film of the specialised recovery operation which took place in June 2013.

Admission to the Museum and viewing the Dornier is FREE of charge. Anyone wishing to donate towards the conservation of the aircraft can do so online via the Museum website www.ramuseum.org. For more information please call the Museum on 01902 376200.

70 years on – D-Day is remembered

RAF Mitchell bombers on D-Day

D-Day Afternoon Concert

15th June 2014

£5.00 per person

3.00pm

The 6th June 2014 will mark 70 years since the invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord, which began the final stages of the Second World War in Europe. In the space of three crucial months in 1944, Britain and its Allies the United States, Canada, Poland and France progressed from landing 150,000 troops on five Normandy beaches, to a victory march through Paris.

Described by Winston Churchill as ‘undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult’ operation ever undertaken, it was an incredible feat of organisation and the largest seaborne invasion in history. The events which took place on the most well-known D-Day in history, were the first steps towards the liberation of Western Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be marking the 70th anniversary of this event with a D-Day themed Orchestra Concert. The highly decorated Glebe Symphonic Winds, one of the UK’s leading wind orchestras will perform for visitors on Sunday 15th June at 3.00pm. This intimate musical performance will take place in the Museum’s Auditorium with seating for 200 spectators and will include many well-known favourites.

The performance will last approximately one hour and tickets for the Concert are now available to purchase via the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org and cost just £5.00 per person.

For further information on the D-Day Afternoon Concert at Cosford, please call the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit the museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.

Busy month ahead at Cosford

Cosford Airshow The Blades

Staff at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford are busy preparing for the busy month ahead which will see five big events take place throughout June.

1st June – National Service (RAF) Association Parade

On Sunday 1st June the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota will be taking to the skies over Shropshire in honour of the thousands of National Service RAF veterans. This iconic aircraft will perform for visitors and guests at the National Service (RAF) Association Parade, taking place at the Museum starting at 11am. This event is expected to see hundreds of ex National Service men and women participate in the parade, led by The Band of the West Midlands Fire Service. Following a short 100m march the parade will form up next to the Museum’s Hangar 1 where Air Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton will be the reviewing officer. All veterans who served in the Armed Forces are welcome to participate, providing them with the opportunity to reunite with lost friends and colleagues.

8th June – RAF Cosford Air Show

RAF Cosford Air Show is one of the country’s top aviation events attracting thousands of people of all ages to a day full of excitement and entertainment with flying displays throughout the day. On the ground there will be aircraft for visitors to sit inside, plus hundreds of exhibits, stalls, trade stands, military demonstrations and children’s entertainment. Admission charges apply. (Free admission to the Museum is not available on this date) Advance tickets cost £20.00 for an adult with children under 16 free, when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased via the Air Show website or during a visit to the Museum (cash or cheque only). Full details are available at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk. Air Show Office Enquiries – 01902 377922.

15th June – D-Day Afternoon Concert

The 6th June 2014 will mark 70 years since the invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord, which began the final stages of the Second World War in Europe. The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be marking the 70th anniversary of this event with a D-Day themed Orchestra Concert. The highly decorated Glebe Symphonic Winds, one of the UK’s leading wind orchestras will perform for visitors on Sunday 15th June at 3.00pm. Taking place in the Museum’s National Cold War Exhibition auditorium with seating for 200 spectators, this intimate musical performance will include many well-known favourites and will last approximately one hour. Tickets cost £5 per person and are available to purchase via the Museum website.

15th June to 18th July – The Great War Commemorative Exhibition

The Great War Commemorative Exhibition consists of two bodies of work in which the artist’s hope to slow the clouding of memories of World War One and in this way, pay their respect to those who paid the price for our freedom. This collection of work is brought to you by the Cheshire Artist Network, an organisation of over fifty professional visual artists who live and work in Cheshire. The exhibition will travel the country during 2014 and will be on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford from Sunday 15th June to Friday 18th July 2014 in the Museum’s temporary exhibition gallery in Hangar 1. Entry to the Museum and to view the exhibition is free of charge.

28th June – Armed Forces Day

On Saturday 28th June, events across the country will celebrate the contributions made by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. The annual Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to our heroes past and present, including current serving personnel, service families, veterans and cadets. This special day will commence in Hangar One at 11.00am with refreshments, followed by talks, entertainment and access to the Conservation Centre including an update on the Dornier Do 17, salvaged from the English Channel a year ago. There will also be a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota (time tbc & weather permitting) Attendance to the event is free of charge and by advance registration only for current or ex-serving members of the armed forces, you will need to pre-register and places are limited. Please telephone 01902 376 200 or email cosfordarmedforcesday@rafmuseum.org.

For further information on any of the events taking place at the RAF Museum Cosford throughout June, please call the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit the museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.

Model enthusiasts converge at Cosford

Shropshire Model Show

6th April 2014

10.00am – 4.00pm

FREE entry

Modelling fans are expected to descend on the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford next month, as they attend the annual Shropshire Scale Modeller’s Show, taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014. Nestled amongst a world-class collection of aircraft and military vehicles will be thousands of intricately detailed models, displayed alongside many of the real aircraft.

As one of the region’s largest modelling events, everything any dedicated modeller could ever want or need, will be on sale during the one day show. An excess of 40 traders, including Airfix, will be selling a range of modelling materials and kits to suit modellers of all ability’s, from young children who are just discovering their passion for modelling, right through to the avid modellers who have been building kits for many years. There will be everything from plastic kits in various sizes along with glues, paints and other detailed sets available to purchase on the day.

More than 80 modelling clubs from across the UK will be exhibiting their pint sized models which have taken hours of dedication to perfect. Plus, it’s not just models of aircraft that will be on show, there will be hundreds of cars, bikes, trucks and science fiction items including Dr Who and Star Wars.

Event organiser, Gary Stevens Secretary of the Shropshire Scale Modellers and The Telford Branch of The International Plastic Modellers Society says:

“The show will feature many other models from exhibitors and traders who travel from all over the country to be with us. With the show getting bigger every year it really is a great family day out. I am particularly pleased to have on board a group of modellers from Germany who have taken time to come over and display their models, giving the show a truly international feel.”

To make reaching the Museum even easier, organisers have introduced a free park and ride for the day to cope with the additional visitors. The show will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm and entry to the event is free of charge. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.

Museums unveiling of the EAP marks new partnership with BAE Systems

RAF Museum Cosford EAP

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is to officially unveil a brand new exhibition area celebrating the ground-breaking achievements of the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) technology demonstrator. The occasion also marks the official launch of a major partnership between the Royal Air Force Museum and BAE Systems.

The event will take place on Friday 14th February in the presence of the Chairman and Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum and Directors from BAE Systems with key partners, contributors and invited guests. BAE Systems has been a partner in the Museum’s success for more than forty years and the unveiling of the EAP is the start of a joint transformation of the Museum at both its Cosford and London sites, in advance of the Centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018.

Peter Dye, RAF Museum Director General said:

“BAE Systems and its predecessor companies have played a key role in the success of the Royal Air Force and we are delighted that BAE Systems will champion our transformation as the Museum develops new exhibitions and activities to ensure that the Royal Air Force story endures and enriches future generations.”

Chris Boardman, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information business said:

“We are delighted to donate EAP to the RAF Museum and it is fitting that this remarkable aircraft should be at the centre of the Test Flight exhibition at RAF Museum Cosford. We look forward to working in partnership with the RAF Museum and support them in conserving our aerospace heritage for future generations.”

From Saturday 15th February, members of the public will be able to view the EAP demonstrator aircraft and a new exhibition which tells the story of its pioneering accomplishments. This experimental jet helped pave the way for the renowned Eurofighter Typhoon which has many of the same characteristics and capabilities and is in operation with the RAF and five other Air Forces, today. The brand new display showcases this unique aircraft using previously unseen video footage, interactive kiosks and images. The creation of this new exhibition area has been funded by BAE Systems who deliver a wide range of advanced defence, aerospace, and security solutions globally.

The British Aerospace ACT (fly-by-wire) Jaguar will now reside alongside the EAP as its forerunner. The ACT Jaguar was essential to the subsequent success of the EAP and the Eurofighter Typhoon. After having all of its original flying controls removed and replaced by computerised systems, it proved that the digital fly-by-wire system did work and could control an unstable aircraft that could not be controlled by a human alone. Both of these aircraft helped keep Britain at the forefront of military aviation and it is fitting that they are displayed side by side.

The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is free of charge. For more information on the Museum, visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200.

Open Cockpits tickets on sale 24th February

OPen Cockpit evening RAF Cosford

Open Cockpits Evening – 10th May 2014

6.00pm to 9.00pm

£12.50 per person

Tickets for the popular aviation enthusiasts’ event ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, will go on sale from Monday 24th February through the Royal Air Force Museum’s website. Just 300 tickets will be available for this exclusive evening on Saturday 10th May, where a wide range of aircraft will be available for close viewing on the night: including transport aircraft, jet fighters and unique research airframes.

300 fortunate visitors will be able to get a feel for what it was like to fly these much loved machines by entering their cockpits and, in addition to this, will have exclusive after-hours access to the Museum which displays a collection of over 70 aircraft, military vehicles, engines and aviation artefacts within three wartime hangars and the award-winning National Cold War Exhibition.

The event, which is held twice a year in May and September, was a complete sell out in 2013 and 2012, with tickets sold out in a matter of days. Organisers are confident that this year’s event in May will be just as popular based on the number of enquiries received so far. Accordingly, the Museum is advising aviation fans to book early to avoid disappointment.

The evening will commence at 6.00pm and finish at 9.00pm, with numbers onto the Museum site strictly limited to 300 people – providing enthusiasts with three hours to examine the Museum’s historic and wondrous aircraft in an exclusive environment. Admission is by advance ticket only; tickets cost £12.50 per person and will go on sale from Monday 24th February available through the Museum’s website. Members price £10.00 per ticket (please note membership cards will need to be shown on entry to the event). Parking charges are included in the ticket price. Minimum height restrictions of 1.07 metres will apply.

The Museum will close at 5.00pm on Saturday 10th May in order to set up for the Open Cockpits Evening event. A detailed list of aircraft open on the night will be issued nearer the time. For further information on the ‘Open Cockpits Evening’ or to purchase your tickets online visit www.rafmuseum.org, a second Open Cockpits Evening will take place on Saturday 20th September 2014.

Unique Mustang model now on display

Mustang Scale Model

Now on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is a 1:5 scale scratch built North American P-51D Mustang. This unique model took almost ten years to build and was kindly donated to the Museum in autumn last year. This remarkable Mustang model now forms a centre piece display in the Museum’s Visitor Centre where visitors can view all its intricate details up close.

The model is the work of retired journalist and avid modeller David Glen and was built in tribute to the US pilots and crews who gave their lives in support of their European allies over two World Wars. At over 6ft in length with a wing span of over 7ft the model bears the markings of VF-B 413317, the aircraft flown by Captain Donald R. Emerson, 336 Squadron, 4th Fighter Group who was killed on Christmas Day 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.

During the planning stages, scale measurements and other data were taken from a variety of sources, among them the Smithsonian archive in Washington DC. David’s references include all the P-51D handbooks and manuals and the entire set of North American production drawings, from which all the detail parts were built. The model went through several processes during the building stage and was constructed from plywood profiles and sections, in-filled with solid balsa providing a rigid and stable wooden core, over which the litho skin was formed and glued. Every rivet was placed individually into holes drilled through the skin and all the visible screws, bolts and nuts were replicated using real brass or steel fastenings.

Building such an intricate model from scratch came with its own difficulties. Working with rivets of 1/6 inch in size using tweezers and a tiny dab of glue was a tricky and time consuming process. Manufacturing numerous resin parts including tiny instrument bezels, airscrew blades and wingtips each had their own individual challenges, but none as challenging as building the cockpit canopy. This complex model is an engineering marvel and the attention to detail even includes data plates, complete with all the original logos and lettering, many of the plates are smaller than a £1 coin.

This is the second model David Glen has donated to the RAF Museum. His first donation of a similarly scaled Spitfire Mk.1 is on display at the RAF Museum London, where the real North American P-51D Mustang can be seen on display.

David Glen, Modeller said:

“As far as I can make it, the model is complete and accurate in every visible detail, right down to the electrical wiring. It occupied my spare time for the better part of a decade, so I am especially proud to see it join my Spitfire on public display at the Royal Air Force Museum. I cannot conceive of a better home, and I hope that both models might stand as my own small tribute to the allied pilots and crews who gave their lives over two World Wars.”

Anyone wishing to take a look at this unique model, the P-51D Mustang is now on permanent display, located in the Museums’ Visitor Centre. The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is free of charge. For more information on the 1:5 scale Mustang Model please visit David Glen’s website www.spitfireinmyworkshop.net

For more information on the Museum, visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200

Kestrel goes on display at Cosford

RAF Museum Cosford Kestrel

The New Year has got off to a flying start at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford with the addition of the Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 going on public display. This jet aircraft was built to evaluate the jump jet concept during the 1960s and visitors are now able to view it within the Museum’s Test Flight collection.

The Kestrel, serial number XS695, is one of only nine built by Hawker-Siddeley and its main role was to evaluate vertical take-off in near service conditions. Fitted with a single Bristol Siddeley Pegasus engine and single seat cockpit, the success of the Kestrel came little more than a year before its successor, the Harrier, made its first flight. The Harrier served successfully with the Royal Air Force until 2011.

During the 1950s, Hawker had been privately developing a vertical take-off aircraft under the code of P.1127. The success of this private venture, and the subsequent service interest, led to an announcement in 1962 that a ‘Tripartite Evaluation Squadron’ (TES), also known as the Kestrel Squadron would be formed. The Kestrel was a developed version of the P.1127 and nine of the type were ordered for use by the TES during its operations in 1965. The TES was based at RAF West Raynham and included pilots and ground crew from the UK, USA and West Germany. They used nearby abandoned airfields for testing the aircraft on semi-prepared runways and on grass to test its capabilities on unprepared sites.

The Kestrel made its maiden flight in February 1965 at Dunsfold. By November that same year XS695 had flown 153 times totalling 70.44 airframe hours of which 51.04 were on trials work including 141 sorties with the TES. During 1966 the aircraft was assessed for its handling characteristics, used for training and even appeared at the Hanover and Farnborough Air Shows. In 1972 it was allocated to the Royal Navy Engineering College at Manadon, Devon and later used for apprentice training and to simulate aircraft handling and flight deck procedures.

After being transported by road to the RAF Museum Cosford in November 2001, the Kestrel remained in storage until late Autumn 2012 when it was moved into the Museum’s award winning Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. After undergoing a full restoration and repaint in its tripartite colours which include tri national roundels and fin flashes, the aircraft has now been placed on display for Museum visitors to enjoy.

Nick Sturgess, Alex Henshaw Curator at RAF Museum Cosford said:

“We are delighted to finally have the Kestrel out on public display after its time in storage and its extensive restoration. This aircraft is the only surviving example in the UK and represents an important stage in aircraft development. It was used by three nations to evaluate the jump jet concept and wore a unique colour scheme which can now be seen for the first time since 1965. The results from the Kestrel Squadron would be a huge influence in the development of the Harrier. It now sits alongside the Hunting H126 which was also used to experiment with short take off ideas at the same time.”

The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is free of charge. For more information on the Museum, visit www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200.