A flying visit to the Science Museum London.

G’ day

Great photo’s,

Thank for bringing them to see

and I see my favorite Jason.

Nice place, if I ever get over there it’s on my list to see.

Oooooo Rooooo 😉

CROC’S RULE! :dev2:

Here’s a slightly closer shot of the marvelous pterodactyl.

I couldn’t believe the pterodactyl was on YouTube. Follow the link.

Septic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W1pmqLHYm4

Having visited the science Museam recently and remembering it as a child i have to say that apart from the aviation room it was a huge dissapointment, it used to be packed with precious artifacts now it seems to have been turned into some sort of theme park. Most of the historical engineering marvels are packed away in warehouses somewhere near Bristol. Speaking to one of the Museams staff they told me the only reason the Aviation room remained intact was the difficulty of removing the aircraft and that it would only be a matter of time before that went too!:(

Thanks, Mike. They are easily confused – like me!:o

Adrian

It is the Pterodactyl, the Granger Archaeopteryx already lives at Old Warden.

Planemike

Great selection of photos. Looks like a great place.

Good to see the Pterodactyl (or is it the Granger Archaeopteryx? It’s extinct, whatever it is!). I’ve been there several times and don’t recall ever seeing it, it’s so well hidden in the murk. Pity, as it’s a survivor of a weirder age – wouldn’t it be nice if OW got their hands on it?

Adrian

I have not visited the Science Museum for about twenty years, I really must do so soon as it used to be one of my favourite museums. When I was a nipper I used to be taken on a visit twice a year by my father. The last time I went was with my two nieces when they were very young (both grown up now with children of their own). I think they were the best visits I had as they both kept asking questions. I an looking forward to the great nieces and nephews being old enough to take on visits. It will be interesting to see what the next generation on thinks about the early aircraft. The comments from my nieces were funny enough, twenty odd years later they should be even funnier.

Very nice photographs indeed.

Why is it that some museums do not allow the use of a tripod or even a monopod?

Is it just a safety issue?

Andrew

[QUOTE=FMK.6JOHN;1362275]Looks like someone snuck in a tripod:D, when I went in with mine they damn near arrested me!, even though it took four of them and a phone call to the control room to see if they allowed tripods.

Thanks John,

I used a micro tripod, and used anything i could to rest it on a act as a brace.

Septic.

I wish they would paint the ceiling a lighter shade than Roundel Blue!!

Looks like someone snuck in a tripod:D, when I went in with mine they damn near arrested me!, even though it took four of them and a phone call to the control room to see if they allowed tripods.

Nice pics by the way.

John.

downside of a weekday visit are the hordes of school children.

But maybe some of those school children will become tomorrow’s aviation enthusiasts. Perhaps that thought will make the pre-pubescent crowds marginally more tolerable. But it still doesn’t make the photography in such places any easier!

Its certainly worth visiting, downside of a weekday visit are the hordes of school children.

There are some very notable exhibits, the pick for me is Amy Johnsons history making aircraft, incredible to think of the flight she undertook in it.

I love the Science Museum and its exhibits, a small collection but most items are milestones of flight and truely historic aircraft are displayed.
I am generally against ‘suspended’ aircraft exhibits, however the SM has been doing it for years and is somehow suited to the place, probably because it has to fit in with so many other great engineering exhibits.
Nice clear shots Gary, and do you know that the beautiful JET 1 was capable of 152 mph in the early ’50s?!

Thanks Mondariz,

I don’t think the science museum has much choice in the matter, space is so limited on the 3rd floor, if they were not suspended they would not be on display. Many of the aircraft featured in the previous photos would have to be held in store at Wroughton Wiltshire. As far as I can remember the Science Museum has always suspended the aircaft at South Kensington.

Where museums have greater display space available, hanging the airframes should I feel be done in moderation, for dramatic effect at the entrance of new gallery, exhibition etc.. what concerns me most is the stress that is placed on the airframe and the difficult task of monitoring and maintaining the exhibit once suspended.

Septic.

Nice pictures. Looks like access is relativly good, despite the aircraft hanging from the ceiling. I never really understood why museums are so keen to suspend aicraft with wires. Surely we all know they are flying machines and can enjoy them without such a visual reminder.

Quite simply – economics.

You can get far more aeroplanes per sq.ft. of floorspace if visitors can walk under rather than around!

Roger Smith.

ps – agree, nice set of pics.

Nice pictures. Looks like access is relativly good, despite the aircraft hanging from the ceiling. I never really understood why museums are so keen to suspend aicraft with wires. Surely we all know they are flying machines and can enjoy them without such a visual reminder.