‘Eyes down for a full house’ it’s time to start the 2014 Newark Air Museum Briefing thread, through which I will endeavour to keep people advised of the day to day activities at NAM.
As with these threads previously I would just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who visited the Newark Air Museum in 2013. You all helped the museum to record another increase in visitor numbers – in 2013 this saw the most paid admissions recorded to the museum at any time during the last fifteen (15) years. This in turn generated good income figures, which going forward allows the museum to undertake more restoration and site development projects.
Steady progress continues to be made on several in-depth restoration projects including the Monospar, Harvard, Mooney and Auster AOP9 re-build. A new work programme will soon be compiled, which will build on major schemes like the Hastings repaint. A couple of photographs of the Harvard project have been added to the Restoration & Behind The Scenes album in here!
The stores rationalisation project is well underway and some non-accessed items are being released, as ever details will be posted on the museum website – in the usual place!
The fundraising for Project Panini is continuing at a steady pace, which will help the museum fund the important new Café / Education Space development project – the most recent total showed that more than £1,600 has been raised so far; thanks if you’re someone who has contributed.
As ever, details about the other events such as the Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble on 1st March 2014; Tribute to the V-Force event on 17th &19th May 2014; and Cockpit-Fest 2014 & Aeroboot / Aerojumble on 14th & 15th June 2013; can be found in the news pages here!
Happy New Year to you all, from everyone at “the friendly aviation museum!”
At a convenient time would it be possible for a kindly Mod to lock the 2013 Briefing thread? “Thanks Moggy!!” 🙂
Finally don’t forget that the museum will be open again at 10am on Thursday 2nd January 2014!
By: TwinOtter23 - 30th December 2014 at 09:42
The PR7 was back safely on the ground by the time that I left the museum yesterday; as was the Rallye. The T19 is in a slightly more shaded location and its tail was still ‘stuck’ to the ground, but it might be back down now.
The nose-up attitude helps move the snow off the wings more quickly because when it thaws gravity then takes over and the snow slides off quite quickly; before the airframe then returns gently to the ground.
Walking around the site first thing yesterday I also felt that the two Canberras ‘taking-off’ was perhaps a silent mark of respect to Peter Green. His funeral is on Friday and he was a major ‘Canberra Fan’.
Indeed one of my favourite interviews in recent years was my discussions with Peter about when the Canberra came to RAF Binbrook in the early 1950s. Here’s what Peter recalled about seeing the first Canberras arrive in Lincolnshire.
“It was revolutionary! I was living in Grimsby at the time and we watched the Canberras coming in to Binbrook in early 1951. I had been to Farnborough in 1949 and seen Beamont flying the prototype so I knew what the aircraft was like and also its performance capabilities; so when I heard that it was coming to Binbrook with 101 Squadron I was highly delighted. In a sense the Canberra was handed to me on a plate, just 10 miles from my home; they flew over the town on approach and we used to go up to the airfield to see them, so I really just grew up with them”.
By: Peter - 29th December 2014 at 16:34
Poor Canberras trying to takeoff again….
By: TwinOtter23 - 29th December 2014 at 15:16
A ‘snowy album’ from December 2014 (today) has been added to the NAM gallery!
By: TwinOtter23 - 27th December 2014 at 10:31
The staff and volunteers have managed to get through to the museum, which is open as planned despite the overnight snow; details about how the situation will be monitored during the day can be found in here!
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th December 2014 at 16:10
To try and add a little festive cheer a ‘wintery album’ from December 2010 has been added to the NAM gallery!
By: TwinOtter23 - 21st December 2014 at 22:01
Details about NAM’s Christmas opening hours have been added to the usual place on the website.
Don’t forget to ask about a backpack if you’re visiting with a child or a grandchild. 🙂
By: TwinOtter23 - 18th December 2014 at 14:39
A few fresh pictures showing progress on the Monospar restoration have been added to the Restoration & Behind The Scenes album in here – steady progress is being made and I hear tell of an Internet purchase of some new pinking scissors!
By: TwinOtter23 - 11th December 2014 at 08:10
Thank you for sharing your thoughts minisandfords.
They were first ‘test-flown’ the other week with a KS1 school group. While they were broadly appreciated the diverse range of worksheets gave them too many choices; when a more structured approach might have been better on that particular day.
The second ‘test-flight’ will be over Christmas as described on the website and we’ll see what feedback we get from that. Thanks for the heads-up re the backpack contents; plus it sounds like I need to add another book to my Christmas list! 🙂
By: minisandfords - 10th December 2014 at 17:37
What a great idea! Done these at Victoria and Albert museum- kids love them!
Plus that book in the picture (Tail End Charlie) is ace- my son and I have read that several times.
You’ll have to keep your eye on the contents though…..
By: TwinOtter23 - 10th December 2014 at 08:34
During the forthcoming Christmas holiday period NAM will be trialling a new backpack for its younger visitors, this is part of its ACE / AHL education programme and further details can be found in here.
By: TwinOtter23 - 4th December 2014 at 13:59
A few updates to report from a chilly Nottinghamshire.
Aeroboot / Aerojumble adverts for the indoor sale on 7th March 2015 have just been booked in FlyPast and Aeroplane for the February & March editions.
A mooch around the site this morning highlighted progress on several projects; notably the Ashton where a cockpit floor is evolving nicely and on the Monospar where some completed structural parts have been located. Photographs have been added in here!
Finally for now it is good to be able to report that the first trade orders have also been fulfilled this week for the new RAF Winthorpe book. 🙂
By: TwinOtter23 - 3rd December 2014 at 10:02
For anyone thinking of travelling to NAM in December a heads-up about some possible travel issues related to events on the Showground has been posted in here, along with some details about a festive makeover for the Anderson Shelter. There are some fresh pictures in the gallery as well!
By: TwinOtter23 - 30th November 2014 at 20:11
Some updates have been added in the usual place.
Close to my heart is the Gift Aid item, which has proved to be a bit of a challenge during the last six months, while trying to get to grips with the new compulsory HMRC online submission system. This was finally resolved about 10 days ago, which saw a nice 5 figure sum added to the NAM coffers. Please keep using this option on any admissions or donations as it is a great additional source of income! :eagerness:
A new ‘Project Panini – The Build’ display has also been added to the entrance of the Exhibition Hall!
By: TwinOtter23 - 26th November 2014 at 18:17
A few updates have been added to the NAM website in the last couple of days.
First up is a news item about work on the Monospar, which highlights that the starboard wing has now been moved into the workshop for fabric to be applied, more details in here!
Out on the site a new set of low level metal stanchions have been purchased, which allows the external aircraft to be fenced off in a slightly less obtrusive manner i.e. apart from designated work areas NAM is now ‘cone-free’.
Work is underway on fabricating a new nose cone for the Ashton, while over in Display Hangar 2 panelling up continues on the Dominie.
Photographs of this work and more, have been added in here! 🙂
By: TwinOtter23 - 15th November 2014 at 21:08
Following today’s RAF Winthorpe book signing session I did some preparatory work in Hangar 2, ready for a school visit next week.
After doing this work I did a quick evaluation of the space availability, which has changed since the Dominie has been moved inside. So much so it seems likely that there might be a reduction in the number of tables available for the Spring Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble. Further details will be advised when this can be confirmed.
A brief update has also been added to the NAM website, about plastic kit availability in the NAM Shop, more details in here!
By: aeropark - 11th November 2014 at 09:00
Hi All…
This is a very informative interview with former RAF Pilot Paul McDonald & author of ‘Winged Warriors’ The Cold War From the Cockpit…. Filmed @ the museum a couple of weeks ago… By Aircrew Interview…
In a couple of days the producer will add some Extras filmed from inside the cockpit Section of Canberra PR.7 WH779, this is the aircraft he flew in to photograph the soviet carrier Kiev back in the 70’s
A Big Thanks to the museum for allowing the interview to take place.
By: TwinOtter23 - 9th November 2014 at 19:35
I was over at the museum today for the Remembrance Sunday Service, which was attended by a large number of civic guests and members of the public and a photo album has been added in here.
Some news updates have also been added in here.
By: TwinOtter23 - 7th November 2014 at 18:31
I’ll flag up the label issues around the RAF Regiment display; one of the main supporters of that display sometimes lurks / posts around here, so he may be aware already. Please try not to frighten the natives too much if you visit again! 😀
Both the TSR2 cockpit and the Gnat were covered over during the recent Big Draw event and I guess that ‘someone’ forgot to uncover it.
I was over there today and while helping clear the space in Hangar 2 for the Dominie to move inside; we also uncovered the TSR2 cockpit; but it may soon be moving outside, where it is likely to remain covered over during the winter period. This last point is subject to final agreement with the parent museum.
By: chevpol - 6th November 2014 at 22:15
called in on sunday last…..(had been to the militaria fair) nice to see whats new etc. funny how when both myself and my mate walked into the cafe it went very quiet……maybe something to do with the fact I was wearing USAF bdu’s and my mate DDR winter uniform!!!….anyway interesting chat with the volunteer looking after the canberra B1, shame the TSR2 cockpit was covered up though! Only downside was the RAF Regiment reenactors display, a few errors, a PRC344 labled as a 351, the “washing line” aerial labled as “SAS” and the desert dpm jacket with the american webbing. A good display though. All that aside, I do like visiting Newark!
By: TwinOtter23 - 6th November 2014 at 14:28
I have been asked to remind people that if you’re planning to attend the museum’s Remembrance Service at 3pm on Sunday 9th November, please allow some extra time due to anticipated additional traffic caused by the vintage tractor event over on the Showground.
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January 1, 2014 at 10:13 am