Have just got back from an unplanned vist to Hendon with my daughter,we were on our way back from the Ace Cafe after a motorcycle show and I thought it would be great chance for my daughters first vist.I had heard a few negative comments about the current situation at Hendon but nothing really prepared me for the true horror! the place looks like a building site outside and inside the main hall half of the exhibits are roped off or are partially dismantled.Now I know that the museum is under going a big refurb but surely it would have been better to have closed or at least had a structured plan in place rather than the shambles that it presently is in.A large number of the vistors seemed to foreign and I dread to think of what they thought of the place,this is supposed to be a symbol of national pride!
Anyway rant over!
Wooly
By: fast wooly - 23rd May 2017 at 21:08
I think that some stuff is on its way to Cosford tomorrow as I’ve just heard from an old mate who is transporting a plane from Hendon!
By: Arabella-Cox - 22nd May 2017 at 20:40
I went on Friday and found it to be a mix between a building site and roped off mess as the floor is being painted in the main Hangar by the cafe so you can’t get to the Chinook part and in the bomber command you can see the Lancaster and the B17 side is ok but everything on the Liberator side is roped off and not accessible.
As normal the Battle of Britain hall is closed and restaurant has been demolished and most of the car park is blocked off, the Graham white Hangar is open as normal and the war in the air was quite interesting.
The worst is the milestones of flight which has the Buccaneer in it parked by the partially stripped Tornado and a disassembled F35 mock up and also Meteor prototype and ME 262 in bits waiting their move to Cosford which makes it look more like Hangar 5 at Duxford than a actual display Hangar.
Hopefully after it is finished the museum will return to normal as I was a bit disappointed with this visit especially since everything from Battle of Britain is still in bits like the ME110 or has (or will) be going to Cosford.
Curlyboy
By: fast wooly - 22nd May 2017 at 20:38
I to like to see them partially dismantled but they seemed to just be spread about the place with no explanation as to what was what.My daughter is nine and has shown an interest in aviation since reading a book called “Grandpas war” and asked me what a spitfire and hurricane was so so far we have visited the Shuttleworth collection and now Hendon and hope to take her to Duxford soon to keep up her interest!
By: Creaking Door - 22nd May 2017 at 11:32
Personally, I really like seeing aircraft ‘partially dismantled’ and visited the Battle-of-Britain hall twice specifically to see them in this condition; the aircraft suddenly seemed ‘alive’ again (even though it was obvious how poor a state some of them were in internally) and I can’t think when I’ve enjoyed visiting that part of the museum more!
I say, more museums should do this as a regular feature…
…and anything has got to be better than closing major parts of the museum, surely?
And welcome to the forum ‘Fast Wooly’…..how old is your daughter, if you don’t mind me asking?
By: Ossington - 22nd May 2017 at 11:23
Any photos? I’ve been meaning to visit again sometime soon (after two decades or so!) but will put it off indefinitely if there is less to see than usual.
By: PanzerJohn - 22nd May 2017 at 11:15
He missed out a letter, let it go.
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May 21, 2017 at 9:27 pm