RAF Museum Midlands have selected their prizes for the Airscene 2024 Calendar Competition, and have paired up an RAF Wings Wallet with an RAF Wings Leather Bottle Opener Keyring.

3 prize bundles have been offered with a combined value of £35 per bundle – the keyrings are currently discounted by 50% for anyone who doesn’t wish to wait to see if they win one.

This is the 12th consecutive year that RAF Museum Midlands have supported the Airscene Calendar Competitions, so do please consider making a visit this year…

Take-off to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire and enjoy a great day out for all the family. Admission is free, simply book your arrival time online and then it’s chocks away as you explore the Museum’s vast collection of aircraft, vehicles, artefacts and the fascinating story of the RAF!

The Museum is home to over 75 historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire, the unique TSR2 and the mighty Vulcan bomber to name but a few, displayed inside three wartime hangars and within the award winning National Cold War Exhibition.

Step back in time and view the interactive Battle of Britain display featuring the world’s oldest Spitfire. The Spitfire forms the centrepiece of the new display, where the RAF’s frontline fighters, the Spitfire, Hurricane, Gladiator and Defiant are face to face with their German rivals the Me 109 and Ju88. Previously unseen objects from the Museum’s collection including flying jackets, medal bars and artefacts from the plotting rooms, will share the stories of the people who helped win the Battle, in the air and on the ground.

Let your imagination take flight inside the National Cold War Exhibition, where you will discover Cold War stories in immersive Hotspots and explore exciting displays of aircraft, iconic cars, models, tanks and even life-sized Russian dolls. Aircraft not to be missed include all three British V Bombers; Vulcan, Victor and Valiant and the English Electric Lightning suspended vertically!

Don’t forget to check out the Test Flight hangar. Here you will find a collection of prototype aircraft, many were produced in secrecy, often utilising components borrowed from other types. Highlights include the Bristol 188, built mainly of stainless steel and designed to investigate the effects of heat on aircraft structures at very high speeds.

Families visiting the RAF Museum Cosford will have the added excitement of a brand-new aviation themed playground to explore. Youngsters who dream of becoming pilots and ground crew alike now have the opportunity to roleplay as they delve into the new bespoke airfield inspired playground, complete with a mock control tower, mini hangar and even aircraft to climb onboard. The new playground will give the Museum’s youngest visitors an interactive RAF experience like no other, from physical training instructor stations, air traffic control, through to refuelling missions.

After wandering in the hangars, visitors can relax and enjoy a coffee in the restaurant which has a great selection of hot and cold food available with views overlooking the airfield.

The Museum is now open daily from 10.00am 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.

To enter the Airscene 2024 Airshow Calendar Competition (currently in Early Entry Phase) please visit: http://www.airscene.co.uk/competitions/2024calendar.php

At least thats how Neil Darby closed his review for the Dunsfold Wings & Wheels 2012 with a recommendation to attend in 2013.

Well  – good news – the winner of this years calendar competition and their family (2 adults and up to 3 children) will be going there for FREE courtesy of the Wings and Wheels team and Dunsfold Park (http://www.wingsandwheels.net).

For those not in the know… Dunsfold Park is the Home of Top Gear’s famous “reaonable priced car” race track. Wings & Wheels itself is a multi-faceted weekend of aviation and motoring entertainment staged over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

If you havent been to Wings and Wheels yet, do check out Neil’s recently posted review at http://www.airscene.co.uk/airshow-reviews/dunsfold-wings-and-wheels-2012.php and see what you have been missing.

To quote Neil directly… “This was the third Dunsfold show I have attended , and it just gets better and better each year. Separated out into different ‘Zones’, there is something for everyone. Whether it be 2 wheels or 4, Helicopters or Planes, Military or civil, the show has it covered.”

To enter and to have a chance of winning this and other great prizes, check out the competition page at http://www.airscene.co.uk/competitions/2013calendar.php and get your entry in asap!

Good Luck.

A new Live Chat feature has now been added to the Airscene toolbar.

Toolbar users need only to click on the chat icon (to the left of the news feed) and the room will open. Once logged in – edit your user name and details and begin chatting to other Airscene members.

Your user ID and details are always remembered (apparently) so no need to remember ID’s and passwords – just log in and see who is chatting at the press of a button.

I would like to thank those who made link suggestions for the toolbar – I have now added Twitter and Flickr. I will of course review any other suggestions which are put forward.