RAFM Hendon

Some of the ideas may have seemed good on paper, but grassing over the car park and replacing it with grass? It might look nice but can you see that working in British weather?

I had it from the museum PR department that kids found the Blitz exhibition scary, so they got rid of it!

Where did the Bolingbroke/Blenheim wind up?

There was a blenheim iv in the bomber hall
Not sure if it was a wind up one though

Photos of the Hendon collection in July 2018 http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvorm/royal-air-force-museum-hendon/

Oh, the irony.

‘Age of Uncertainty’ is, and will remain shut until mid February due to flood damage.

Or alternatively leave the Stranraer where it is next to the Hudson, Beaufort and Beaufighter with the Coastal Command link – I have no issue with her there personally and the Catalina is 200 miles away and not in RAF configuration or markings. Sadly also now outside!

I like the Age of Uncertainty Hall – it has a clear purpose – same goes for the GWH which is wonderful. The main hangars really need a bit of a shake up and the space round the Sunderland (and stopping tours) is a crying shame.

I can see what they were trying to do with the RAF 100 bit but frankly I would have done that in the upper galleries in the main building, glazed the OTHER end of the BOB hangar and had a bit of a move round. I wonder what happened to all the blitz diorama stuff, which whilst tired was nicely done? Skipped?

Ignoring the GWH and AOU halls… the RAF Museum have three choices to display their aircraft – by role, by era, by nationality (ie the Lufty stuff together) I dont really think they manage that at the moment – Cosford has a bit of a clearer idea of things – ie prototype hangar, warplane hangar – the trainer and transport hangar has got a few oddballs in it which dont really belong anywhere else like the Swift, Cygnet and so on..

I wish they’d put the Jetstream, Catalina and Dominie inside though – I get that the Herk and VC10 are too large but…..

TT

For people with no particular knowledge of aircraft or the RAF, it seems to offer a more engaging, more interesting and more fun experience than ‘the old’ Hendon.

For historians and aeroplane enthusiasts, we have probably lost more than we have gained, and some old favourites, like the Defiant and Wellington are now off site ( though for good reason) . The wrecked Hurricane in the dunes is missed, as well.

A dignified mauseleum of immaculately restored aircraft, nicely lit, and coherently grouped, would probably appeal to our membership, but to most of the public it would not mean very much. As the place is publicly funded, and the majority of visitors are not ‘aeronuts’ , it is hard to argue against a more ‘accesible’ presentation, and they have probably achieved much of what they aspired to.

It splits opinion, of course, but is still very well worth a visit, has some outstanding exhibits, and all FREE !

Change was going to happen whether we like it or not. The worst aspect is the reverse of some of the key developments in the museum. For example taking away the unique chance to see inside the Sunderland. When the Hurricane was put into a purpose built blast pen in a purpose built exhibition, few would have thought it would be stuffed into the main hall ever again. All of the effort to restore the Spitfire Vb has gone to waste, as she is displayed so that you cannot even see her upper surfaces. The engine is covered and the cockpit cannot be seen.

What needed to be done; take the chance to get the Stranraer out, and put her next to the Sunderland and Catalina. It is unlikely there will be a chance to display the national collection of flying boats together again.

Where did the Bolingbroke/Blenheim wind up?

Hi
I went last weekend
Hangar 6 (milestones of flight) was shut, not sure why, maybe they’re re configuring that too

I think the thing with the ex BoB hall is that is’s sort of intended to be a museum of the RAF rather than just a museum of the RAF’s aircraft. I thought it was OK ish, the interactive stuff worked reasonably well, and there’s some nice play aeroplanes for kids to sit in. There are a total of 6 aircraft in that building now all of which are mounted high up except the Sea king and the Sunderland which is both high and low of course. You can no longer go inside the Sunderland 🙁

The new play-park is ace.

Sadly the old interactive stuff in the main building is becoming more and more derelict.
Currently you can have a cockpit tour of one of the spitfires for a small fee.
My personal favourite is the Southampton flying boat. You have to admire the woodwork.

In sum the Battle of Britain Hall has been repurposed and the Aircraft therein scattered over the two sites. The new hall charts the 100th anniversary of the RAF. I think it’s fair to say that the general forum consensus is a thumbs down. The First War in the Air In the GW Hangar May be the same as your last visit. BC and main halls are almost the same barring new aircraft additions from the former BOB hall. Milestones of Flight is now the ‘Age of Uncertainty’ basically post war RAF (I think it’s rather good apart from the not sure why it’s there USAF Herk cockpit) The car park has been grassed over and there’s a new cafe…

re;

I would assume they work together though?

Hence they have shows at Cosford instead?

No, RAF Cosford runs the show there, not the RAF Museum.

re;

Hence they have shows at Cosford instead?

What hasn’t helped is that John Tanner was assured by Ken Livingstone, when he ran the London Council, that there were no plans to build on Hendon Aerodrome, so the RAFM could have the same deal as Duxford, with aircraft displays being a regular feature. As well as going back on that promise, he also stopped the Museum from having walkways built, to enable visitors to see inside cockpits, because a terrorist might throw a bomb into one.
It’s inordinately easy to be critical, if you don’t know the full story.

In my view the place for the RAFM would be Bicester.
How glorious would it be to have the Museum located on the best preserved pre war RAF Station, (According National Heritage) With the ability to roll them all out, run engines and woah, maybe fly something?
It could be like East Kirkby, and the Goodwood Revival on acid!

Back from the world of dreams!

I guess that running museums is a bit like politics. All very easy to moan from the sidelines, but in reality, nobody has any clout, and it is impossible to get anything done with any vision. I think perhaps we should all be grateful for what has been acheived, warts and all. It has saved some very precious airframes, and continues to give them a future.
Guy

Wholly apologise thought I had heard that elsewhere – TT

Might be the Northern aircraft workshop your thinking of who are winding down after the camel.

Will

This is untrue, MAPS is not winding up and is in fine fettle.

Wholly apologise thought I had heard that elsewhere – TT

It should restrict it in some way as to what they do! Clearly the title gives it the clear remit. To represent the RAF is a big enough task – it doesn’t need to acquire or take into the collection machines that have little or no clear relevance.

re;

I think the absolute is closeness to London… and after the work on the GW hangar and tower moving is not an option