Is Hendon Museum fully open

Thank you very much, Seaking93, for clarifying the situation. I rate this as a very important post!

Papa Lima, glad to have been of help

Thank you very much, Seaking93, for clarifying the situation. I rate this as a very important post!

Regarding free admission, wasn’t this a political decision made quite a while ago in respect of all state-run museums in the UK? In other words, they are no longer allowed to charge admission so the funds must be coming from elsewhere (i.e. the taxpayer, presumably).

The situation is not quite that simple, the museums which come under the DCMS banner are free, the RAFM comes under the MOD banner, as does the National Army Museum which has always been free, the much maligned Dr Fopp put a case for free entry to MOD. His point was that all the collections in London were free and he was having to compete against them for visitors, in RAFM’s case this point was accepted and free entry was introduced not only at Hendon but Cosford as well, unlike IWM where its free in Lambeth but at Duxford you pay, despite being a DCMS collection. When the 4 naval museums asked for free entry for children the MOD turned down the request, so thats why you have free entry to 2 of the national military museums and payed entry to the other 4. It does cause problems as people can’t understand why you get into Hendon free but have to pay at Yeovilton etc, funny old world we live in.

Interesting you should mention brooms, Lancman. I was reading a forum recently (someone can find it, as like a prat, I didn’t bookmark the thing!), which was more or less an in-house Shuttleworth/Old Warden site (I think), calling for winter cleaners for the collection. One thing that did strike me was the amount of discussion time given over the best types of broom/brush to use for dusting down airraft wings (particularly the Anson), and how much time this would save. There was also a healthy discussion about the best metal polish to use to obtain the best finish on the cowlings, notably the Hind. I guess this is something those of us not involved with ‘hand’s on’ preservation really think about. What goes on behind the scenes when we go and see bright, shiney aeroplanes lined up for us to photograph!

Regarding free admission, wasn’t this a political decision made quite a while ago in respect of all state-run museums in the UK? In other words, they are no longer allowed to charge admission so the funds must be coming from elsewhere (i.e. the taxpayer, presumably).

Somewhere between average and dusty, last time I was there. Certainly years ago, they seemed to be cleaned more regularly- I can still recall being astonished that S-Sugar was cleaned by a bloke walking the wing with a broom!!!

Blimey, Lancman – controvertial stuff! It must be twenty years since I last found myself at Hendon and I was wondering just what it was like these days. I assume therefore that prior knowledge of the pubs and foody emporiums in the vicinity is a must! Guide book anyone?

Now, if they served bacon butties and tea (in PROPER mugs) such as the ones at Breighton, then all would be solved!

Are the actual aircraft ‘dusty’ or well-tended these days?

Of course, asides from the area closures and awful lighting, it’s worth mentioning that other word that is forever linked to Hendon- ‘food’. Okay, so most of us know about the pubs etc in the surrounding area- I mean, you simply have to, otherwise poisoning or starvation are your only other options- but really, outside contractors or not, the food there is DISGUSTING, in all ways- poor quality, over-priced, etc.

I must say, the last few times I’ve been were the first visits after quite a gap, and I was surprised at the change in the staff; many of them seemed young and it was ‘just a job’; I’ve overheard a lot of inter-staff bitching in the shop more than once, and have even heard someone there seriously mocking the exhibits once. This minded me of the good old days when the shop was staffed by lovely helpful old ladies in cardigans!

The place really just ain’t what it used to be, not even close, and I’d go so far as to say that they no longer deserve to hold some of the very special exhibits that they have.

…but seems to be struggling because of the free admission thing, maybe they should go back to charging again ?

Can we just catch this myth now?

They are NOT struggling ‘because of free admission’ but because of misuse of current resources and not trying to fund-raise.

There are hundreds of museums in the UK which are free entry, and cope perfectly well. Unfortunately the RAFM is hoping rather than trying…

Cheers

I wonder whether the “atmospheric” lighting is hiding the true state of the decor, looking at the outside , that certainly needs a coat of paint. I have been in the Grahame White hangar , and frankly was a little disappointed at the time, its only now I realise how priviledged I was! What is annoying is their “foot fault” rule ,which they seem to enforce with enthusiasm, and the nasty piece of aluminium channel ,that isn’t fixed down ,that alerts the guards (sorry staff) to the fact that you have tried to get just a couple of inches closer, because you are interested in aeroplanes and you want to see a bit more ,that because of the light levels you can’t, and stay on the carpet.

I second that the staff at Hendon do the best they can and are very helpfull, but i have never been in the grahame white hangar as it is always closed but i prefer modern aviation so it is no biggy.

I also like that you now start in milestones and then go through a covered walkway into bomber command hall.

As for photography the lighting is shocking but there are ways around it just set a slower shutter speed and some places use a speedlight i did not even need a tripod last time i went but got some nice pics, i would post some but they are 3mb each.

I did find it frustrating that upstairs in the main hall now is perpetually shut on the promise of a refurb etc.

But i go for the aviation heritage there not the facilities, and still wonder at all the aircraft that are unique (ecept for in the US) like the luftwaffe stuff and the lancaster it is a great museum but seems to be struggling because of the free admission thing, maybe they should go back to charging again ?

curlyboy

The point I was making was that the Staff were prepared to put themselves out to try an open a section of the complex just for myself and my 10yr old lad and that means quite allot in customer service terms… It would have really been easy for them to say “It’s closed go away!”

So yes Hendon may have some issues to photographers but customer service aint one of them IMHO.

Indeed Cliff.

In my experience the staff on the ground at Hendon vary from acceptable to excellent, but wouldn’t it be appropriate if there was enough staff to open it all for all visitors, as they should? That’s a management competence issue. If Hendon was a public utility or a company, Dr Fopp would’ve been given a golden handshake by now and someone capable of the job appointed.

It would be nice if the RAFM was run to a standard to match the IWM Lambeth and Duxford; the Canadian National Aviation Museum; the Australian War Memorial; the Tate; Britain and Bankside; the Science Museum; the V&A (who’ve navigated their own directorial stormy waters in living memory) and so forth…

I’ve seen Dr Fopp’s reply to many of the queries raised, by Kev35, and a poorer bunch of excused laced with an inability to accept responsibility I’ve rarely seen.

Enough.

Thanks Cliff,
If I may though:

Now why would an almost new (repositioned and refurbished only a few years ago) building need ‘a lot of work’? – They must’ve finished the snagging by now, and to roll straight into upkeep maintenance that needs to exclude the public from a museum building can only be explained by a lack of competence.

Of course I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable (other) explanation…

I’ve been challenged by another forumite as having a dislike of Dr Fopp, and a crusade against the museum. Not true.

I’m sure Dr Fopp is a very nice man, and loves kids and animals etc; however as he’s in charge of the worst performing aviation museum by almost any measure you care to choose, I’d suggest he needs to get better or let someone else, who can match the performance of the peer institutions, run the place?

Cheers

You may be right I really don’t know as I can only go by what I was told but…

The point I was making was that the Staff were prepared to put themselves out to try an open a section of the complex just for myself and my 10yr old lad and that means quite allot in customer service terms… It would have really been easy for them to say “It’s closed go away!”

So yes Hendon may have some issues to photographers but customer service aint one of them IMHO.

Cheers

Cliff

Thanks Cliff,
If I may though:

Apparently there is allot of work going on in the Graham White building hence it is normally closed up opened on request subject staff

Now why would an almost new (repositioned and refurbished only a few years ago) building need ‘a lot of work’? – They must’ve finished the snagging by now, and to roll straight into upkeep maintenance that needs to exclude the public from a museum building can only be explained by a lack of competence.

Of course I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable (other) explanation…

I’ve been challenged by another forumite as having a dislike of Dr Fopp, and a crusade against the museum. Not true.

I’m sure Dr Fopp is a very nice man, and loves kids and animals etc; however as he’s in charge of the worst performing aviation museum by almost any measure you care to choose, I’d suggest he needs to get better or let someone else, who can match the performance of the peer institutions, run the place?

Cheers

Was at Hendon last week… Yes the Graham White building was closed but when I asked at the desk as to when it may be open the very nice lady made a phone call to try and get it opened especially for me. I was only unlucky as on that day there was only one guide available and he was tied up with the Bonham Classic car auction other wise I would have been granted a guided tour.

Apparently there is allot of work going on in the Graham White building hence it is normally closed up opened on request subject staff

As for lighting levels well yes they are tricky and next visit i’ll take a tripod (permits needed but again you only have to ask at the desk)

Thanks for those replies,the bit about ringing them before hand was interesting as i suspect they would be careful with the truth if they want you there and the money in the till.
.

Don’t forget entrance is FREE both at Hendon and Cosford so definatly no complaints here!

Regards

Cliff

Trumper: “as i suspect they would be careful with the truth if they want you there and the money in the till.” It’s free.

I did’nt know that,it was’nt last time i went. 😮

Trumper: “as i suspect they would be careful with the truth if they want you there and the money in the till.” It’s free.

I expect the power to the lights is being drained by their new all-singing-and-dancing IT system.

Never mind. Now they’ve cut open the tanks of the BA Collection at Cosford they’ll be able to hang a few paraffin lamps around the place.

I bow to your greater knowledge and rephrase my point as

“most of the complaints on this forum about the light levels are from people who struggle to take photographs under those conditions”

🙂 Moggy

Don’t know who else feels the same way, ….. it had a better atmosphere in there before they included the finest hour show.

Not me.

It always seemed like a row of dead aeroplanes – the traditional museum format – before they put the show in.

After a hard morning’s trog around the main hall I always find a ten minute break watching the show quite acceptable. Must be my age. 😉

Moggy