Nimrods offered to Museums

Nashio.

The prospect of Nimrods being donated to Museums was fine. I think it somewhat relevant that I was told by an RAFM official that a Nimrod, Hercules and VC10 would be donated to Cosford. This was before the new building had the ground broken. I was also told that it was a condition of any new building that all airframes should be kept inside with the exception of the Hunter gate guard. Do you not agree that with those conditions imposed and the knowledge that three large and significant airframes would be donated within the next few years, that it was a bit shortsighted and that provision was not made for these airframes to be kept under cover? As well as breaking the imposed conditions?

You went to Cosford today, I went yesterday. Cosford was and remains a wonderful collection, I just can’t say the same about the shortsighted planning of a National Collection, the NWCE, which now means that any future large acquisitions for Cosford are destined to remain outside.

Regards,

kev35

Kev,

James K kindly posted this image of the original publically posted proposed museum.

You will notice a couple of interesting aspects…

1) Two buildings are detailed showing a/c inside. (Not one)
2) They mention 20 airframes being inside.

Now…

The 14,300m2 is for what? Both buildings or merely one? Not clear.
20 airframes are mentionned in the text; 20 airframes are shown spread over the two buildings.. and yet 20 are currently in the smaller built building…

Admittedly one of the airframes would appear to be a 707…the Herc is not immediately apparent nor is the Valiant and the Dakota doesn’t appear to be there.

Perhaps the original plan for the museum comprising the two buildings is still applicable… one for the NCWE and a second display hall for the larger airframes as and when they become avaliable.

It wouldn’t be the first time a national aircraft collection has taken a pragmatic approach to getting some of its actual airframes under cover, all the while knowing that others were due (that were conditioned on donation/ loan that they should be under cover) that would necessitate either a new building or a major change of the exisiting collection arrangement to accommodate them….

A quick look at some key dimensions of the VC-10, Herc and Nimrod gives a rough area of 4,750m2 net needed to house the airframes (if you draw a box around each one wingspan x length) its a good guide to getting an area at this stage.

Then add approx. another 25% to that area for all the rest (other display areas, toilets, plant spaces, structure zones and so forth)….= c.6000m2…added to the c8,000m2 already built and you have the c.14,000m2 mentionned originally.

It would therefore not be too much of a stretch to imagine that the RAFM will build another, perhaps more hangar-like structure to house these airframes as and when they are actually on site. (They have their ‘icon’ and any further lottery funding would be based on gaining additional area for continuing the work started in the NCWE).

Notice that the computer generated view of the original barrel vaulted museum is cropped to a view of the second building…..

Just a thought….

And of course the nation is left wanting for a dedicated Coastal Command/maritime collection (Nimrod, Shackleton, Neptune, Lancaster, Sunderland etc), maybe this one day could be housed at Cosford.

And a B17 ! I love Costal Command colours.
Move out the b17 in the Bomber Command Hall and make a Stirling shaped space.

And the likely hood of ever seeing a Lanc in coastal command colours?

Zilch its far to easy to take the easy route and paint in a WW2 bomber scheme.

Although saying that I fully understand the reasoning behind the decision as to why a museum would make that call.

Thought process going slightly off topic I wonder if the BBMF would ever consider a scheme for PA474 to repressent another part of the Lancs RAF career?

They have after all a post war schemed Spit.

And of course the nation is left wanting for a dedicated Coastal Command/maritime collection (Nimrod, Shackleton, Neptune, Lancaster, Sunderland etc), maybe this one day could be housed at Cosford.

If they’d have chosen the original plans for Cosford they’d have had room for Nimrod, Hercules and VC10.

Regards,

kev35

Interesting. Hopefully in a few years time (2012/2013ish) there’ll be a push for a transport hangar – lets get the Britannia inside too. I’m sure that could then perhaps find room for the Comet somewhere more relevant. Ideally the Comet would of course fit in the Cold War Exhibitions, with maybe a large new building for a VC10 (C1K), Britannia, C-130K and Belfast perhaps making room for the Comet?

Just a thought RAFM, if you’re reading…

i think with a little shuffling at DX, room for a nimrod could certainly been made in the new hangar.

Few bits of string and I’m sure they could suspend it from the ceiling…

Ben.

Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

Regards,

Kev35

kev apologies, having explained, i see what you’re getting at

post edited accordingly

regards

Ben

Nashio.

The prospect of Nimrods being donated to Museums was fine. I think it somewhat relevant that I was told by an RAFM official that a Nimrod, Hercules and VC10 would be donated to Cosford. This was before the new building had the ground broken. I was also told that it was a condition of any new building that all airframes should be kept inside with the exception of the Hunter gate guard. Do you not agree that with those conditions imposed and the knowledge that three large and significant airframes would be donated within the next few years, that it was a bit shortsighted and that provision was not made for these airframes to be kept under cover? As well as breaking the imposed conditions?

You went to Cosford today, I went yesterday. Cosford was and remains a wonderful collection, I just can’t say the same about the shortsighted planning of a National Collection, the NWCE, which now means that any future large acquisitions for Cosford are destined to remain outside.

Regards,

kev35

actually went there again today, this time with my father and being an ex serviceman, he thought the whole place was just, fantastic.

im sure that all three types will be catered for when withdrawn from service, i think with a little shuffling at DX, room for a nimrod could certainly been made in the new hangar.

If they’d have chosen the original plans for Cosford they’d have had room for Nimrod, Hercules and VC10.

Regards,

kev35

Lets hope the RAFM museum shows some common sense here and secures one of the RAFs stalwarts for future undercover preservation.

me too!

I’ll take a nose section!

Bruce

Me and all :p

I’ll take a nose section!

Bruce

About Comet-size, roughly. Perhaps a metre or two longer, depending on what the previous user leaves in place.;)

So not a small beast by any means.

I think most that end up in museum care, if not all will be kept outside.

I spose the RAFM will be offered and so will duxford. Weather they accept them is another matter.

How big is a nimrod?

Id imagine victor/comet size??

About Comet-size, roughly. Perhaps a metre or two longer, depending on what the previous user leaves in place.;)

A Nimrod MR2 is approx 120ft wide by 130 ft long and on its wheels stands about 30ft high

How big is a nimrod?

I havent seen one in ages and even then it was quite a distance.

Id imagine victor/comet size??

If so space will be a major issue