I have heard recently that there are plans to make better use of and raise the profile of this facility. Swindon is quite pro-active in trying to get people into the area both socially and commercially therefore this rumour would seem to make sense.
There is an interesting collection of aircraft there that are rarely seen, plus many other actifacts.
Has anyone else heard any news ?
I wonder is any plans include expansion of the collection?, if so some of the other questions on this forum regarding aircraft languishing and uncared for might have an answer ?
By: SADSACK - 26th November 2002 at 11:01
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
Yeah, obviously, but if you were offered a KC135 would you want to have it roaded in, or would you rather it flew in? I could think of loads of airframes that had they not flown in they would have perished – Newarks Hastings, Brooklands Merchantman etc.
By: Arabella-Cox - 22nd November 2002 at 13:51
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
Roadfreight. How else do you think the Panton’s got NX611 from Scampton to East Kirkby, or IWM got the Blackbird from Mildenhall to Duxford? 🙂
By: SADSACK - 22nd November 2002 at 10:30
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-11-02 AT 10:32Â AM (GMT)]Besides how are you supposed to get big exhibits in, without a runway? You never now when you will need it.
By: philo - 20th November 2002 at 13:18
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
Why do they need to build over the runway ? threre is so much land surrounding it and a whole redundant military hospital.
By: SADSACK - 20th November 2002 at 11:54
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
The sheep seem to have more sense.
By: FiltonFlyer - 20th November 2002 at 11:53
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
There have been several rumours recently regarding expansion here, including one a while back for the Millennium Dome to be rebuild here! I think they intend to build an outstation here, open to the public, which would include building over the runway, hence no more avation events.
Andy
By: philo - 20th November 2002 at 11:17
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
There were sheep all over the runway when I drove past ealier this year !!.
By: SADSACK - 20th November 2002 at 10:31
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
What mentality owns an airfield and doesnt want air related events on it?
By: David Burke - 16th November 2002 at 22:14
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
I believe the BAe 146 prototype was G-SSHH. She is now in a different
guise as G-LUXE being reworked into a weather reconnaisance machine at Woodford for the Mod.
By: Glen - 16th November 2002 at 19:29
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
The only drawback at Wroughton if the fact that they have stated that they do not want anymore aviation related “events” at the airfield. Hence the reason the G-VFWE and the PFA rally moved. Several promotors have approached them to use the site for aviation and they have all met with the same unfortunate response, which seem difficult to understand when they have the science museum lage aircraft collection on-site…..very strange!!!
By: DOUGHNUT - 15th November 2002 at 13:09
RE: Science Museum annex at Wroughton
The site at Wroughton is ideal and ready for expansion, how about some lottery funding for a hanger capable of holding the larger commercial aircraft. It was a missed opportunity when British Airways retired their early model Boeing 747-100’s. Very few of these aircraft will have a long term future unless preserved undercover, With the second hand value of these jets still to high for museums to purchase on the open market the effort should be to construct the hangar today and then wait until the right airframe reaches the end of its service life, that still may be ten years away, and make the owner a reasonable offer ie scrap value. Although of American design Boeing 707 and 747 and Lockheed Tristar contained major British components ie engines and as such deserve preservation in the UK.
Other large exhibits could be a BAe 146, does anybody know where the prototype’s went ?, a RAF VC-10 and the Hercules W2, currently stored at Boscombe Down. Anybody else want to add to the list?
Also do not forget that the site houses a large collection of bus and other motor vehicles as well as all sorts or farm and industrial machinery. Expansion of the site would allow additional non-aviation exhibits to be included and given greater public attention.
Regards
DOUGHNUT
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November 15, 2002 at 11:40 am