RAF Museum's 'First World War in the Air' exhibition

re:

That Mosquito looks fantastic. A nice change from camouflage.

I quite like what they have done in here. A bit more access to some of the aircraft and views of them you wouldn’t see if they were sitting on the ground. …

I noticed when in MOTAT this week that two of the hung aircraft are agricultural types, with specialist fittings that are more visible from below. A case of making virtue out of necessity I think (given that they had to hang a few).
They are the Agwagon and Fletcher turboprop visible above the Solent in this photo.
Lancaster view by errolgc, on Flickr

There are also a couple of Ag types on the floor.

I nearly did trip over it as I was trying to compose a shot of the aircraft in the rafters.

Brian

One annoying thing is the rather loud noise coming from the moving map display on the floor.

That’s the screams of visitors as they trip over the thing Brian. I wonder how long before it has dayglo cones or a rope barrier around it?

The Snipe is parked where the Typhoon that went to Canada used to be in the main hangars.

Brian

Going up tomorrow hopefully, one question, is the Snipe in there now? Or has it been placed in storage?

I quite like what they have done in here. A bit more access to some of the aircraft and views of them you wouldn’t see if they were sitting on the ground. The lighting conditions appear to be an improvement on what it was before. One annoying thing is the rather loud noise coming from the moving map display on the floor.

Brian

hes an exhibit in his own right. Should be stuffed and put on display at Yeovilton.

Officially opened today by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Brian

I’m not sure that it needs ‘refurbishing’ as it is effectively a newly-built room.

Have they actually refurbished it?

The first floor office was open to access the viewing gallery by the Fokker D VII for the press preview last week. I’m not sure whether it is planned to have it open regularly.

re;

I want to see the tower. Every time I have been to Hendon it has been shut. Its an absolute gem and I got to see inside before it was moved. I wonder if they will ever restore the offices that were upstairs in the Graham White Hangar?

I am not criticising the exhibition. The question really is which is the more predominatant factor. I liked the bit about “To ensure their continued effectiveness artificial lights and UV filters will be replaced when necessary”. I suppose you have to have a policy document to say that sort of thing. However, there is a lot about monitoring in that document (yes, that is the point) but nothing about the differing sensitivity of various artifacts. This can lead to everything being treated on a worst case basis and excessive measures adopted. There is clearly a balance to be made between keeping everything in total darkness and allowing the public to be able to see things. Has the case in fact been made for dim lighting of aircraft exhibits (things are much better at Cosford for instance)?

I think the dim lighting in this case would be more for conservation purposes. ie Lux Levels.
The link shows the present RAF museum guidelines.

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/policies/Environmental_Monitoring_Policy_Light_v1_live.pdf

From the facebook photos, it looks like an excellent exhibition.

Yes, there are sound effects, of the ‘dagga dagga dagga’ kind. 😉

I expect that museum theory is something along the lines that dim lighting means you can’t see the artifacts particularly clearly in actual surroundings and this prompts the imagination to use whatever cues are available (there may for instance be sound effects) to envisage them in operational surroundings. Personally I prefer bright light (ideally daylight) so that I can see the artifacts clearly in whatever surrounding they happen to be in, but I don’t doubt that the other approach is helpful to many people, who may have little idea about aviation.

Someone complaining about dim lighting on the FB page !! The RAFM love energy conservation!

There’s another review (from a more specialist viewpoint) and further pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.728575327220314.1073741827.370522009692316&type=1

Hope I can better quality photos than those in the article. 😀

www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Our entire London site will be closed on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 of December in preparation for the Public Opening of our First World War in the Air exhibition on Thursday 4 December.

We would like to apologise in advance for any disappointment that this announcement may cause.

Our London site will be open again to the public on Wednesday 3 December from 10 am onwards. The Glaude Grahame-White Factory and the First World War in the Air exhibition will open to the public on 4 December.

Brian