Aerobatic/Display Museum

Fairly narrow appeal is the first hurdle to deal with and I am not sure a stand alone museum could pull in enough to pay the rent across each year. I would suggest Kemble because an active airfield could add to the pull.

Oddly enough France could be better, support for light aviation has always been stronger than the UK. If you are looking for sponsors be aware that Red Bull will not operate in France.

Good luck.

Do I read that the book costs 39 Euro and the postage and packing 16 Euro?

Can’t comment on the value of the book but 16 Euro seems expensive for P & P.

Planemike

Am I remembering correctly that Air Atlantique Classic Flights Jets are relocating there with the eventual aim of setting up a living museum? Might just fit in nicely with their future plans and with the airframes that are there as AMB states it would compliment them nicely.

I think there were plans for that, but I read somewhere that they have abandoned that idea and the AA aircraft will remain at Coventry.

Cardiff area would be great (nr main M4 etc), and please have an aircraft on display, I’m dying to get my hands dirty again!

Hello – and welcome

Without putting a damper on anything, do be aware that you are asking aviation enthusiasts if they would like to go to a museum about aviation.

Projects I’ve been aware of have also done in depth research into other markets – and one of the best ways of doing that is to talk to the local tourist board (or its equivalent) in Cardiff. There will also be regional development agencies (Welsh Assembly?) who have a remit to encourage new tourism developments. Once you make the right contacts with them you will find them a mine of information that will help. It can also be possible to get a grant for feasibility work which will get you all the background information you need to judge the viability (or otherwise) of the project.

My biased opinion is not to rule out having a single aircraft. I recently saw a Pitts Special in a museum which is remarkably small but also sums up aerobatic aircraft very well.

As an Aerobatic Teams historian, I would think the best place to set up such a museum would be Kemble. Although the Red Arrows first formed at Fairford, Kemble was their first real base and many people associate Kemble with them. Delta Jets already operate Hunter T.7s in “Black Arrows” and “Blue Diamonds” colours, as well as a Gnat in “Yellowjacks” colours. There is also a Gnat in Red Arrows colours near the control tower. Therefore, you already have a ‘living’ aerobatic teams’ museum that just needs all the other static material brought to it under one roof.

Am I remembering correctly that Air Atlantique Classic Flights Jets are relocating there with the eventual aim of setting up a living museum? Might just fit in nicely with their future plans and with the airframes that are there as AMB states it would compliment them nicely.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Blue Max. If I gave the impression that it was RAF teams only then sorry, it will cover teams from around the world, most of the major teams already covered,a couple causing problems! It will also cover solo acts. I will also have a section to competition aerobatics, to this end one of the items I most covet is a Neil Williams flying suit.

Mondariz. I had thought of a virtual museum, and may still have a go, but would this really give an indication of the chances of success of a real museum? Infact wouldn’t it put some people off, “I’ve seen it on the web, don’t need to go” However I have always thought a website that could become a database of pilots/aircraft would be a great iadea.

RPSmith. Thanks for the welcome. I do agree about it being a bit specialised, but I did think that one could make it ‘sexier’ for the general public with the right mixture of visual aids/music etc. Open to suggestions as ever.

AMB. Love the idea of Kemble, love the area, hate the prices of houses around there!

Stevew62. Thanks a million will be in contact today.

Just to stir things up a bit, have been told that the museum would have more of a chance in France. What say you?

As an Aerobatic Teams historian, I would think the best place to set up such a museum would be Kemble. Although the Red Arrows first formed at Fairford, Kemble was their first real base and many people associate Kemble with them. Delta Jets already operate Hunter T.7s in “Black Arrows” and “Blue Diamonds” colours, as well as a Gnat in “Yellowjacks” colours. There is also a Gnat in Red Arrows colours near the control tower. Therefore, you already have a ‘living’ aerobatic teams’ museum that just needs all the other static material brought to it under one roof.

Possibly a good place to be could be South Wiltshire/West Hampshire. With the massive number of tourists in the area visiting everywhere from Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge up to Avebury you could get a large number of tourists after something a bit different.

Hi aeromuseum – welcome to the forum.

I would go along with MH in going in with an established museum. Your proposal is a bit specialised and unless, as Mondariz suggests, you are somewhere where bored tourists will visit (but that is seasonal and you would have to ‘survive’ through the closed season) you may have difficulty getting enough people through the door to make it viable.

Presumably you are located in S.Wales – why not approach the Carew Control Tower Group at Cheriton, Pembroke? Other alternative to try not to far away is the Helicopter Museum at Weston-Super-Mare (well there are aerobatic helicopters nowadays 🙂 )

Roger Smith.

Perhaps you could try to make a virtual museum online, so you can guage the interest (even if its not 100% comparable).

I would also think, that a museum like that, is best placed where large numbers of people holiday. People on holidays always need something to do and on a rainy day, they would visit any museum.

Its normally only the die-hard fans, that would travel to a specialised museum, unless there is something nearby to attract them – so they visit while they are in the area anyway.

Linton GIN / Blades – 1969 -1971

My father flew with the Linton-on-Ouse Jet provost teams Linton GIN & the Blades from ’69 – ’71.

I can provide you with some info about them & some scans / pics ( please E-mail me ).

I recently added an In-flight film taken of a Linton GIN training flight to Youtube.

Here’s a link => Linton GIN In-flight film If that doesn’t work, search Youtube for Linton Gin & you’ll find 2 films.

Unfortunately, one isn’t very good, but the other is pretty impressive I also have some “Blades” pics set to music on Youtube.

Here’s the only colour picture I have of my father in flight ( with Linton GIN )

As to location, I live in Germany now, so anywhere is a small trip for me.:)

So its not an Aerobatic/display museum, but purley an RAF jet team museum then:confused:

Hello WP840

Looking at your flag I thought Cardiff would have got the thumbs up!

Thinking about it a single aircaft, Gnat/Hawk as the centre piece would be rather snazzy.

Hello MH

Thanks for the swift reply 100% better than some forums!

The thinking at the moment is for the Cardiff area for the museum, I can’t see me wanting actual aircraft, money and space being the main reasons.

Can see your point about sharing, but can also see that this may lead to problems regarding freedom to do what you want.

Whilst writing I’m trying to compile a data base of pilots from aerobatic teams over the decades. If any one has old brochures of any teams, especially Jet Provost teams, any chance of a scanned copy?? Any help would be really appreciated.

This sounds like a great idea!
I would have thought a good place to be would be close to Nottingham, that way it is relatively close to the Red Arrows home of RAF Scampton and the M1 for ease of access. Hopefully in a few years you’ll have been able to expand to include a Hawk and/or a Gnat.

It sounds an interesting prospect! I would say that depending on how much you have to display it might be worth speaking to other established museums and collections and working on sharing space. It would be a cheaper and less risky way of starting up and a good base to develop it from.

Have you any ideas whereabouts in the country you want to aim for? Is it something you would like to add aircraft to in the future?

Best wishes with your project,

MH