Newark Air Museum Briefing – 2023

“Now there are just two days left for our 2023 season & we hope that a few more of you might be able to visit!

Please be mindful of our current opening times, including the last admission time!

http://newarkairmuseum.org/Christmas_Opening_2023 “

There’s no need to apologise, all I try to do is add additional context when I can.

So far in 2023 the working members/volunteers have put in more than 18,000 volunteer hours to help the museum to keep developing and moving forward.

Currently, evaluations are underway to decide what’s the best short-term use for the Hangar 2 space that had been earmarked for DA4, as part of the original agreement with the IWM. Possibilities being discussed are for the reassembly of the Harvard; Lightning T5 coming in for some undercarriage restoration work etc. etc. – as the saying goes “watch this space”!

TwinOtter23…,

I’m sorry – now I have revisited my previous post. It does sound very negative. Of course, the two issues I spoke about were outside of NAM’s control.

There has indeed been some very good work done over the last twelve months by you and the rest of the team at Winthorpe. Off the top of my head:

Vulcan B2 XM594 – 40th anniversary of her arrival. I was there when she arrived.

The museums 50th anniversary of first opening. My first visit was during the early Spring, following the opening. Until a decade ago I had visited 3 or 4 times a year. Following a work-related move to the West, I haven’t visited since COVID restrictions. But I keep an eye on activities.

Vulcan B2 XM594 – 60th anniversary of entry to service.

Shackleton MR3/3 WR977 – Excellent work carried out on the nose section with still more to do on the rest of the airframe.

NAM has many exhibits from the Cold War. This timeframe is my “specialist” area of aviation history. Many of my school chums had Vulcan aircrew dad’s who served in the 1960’s and 1970’s at RAF Waddington. I guess that was what started my interest in aviation and the Cold War in particular.

Following my joining the RAF in mid-1974. My first posting was to RAF Binbrook (North Lincolnshire). Where I served with the Lighting QRA force. During my time there I flew in Lightning T5 XS417 no less than five times. She too is, of course, one of your Cold War exhibits.

Keep up the good work in 2024 and beyond.

With the amount of effort put in by the museum’s working members it’s been a good year.

To a large extent the DA4 and WH791 situations have both, to differing degrees, been out of the museum’s control; so you move on to the next challenge.

Season’s greetings.

I see thanks very much TwinOtter….

Its not been a good year what with the Typhoon pre-prod “DA-4” and now WH791. No doubt you will keep us informed of the latter via this medium. 

Once again thanks.

It’s an open secret that I am one of the trustees, changed my posting format when we went to version two of this forum, and subsequently struggled to get the previous levels of engagement.

In that capacity I have been dealing with the PR7 requests on behalf of NAM.

TwinOtter23.Mk.19,

I was just wondering do you report on the activities of/at NAM in an official capacity?

A good summation of what remains a challenging situation, as offers/requests still keep landing.

The museum is now closed until Wednesday 27th December, 2023.

Plus there’s been a Low Flying (Landing) update from today added in here: http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/NAM-Low-Fly-Log

Sorry to hear about the fate of Canberra PR7 WH791. It is one of the PR7’s I never got the pleasure of flying in. However, it was on the gate at TTTE Cottesmore when I arrived there in mid-1984. Having later been sold to a private collector and placed on display at NAM. The owner then refused to engage with the museum about its condition.

Its condition on arrival, at NAM, was not good. There is a set of gate guard maintenance instructions – but they often don’t see the light of day. Once rain water gains entry the humidity, within the structure, goes up and I’m afraid the airframe(s) begin to rot from the inside. Sad end but pleasing to know that certain parts will be reused on other restoration projects. 

“Site conditions are better today & whilst it is still breezy we have decided that it’s safe to re-open as planned!

10am until 4pm last admission 3pm, but earlier arrivals would be better!!”

An update from Newark Air Museum: “We’re planning to re-open tomorrow, unless things deteriorate unexpectedly overnight!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/latest-news “

“The museum and shop will both be closed today, Thursday 21st December 2023.

Unfortunately, we have taken the decision to close the museum site today due to the effects of Storm Pia – we have had various bits of major signage blown onto the site from a neighbouring property and conditions are too dangerous for us to be open – sorry if you are already travelling to visit us!

If you plan to visit the museum before Christmas; then we suggest that you check on here, our Twitter feed or call 01636 707170 to check that we are open before travelling.

These updates will be posted here to advise you of any changes to this situation and we are sorry for any inconvenience that this temporary situation may cause.”

“A reminder of our opening times for the coming couple of weeks over the Christmas Holiday period & New Year.

Details on our website.

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/latest-news

Help us end 2023 on a visitors high!”

“A gentle nudge regarding the pre-owned book & colour slide sale on Saturday 16th December 2023!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Book_Sale_23 “

Disappointing Canberra PR7 news from Newark Air Museum:

“I have some difficult & disappointing news to share on behalf of the museum, regarding Canberra PR.7 WH791 this come in the form of an unwanted first, after more than sixty years of operating as an air museum!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/latest-news “

Newark Air Museum update:

“Pre-owned colour slide sale now part of the book sale on 16th December 2023!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Book_Sale_23 “

News from Newark Air Museum: “Sorry everyone, the museum will be closed today due to the snow across the region! 

Details in here: http://newarkairmuseum.org/latest-news 

We will reassess the situation later today before deciding about next week!”

This Newark Air Museum news might interest a few of you:

“We have now confirmed the details of our pre-owned aviation book sale on Saturday 16th December, 2023. http://newarkairmuseum.org/latest-news “

News from Newark Air Museum: “After nearly four years we have news regarding Eurofighter DA4,ZH590 – however it’s not what we have worked long and hard for – a statement can be found in here!

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/DA4_Statement_2023 “

Nice to see NAM’s Day Night Photo Shoot get a mention!

https://www.key.aero/article/newark-museum-reveals-details-nightshoot