Cockpitfest 2013 – Newark Air Museum

The post has just arrived this morning, which contained a complimentary copy of the September 2013 edition of Airfix Model World – thank you Mr Sands!

In the Out and About section, page 78, is a write-up about Cockpit-Fest 2013 – thanks to those who wrote and featured the event.

The event was also mentioned in the Experience History Blog!

I’m just about to start the write-up in NAM’s next Dispersal newsletter and will compile the 2013 displays for Hangar 2 during the next few weeks!!

Addendum: the Cockpit-Fest results are also featured in Pilot Magazine – August 2013 and FlyPast – September 2013.

FEST POSTERS

I never, ever get to see this bit, always miss it without fail, so never appear on any group photo! Congratulations to all the winners though, really enjoyed the weekend as ever, lots of great effort put in by everyone. it’s time to hang up the hat on this one. So next year I’ll be a visitor and hopefully get to see more of everyone else’s projects as it looks like I’ve been missing some fabulous stuff!

Here’s a poster special for this year’s event with a generic as an option, taken from a series shot on the Saturday evening with a friend’s Bristol 188 tinplate bought at the aeroboot. Have sent them off to Bill and his internal organizers recently and will get them worked up to landscape A4 to advertise the fest during the next year if they aren’t already as I just did these ‘by eye’ initially.

I never, ever get to see this bit, always miss it without fail, so never appear on any group photo! Congratulations to all the winners though, really enjoyed the weekend as ever, lots of great effort put in by everyone.
I think in all honesty, that will probably be the last one I do unless we get a new project, ours has definitely had it’s day, what seemed something a bit different to start with has now been done over and over again, so I feel it’s time to hang up the hat on this one. So next year I’ll be a visitor and hopefully get to see more of everyone else’s projects as it looks like I’ve been missing some fabulous stuff!

A few more pics and the final group which I am not on!

Thanks to those forumites and supporters that have tweeted on the museum’s behalf.

Even if you guys choose not to pursue Twitter, its not a bad idea to suggest a set of ‘official’ hashtags on your website, such as the one we recently used: #CockpitFest.. This is a neat way of joining up peoples conversations without you having to put in any effort.

You mention the importance of succession planning, this is something I’ve recently been involved in at work, and I can understand the benefits…

Cheers, Scott

Thanks for taking and sharing these images…

The above was a very proud moment… The best fathers day I could have ever asked for! It was nice to include little Emily in the event, hopefully she’ll take an interest in the years to come!

Big thanks again to Rob, Rich and Rob in the photo for helping to pull off a decent display! Couldn’t have done it like that without you guys!

Cheers, Scott

Sadly time is the major factor that is so often lacking

Copy that.. For a while I ran the XS458 twitter feed, on top of my own (@scottbouch). Lots to manage…

It’s a shame that the Giant that is Facebook has such a big following, as I (and many other Twitter users) disagree with their (Facebooks) ethics. I closed my Facebook account out of protest recently when they bought Instagram and claimed the rights to ‘my’ images.

Facebook is a necessary evil for most organisations as it has so many users, but don’t trust it.

Twitter does seem to be the friendlier little brother, lots of nice aero debate, with very little agro.

If you’re interested in planning the future online presence of NAM (or any other organisation) I recommend talking to Christian Payne (or his alias, “Documentally”). Amongst other things, he’s advised companies, the rich and famous, etc, on how best to appear to the outside world for your needs.

See: www.documentally.com and Twitter @Documentally

Cheers, Scott

A quick clarification re social media!

I understand that an ‘unofficial’ Twitter account was established a while ago in NAM’s name, but has never been ‘adopted’ by the museum itself. Thanks to those forumites and supporters that have tweeted on the museum’s behalf.

A ‘semi-official’ Facebook account is running and is ‘managed’ by one of the staff. Looking at the web-traffic from that source, for the Lightning Event; Cockpit-Fest and Armed Forces Day (Week) – then that is something that the museum may have to consider investing more time and effort in.

Sadly time is the major factor that is so often lacking, none more so than this year as everyone at NAM tried (tries) to pick up the slack following the unexpected passing of the museum’s Financial Controller on May 17th.

The best way to describe the events to support Cockpit-Fest in the last month leading up to the weekend is reactive, rather than proactive! Fingers crossed for a better run-in to the event next year!

Footnote to other groups / museums: As has been posted elsewhere about these parts, do not let anyone tell you that ‘Succession Planning’ is a waste of time – it isn’t and I would personally recommend that you try to put in place a robust policy as quickly as you can. It will save you so much time in the event of an unexpected change of circumstances!

On the subject of advertising events, I did send a few Tweets from the Fest, search Twitter for Hashtag: #cockpitfest

I think I’ve seen that NAM has a Twitter account, but it sits fairly dormant and un-utilised. Check out the FAST museums Twitter feed, they are very active with it. It makes good reading, and generates interest in their museum.

Cheers, Scott

Some pictures of the end ceremony from my Dad, Ron Pulford

Just to clarify re signage – in NAM’s experience it’s not vandals removing signs but the various Councils and associated transport organisations.

In answer to your question, no solely event specific adverts have been placed in aviation magazines; although events dates were included on some major adverts placed in ‘other’ aviation publications.

Last year spend was focused on the aviation sector for promoting Cockpit-Fest and Aeroboot, with IMHO little discernible impact.

This year an equivalent spend was made locally and as was highlighted in #118, some impact has been achieved.

With limited advertising budgets NAM will always struggle to get the perfect balance. The PR effort remains undiminished; directory /event listings the same; for information at the beginning of May just under 1,000 people on the museum’s email list were contacted reminding them about the events.

Also as has been stated before Aeroboots are not viewed as a core aspect of the museum’s charitable aims; as a consequence we will always struggle to support them with large advertising spend – that is one of the reasons why the participation costs are kept at the lower end of the scale for this type of event.

‘FEST-IVE FUN 2

[QUOTE=Yes i know there exists some bitterness (only a small amount) that the stuff in the hanger isn’t ‘cockpits’, and that distracts from the main aim of the event.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately detractors do occur, though not so much these days I think. I was most surprised and not a little cheesed-off at the Fest this year however, to meet an old acquaintance/hangar exhibitor who told me calmly of an unfortunate experience he had when he had last displayed almost a decade ago. He hadn’t come back since that time sadly, after being waylaid in the hangar by a group of cockpiters who had told him bluntly that he shouldn’t have been displaying, and that his exhibits were out of context to the event.

Strangely as I recall, his displays were all aviation related including ASR items along with a complete ejector seat. Additionally even though he had provided boards clearly captioning that some items on his seat weren’t quite correct but which helped in the overall presentation, an ejector aficionado also seized on them regardless and said he shouldn’t have used them in his display. After his experience which he clearly found unfriendly he did a few shows elsewhere but felt a bit deflated and affected by it all, subsequently selling his seats and other bits to enter a different branch of display in his aviation interests.

As one of the original people who first mooted the interior displays with Bill many years ago shortly before the first event, anyone trying that number on with me would have received very short shrift indeed and its a shame that the cockpiters concerned never entered into a one-to-one debate with me at that particular event. Interior displays show items that the pubic don’t always see or notice so well in a cockpit thanks to their easier access, being an advantage to view panels and other instrumentation quickly and in such an easier and uncluttered way. The disabled obviously benefit also.

Having access to types that the show cannot provide is also an advantage re equipment and instrumentation – Alan Hulme’s Lancaster panels/throttle boxes can’t be viewed in situ at most museums around the country because there obviously aren’t that many Lancaster airframes that the public can inspect – and it would be a bit difficult for many older people alone on the practical front as just one consideration. The B-17 & B-24 panel displays 8-9 years ago were also another welcome opportunity for the ordinary public to view and appreciate in detail what these bomber ‘front end’ interiors looked like, while enthusiasts were happy to take their own reference shots for their particular projects or general interest also.

Off-shoots from the original panels/equipment concept are all valid and the public often likes to just look at literature, photographs and other memorabilia rather than hard kit, which is where the hangar displays have grown in other areas over the years in educating and informing like sims, models, clothing and ASR – I’ve always been gladdened by the fact that in pursuing this particular interest you are actually preserving and conveying history. How you DO that is where the FUN comes in, as we have seen with Flying Saucers refreshing installation approach.

Yes its a Cockpit Fest but any related attractions are valid and if they assist in getting the public through the doors it can’t be an unwanted ‘distraction’. It has to be a good thing for both pure cockpiters (who have often benefited from mutual buys, swaps & info) and the paying public. A cockpiter mailed me recently saying that the non-cockpit element is always badly underrated but I think it is increasingly recognized more these days and acceptance of this is still changing. Certainly most hangar people I know are very amiable and friendly and see themselves as just as dedicated in what they do – remember as Scott says also, that many hangar people simply can’t have cockpits due to space issues alone.

As an enthusiast who has also displayed a cockpit at the Fest I enjoy devising my own hangar displays as much as ever though the lack of sleep in coming up from London these days can often mean a kip in the van later in the day after set-up. I was that Cyberman originally mike1275, and the sight of Bill’s increasingly disbelieving face as I approached staff at the Saturday entrance gate in the van was worth the fuel bill alone in working through the night to source and check-list everything off. The fact that it only cost £2 at a carboot and still did the cyber voices was a boon as I turned and glared mechanically at him on lowering my electric window. Priceless!

Thanks for the advertising update Howard, vandalism and red tape will always be issues and good to know that the museum has been on the case in the past on that one. Local advertising is always important and I know many museums use local advertising/websites with some including Twitter/Facebook usage etc. The main Q I have had put to me again at shows since last October however is whether traditional advertising in nationwide aviation magazines is employed for events also.

If it isn’t employed due to magazine advertising fees then some seller concern has been whether it would attract enough buyers and the public in general to events. We all want to make aeroboots as best as they can be for all concerned especially with fuel costs these days and ultimately I guess its a balance between spend and what you hope to get back in, for both organizers and sellers. Certainly other factors like the weather and competing events don’t help and hopefully the end of season boot will be better attended this year thanks to your making it an earlier date, as we also hope it won’t be so miserable and wet then. We may see more date changes in the future, as I read that we have a DECADE of lousy weather impending…

On the non aviation front for me a couple of stands would be well worth the sight presented at the end of the weekend of a Cyberman in a VW Type 2 camper :highly_amused:

I don’t have a problem with the display,(was it yours Flying Saucer?) just the disproportionate appraisal ;i.e “far more effort and thought” I was thinking in terms of the shear amout of physical hard work associated with loading cockpits onto trailers, and towing them long distances, trying to pre empt all impending disasters.

It is because of the above, that I sometimes attend with a smaller display, and as such I am much the same as anyone else in hangar 2; I don’t believe I have been mentioned in dispaches or won any prizes, but it has enabled me to attend the event without making a humongous effort every year.

It wasn’t my intention to criticise the display, (or anyone elses with an aviation theme) I do however wonder about some of the non aviation/military/ re enactment stuff, but I’ve ruffled enough feathers for now. (pun intended)

Knifeedgeturn, It was not just magazines and vases, to the left of the display was a dressed mannequin, in a genuine 1950s RFD MK 3 RAF Liferaft, hence the 1959 theme, it was also a tribute to English Electric Lightning test pilot Johnny Squier, who made an amazing ejection and rescue off St Bees Head Cumberland on 1st October 1959.

It’s quite simple Scott; “Don’t want to detract from the Hangar 2 prize winner’s efforts but far more effort and thought went into the display in the hopefully attached photos”.

Far more effort and thought went into the display (of magazines and vases) than the rest of the displays in hangar 2.

It’s not really the display I was criticising but the statement above.

stick up for who you like, but there is no bitterness that I have ever heard about hangar 2 exhibits not being cockpits, or detracting from the main aim; I have displayed twice in the hangar in the years (as have most of the stalwarts of cockpit fest) when taking a complete cockpit was too much effort, due to work or personal commitments.

Don’t want to detract from the Hangar 2 prize winner’s efforts but far more effort and thought went into the display in the hopefully attached photos. The couple who set this up put as much thought and work into their display every year and while they don’t seek recognition they deserve it.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]217952[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]217953[/ATTACH]

I don’t like getting involved in the argumentative debates (or bitchy-ness) that the Fly Past forum sometimes suffers from, but I have to stick up for Flying Saucer here as most others have done.

Yes i know there exists some bitterness (only a small amount) that the stuff in the hanger isn’t ‘cockpits’, and that districts from the main aim of the event. The public voted for our helmet display to win the visitors prize, so that hopefully gives some indication of a cross section of interests in the event. (thank you visitors).

I guess we’ll never know why Mr Knifey had a dig… But I’d still be interested to see his cockpit at a Fest, and give him the praise that all displayers deserve.

I’d love a cockpit section (I really would), but time, money, space (and probably a divorce en route) are my constraints, so I give a nod to aviation heritage in the way I can afford to. It’s the same for Flying Saucer, and most of the others in the hangar. We all have common interests in Aviaion, history, technologies, its nice that we celebrate these different facets together.

For me personally, the one thing that Flying Sauces display brought to the ‘Fest (which not many other exhibits did) was a lot of FUN!. People smiled when they saw it! For me thats enough reason to give a big pat on the back…

I also have huge admiration for anyone who has restored a cockpit, engine, or any other display, towed it miles across country to display it at the Fest, you are an inspiration!

Cheers, Scott

The only legal signs that the museum has are the brown and white tourism signs, which all have planning permission and were paid for by the museum many years ago. The museum had a major battle to get some continuation signage on the ‘kamikaze’ roundabout complex at the A1/A46/A17 junction – after three or more years of hassle we finally got it implemented (at the intervention of the Swedish Assistant Defence Attaché in December 2006). Some agreed wording also had to be added to the website at the specific request of the Highways Agency.

Early last year one of the signs just along the short A46 dual carriage way was stolen and I spent six months getting agreement between the Highways Agency, the County Council and the private company responsible for road maintenance to get it replaced.

Other than spending a high three figure sum to get some temporary AA signs, approved and installed for the event weekend; the museum would have to try to put up ‘illegal’ temporary signs like the ones for the Kit Car Show. When we have done this in the past, as posted above they have been taken down on the night before the event or sometimes during the day!

Not easy to resolve, but I’ll make sure that the matter is reviewed. 🙂

Quite a debate, it shows the passion people have for Cockpitfest event whatever your point of view.

Great write up Garry sums up the event nicely and thanks for the mention in dispatches. There were quite a few interesting things to be had in the aeroboot section in I managed to scratch my collecting itch over the weekend.

For me part of the appeal of Cockpitfest is that you never quite know what you are going to see as you walk around and the context that parts of the displays add to the main subject of the display. I enjoyed the 50’s inspired part of the afore mentioned display it gave context and contrast, the context of the golden years of British aviation with design starting to gain importance against function along with new materials and technology and the contrast of a world of colour after the dark days of the war and the comforts of home contrasted against the survival equipment that many crew found themselves forced to use.

The signage for Cockpitfest I would assume faces the same problems as the Kit Car show next door. Before being lured next door to Cockpitfest for about 20 years or so I used to go to the Kit Car show and every year the signs were either missing or some comedian had switched the arrows on the sign around sending you the wrong way.

Once again some interesting feedback, which I will also take to the ‘de-brief’, however I have a couple of points / thoughts to share.

Signage on the local roads is an issue with the various authorities (3 different jurisdictions if you look at the A17, A46 and A1133). We have lost event signage in the past, removed and never to be seen in that NSDC skip – I also believe that the Kit Car people may have lost signage this year and had to replace it – although that could be just a rumour.

Since January NAM has made huge effort to focus on attracting visitors from the local area, including a series of paid listings on a set of local paper websites: Please see here for an example!

On the Useful Information tab we had event newsletters running for Cockpit-Fest and the Lightning event, both of which have been taken down. This has helped change the visitor profile to the museum and the events. It’s worth remembering that over the two days of this year’s Cockpit-Fest event visitor numbers were up by around 10% as compared to 2012.

From the visitor voting forms we can get some basic visitor information, which is based on national economic impact metrics.

Local Visitors (less than 1 hour travel time) 2012 – 9.0%; 2013 – 18.4%

Day Visitors (1 to 3 hour travel time) 2012 – 55.6%; 2013 – 46.9%

Overnight Visitors (more than 3 hour travel time) 2012 – 36.4%; 2013 – 36.7%

So some change has been achieved at getting more local visitors; despite a lot of local events competing with Cockpit-Fest this year. But, as ever we can always improve and try to do better! 🙂