RAFM Hendon ~ 09Sep17

As i have said previously on other threads i would visit Hendon in the region of 10 times per year as loved the feel of the place especially the BOB hall but now its had its heart taken away i really cant see me visiting to many times in the near future if any at all.

I will look at the new Centenary hall but im not holding my breath, i wonder how many like myself will be put of future visits in regard to the new changes and loss of some iconic aircraft.

RAF Museum policy is to keep a/c in the scheme they wore, even if its boring. It would make sense to see the Mitchell in invasion stripes and RAF markings though. The B17 would be better at Cosford.

Maybe it is time to get rid of the B-25 in the bomber hall?

I can understand that the B-17 serves to show the role of the USAAF in the UK in WW2, but the B-25 was not flown on operations from the UK by the USAAF.

At least paint the B-25 in RAF colours.

I somehow doubt at this rate that I’ll be visiting the collection again for the foreseeable future.
What with the BoB collection decimated, the place becoming a dumbed down and sanitised place, and the fact most of the museum is closed, there doesn’t seem as much point…
…That and also when I tried to apply for a job there I got to the interview stage but then they didn’t have the courtesy to email back to say if I got the job or not, even when prompted. So all in all, it’s become a bit of a let down. We’re having a family boycott of it after the job debacle xD

The irony is its gone back to 1972 with just the main hall open.

Is there going to be anything left to see at Hendon?

No point in anyone visiting the museum if most of the exhibits are in storage or the halls are closed.

I agree with the exception that the Graham White Hangar is often shut.

I have to agree that I think that this would be a very good idea for the ‘Milestones’ hall which always felt as if it would be better suited to The Science Museum’s remit. There’s a lot of knocking of RAFM at present, feelings run high understandably. I think that what has been done with the Grahame White hangar and office is excellent. I will reserve judgement to see how the centenary and post-centenary displays turn out until I see them.
We all have our ideas of what should be on each site and where, that’s only natural. We shouldn’t lose sight of our blessings in this country, we have so many wonderful collections and museums, this allows some to present in an ‘old school’ way while others that have to dance to a different tune do things a bit differently. I remember Hendon when it opened, I loved it then, but that is getting on for half a century ago. It has got better and worse since, I hope it will get better again.

So it seems the current RAFM management idea is to use the building they have to actually display less aircraft? So the new modern conflicts will, i guess display, Tornado GR1, Tornado f3, Buccaneer, Harrier GR3, Chinook,Victor nose that are already there. They could bring in Jaguar, Sea King, VC-10/C-130 nose(if there are any about?) and a Harrier GR9? IMHO I would have also done this to milestones but have kept a revamped BofB hall but retained all the aircraft in it.

On that thought, I think if I were CEO, I’d turn Milestones into a brand new “What does the RAF do for us?” sort of gallery, specifically focusing on recent (Falklands and onward) conflicts and showing a range of current/recent aircraft types, exploring their role and emphasising the diverse tasks the RAF performs in the modern world. That, instead of an almost empty BoB hall, would be my centenary venture!

The Milestones is becoming a hall for recent conflicts ie Falkland Islands, Iraq etc. Not sure if a Keith Park size statue of Tony Blair will go in there 😉

Hendon got back to me this morning. P51 going in the Bomber Hall.

Seing those pics always make me wonder what the “hangar rash” those newly restored aircraft such as the Tempest V will suffer.

Thanks for the photos guys. More please!

Any ideas what is happening to the Milestones hall? With the spotlight on the BofB hall I have not known that milestones was suffering a similar fate. Actually like the P-51 and Tempest showing what is under the hood, sadly cutaway exhibits seem few and far between.

For all the fuss that’s made about the (unique) RAF Museum Typhoon, and the wartime role of these aircraft, I still think the Tempest II / Tempest V is a better looking aircraft…

…plus you get the choice of two really interesting sleeve-valve engines; what’s not to like! (The paint.)

I’d walked past the other Tempest, that doesn’t have the big radiator intake under the engine, and wrongly as it turns out though this was a Typhoon. Slapped wrists. 😀

Post above changed.

Brian

I think your ‘proper Typhoon’ is a Tempest! But great shots; thanks for posting!

It looks an interesting time to visit Hendon to be honest; the aircraft seem so much more ‘alive’ when they are being worked on and moved.

Edit: Yes, it’s a Tempest V (target-tug TT.5).