I was just reading Dave’s thread about the Alpine Fighter Collection, and I was wondering how people rated various collections of aircraft, whether flying or static?
One of my favourite collections was the Blue Max Museum. OK, not a huge selection of aircraft, but a unique one, given that all of the aircraft there were somehow involved in the movie industry.
Spitfire Mk1a AR213 – appeared Battle of Britain and Piece of Cake, and possibly a few more.
Stampe SV4 G-AWXZ – appeared in Aces High, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Mummy, and a few more!
Pilatus P.2 G-BLKZ – appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Sopwith Camel replica G-BPOP – used in The Great Waldo Pepper.
Fokker Eindekker replica G-AVJO – used in Aces High.
Not to mention that, when I was last there, we were given an impromptu tour around the restoration side of the hangar by one of the pilots (who I still haven’t found out who it was!).
By: Snapper - 22nd January 2005 at 00:03
TFC. They have the collection, and they show it beautifully.
By: TMN - 21st January 2005 at 20:13
When I visited in October, the staff at the Midland Air Museum in Coventry could not have been more friendly, I was even offered the chance to have a crawl around the inside of the Canberra by the gentleman who had been working on it since the beginning of the year. Of course I accepted (he has carried out a wonderful restoration to the interior), and was more than happy to answer all my questions, even though it was a cold and breezy Sunday afternoon!
The most moving collection I have visited though has to be East Kirkby. Its been a few years (’98 I think) since I visited, but the storyboards around the hangar where Just Jane is kept, telling of what the crews went through on the missions, had a very deep effect on me which I have remembered ever since.
Must get back there some day.
By: Black Knight - 21st January 2005 at 15:32
OFMC
TFC
Delta Jets
HHA
HFC
Kennet
By: DGH - 21st January 2005 at 13:56
Air Atlantique Historic Flight – add an airworthy Hunter and the Sea Vixen and they have it all.
Delta Jets – probably my favourite group.
The Hunter Flying Club + Hawker Hunter Aviation – Great collections
ThunderCity – very friendly and helpfull, the engineers actually ask if there’s any questions you wish to ask them while your there.
By: Bograt - 21st January 2005 at 13:33
I’ve had some great visits to small collections – because of their size you can get the ‘up close and personal’ touch that of course the big places just can’t do.
I’ll always remeber ASPAA at Brive-la-Gaillarde in France, down near the Dordogne. Not really ancient aircraft, they had a Fouga Zephyr in flying condition, plus some other jets. Called in there on my hols in ’98 with my son in tow, just two guys working in the hangar and we were greeted like Kings. We had the run of the place, and my lad had the time of his life sitting in a Mirage. No admission charge but I was kindly asked if I would consider buying some stickers and a Fouga T-shirt (Total cost about eight quid) which is now one of my fave pieces of airshow clobber.
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January 21, 2005 at 12:46 pm