Cockpit-Fest 2014 – 14th & 15th June 2014

I have just emailed out a PDF copy of the museum’s newsletter and a copy of the group photograph to those Cockpiteers that I have email addresses for – apologies if you’ve not received an email; PM me an email address and I’ll send you the information.

I would also like to take this opportunity to confirm that the 2015 event will be held at Newark on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th June, 2015 – we hope that you will be able to join us next year! 🙂

It looks like you had a smashing event! Congratulations to all of you! :eagerness:

Thanks for posting the photos. We put some of them up on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cockpitfestusa/timeline

Another set of photos has been added to this page on the NAM website http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/gallery.php

We could all meet on the 100th if the 50th isn’t significant enough ??

This separate thread is trying to keep the TSR2 event information together in one place http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?129995-TSR2-Anniversary-Event

The search for participants has brought forward some very interesting contacts and a number of unexpected leads are currently being explored by various people from NAM – myself included.

I’m quietly optimistic that this significant anniversary will be marked in an appropriate manner!

This is Cockpit related, is there anyway that you could see if Brooklands Museum would lend the TSR2 Cockpit to the museum for the Event. Maybe if it stays long enough for Cockpitfest 2015.

I received a pic of the section a week or so ago when it had been rubbed down prior to a ‘Double 12’ event at Brooklands (whatever that is), they should have fitted it out with some photos at least over the years though I don’t know if it has seats.

I wish the TSR event well but after the poor public attendance for the Lightning Weekend I suggested to Bill that the TSR would benefit from piggy-backing in with something else as an extra attraction. The Lightning event turned into a display for displayer’s unfortunately though the hardware, instrumentaton and models were exceptional from all contributors along with cockpit sections that saw many great efforts to pay homage to the beast.

There will be ‘bits’ of course and paperwork, pics and maybe some films but I don’t know if this will attract the public sufficiently while TSR-2 instrumentation and hardware stands to be very limited in comparison due to its rarity; a seat or two might turn up as the biggest items I would imagine. The worry is if the public wouldn’t attend for a well know aircraft like the Lightning with far more physical elements surviving and such good displays being possible then I’m wondering why they would attend an event for a niche aircraft which never saw service.

I only have a wooden model and part of a terrain following radar so not worth displaying for the time I have after months readying for the Fest, but I hope the attendance is good over the event for those that show their wares.

Evening everyone; I have not posted much this last week because we’ve had a busy post-Cockpit-Fest week, with architect meetings, the Hunter T7 arrival and a major reunion event this weekend for a 619 Squadron Lancaster crew – the Lancaster flypast today was one of the best that I’ve ever seen at Winthorpe!

All of the comments from here will be feedback into the post-event de-brief and as ever NAM will try to learn and where appropriate make changes next time round.

Most of the staff and members are aware of the thread and I know that they are appreciative of the comments. On the site maintenance NAM has a brilliant couple doing a lot of the work and they are appreciated. I will try and arrange for some more photographs to be posted on the NAM website next week; I have one that was taken on Friday when the Hunter T7 arrived and it show the 70 plus bags of rubbish that were accumulated during Cockpit-Fest.

Thanks to everyone for your support! 🙂

Not the best look for me Garry!!!! I need Ian stomach and to loose my ‘moobs’!!!

The cleaning lady was awesome – she was even cleaning the salubrious portaloos (which were Rolls Royce compared to many!). NAM, you have a gem there!

I managed to hold my belly in commendably well there, you were slow off the mark Tone!

Re what Mike says on interior displays, yes its time (finances permitting etc) that some of us try where possible to do displays elsewhere of items other than cockpits to show that what we do is not so niche and closed off. Since discussing the idea of panels/cockpit interiors etc wth Bill all those years ago before the first ‘Fest it has come on in leaps and bounds with the personalities of displayers coming through with ever-imaginative new ideas and techniques to put their ideas and concepts across.

Anyone wishing to display at the Damyn’s Hall event this year can find the website easily enough and they are finalizing places now with collectors very welcome to show their wares.

Yes to hangar door being open if poss, but a sign by the main hangar entrance for the indoor displays would be a help – it would serve as a reminder to Cockpiters and the public alike, as its always disappointing to find both parties coming around as stuff is being packed away. Cockpiters often say they forgot or didn’t have time, while the public probably have their Sunday dinner first and miss out on some great interior treasures in coming a bit later in the afternoon.

On the service side one chap commented that ‘nothing was too much trouble’ to staff after he was allowed to shoot the Viggen? interior before the show kicked off on the Saturday, while he was impressed as many of us were with the cleaning up that went on, especially by the lady with the broom and endless supply of bags!

Well said Anon, to add to the previous shots on this post here are some of the presentations

As usual, a big and hearty Thank You from our little group to Bill O’Sullivan and the other staff at NAM for staging yet another wonderful event.

It has indeed transitioned from cockpit-only displays to side shows, notably flying gear and panel displays and this has rapidly gained in popularity amongst the preservation/static display fraternity.

Like displaying cockpits, NAM didn’t invent the idea but have successfully nurtured the ideas and allowed them to flourish to the point that they are pretty much stand-alone disciplines. This is great to see and has brought several highly imaginative and talented people and groups to the fore.

NAM work hard at providing not only what us cockpitters and display folk want but allowing these disciplines to grow and become established as more than private collections locked away in people’s homes. It never fails to surprise me how, when the conditions are right, that what were previously very much side-shows become established disciplines in their own right.

A group of us are taking some cockpits to the Waddington air show in a few weeks time. I hope and believe that other show organisers will see the value of this type of display and, who knows, we may find an established cockpit display at just about every show. I wonder if the panel, stick top and flying clothing displays will follow suit?

It would be a great additional attraction for any air show to have a marquee filled with such material. With reduced or zero participation from some countries in air shows it would be a very educational and interesting way of filling the gaps at minimal cost.

Thanks again NAM, we shall be back again next year.

Congratulations to this year’s winners – a very worthy bunch.

Anon.

Thank you for the additional comments – all of the museum staff do a great job!

Another mini-album of photos from Saturday has been added in here http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/gallery.php

Only my second visit to Cockpit-Fest but a really good Saturday for me. It was nice to meet up with people I knew and to meet a few I didn’t.
I would just like to add how impressed I was with the “ground staff” sweeping and cleaning all day! Excellent…

Ken

OH NO!!

That’s our wedding anniversary, and my sister-in-law is also getting married on the same day too!!! So we’ll be at her wedding…

Sorry, but that’s two good reasons not to be there… 🙁

May have to loan Len’s helmet to FlyingSaucer to display for the event…

My anniversary is the week before so it’s close but I don’t mind hospital food.

Is Flying Saucer attending?

😉

I quite understand your commitments Scott – but the TSR2 date was set nearly 50 years ago!

Thanks for your possible support via other parties. 🙂

OH NO!!

That’s our wedding anniversary, and my sister-in-law is also getting married on the same day too!!! So we’ll be at her wedding…

Sorry, but that’s two good reasons not to be there… 🙁

May have to loan Len’s helmet to FlyingSaucer to display for the event…

Gary, One for you, well done again! ]

Cheers for that dude, very much appreciated !!. That was a great weekend and it was good to meet up with you guys after missing out on last years event 🙂 . I’ll add your pic to my own personal collection if that’s Ok ?.

And just wait ’till next year http://forum.keypublishing.com/images/smilies/devilish.png

Scott the TSR2 thread has just been updated – all set for 27th September, look forward to seeing you at Newark again! 🙂

I predict a Riot! – Fantastic tune Howard!

I saw them live a few years ago at the V Festival – lead singer performing with a broken foot / ankle! Brilliant!

I’m sure we all have some personal opinions on things, but the key is to get over it and praise the fantastic efforts that people make! It’s the community, that makes Cockpitfest so great. Hopefully no riots! 🙂

I can’t wait for the next events! TSR2 will be very interesting indeed! I have Len Dean’s helmet that he wore during all the ground engine testing… of not only TSR2, but also Jaguar and Tornado prototypes too. Would love to show it at the event. Maybe even find some white overalls to re-enact as Len?? Maybe a tall order, would hate to offend his family / friends.. Maybe just show the helmet…

Cheers, Scott