I visited the RAF Museum at Hendon this week after a 3 year gap. How sad it looked. The Milestones building entrance up a lot of steps with a major display area (I believe it was a fighter control scenario?) screened off. One of the video screens on the balcony was covered over with a paper sign ‘out of order’. I didn’t bother to climb the rest of the staircase to see if the ‘Control tower’ was still working. Others have commented before on some of the choices selected for the Milestones, my only reservation is of the FSM F35 which has yet to see service yet.
Then the Bomber Command hall! The Tornado and Buccaneer were behind fencing and the whole area looked like the ‘bomb damaged’ scenario had spread over from the other end! The whole hall looked like a faded shop that was having a ‘Closing down sale’! If any of this was as the result of the flooding in July why was nothing being done? I note that the cafe by the Wessex in the other hall which I had read was closed was all cleaned up and opened.
The original historic hangar hall was ok but I gazed wistfully up the stairs at the long closed gallery although you could just walk up to view the aircraft from above.
The Art gallery at the top of the entrance stairs had a ‘Biggles’ exhibition (for children?) I once spent a half hour up there with the likes of Cuneo and fellow war artists. I remember how sad I felt some years ago when I first found it closed.
The Graham White factory has been spoiled by suspending some airframes. I could see the Vimy up there but what were the others? Why were they put up there? There is plenty of room still on the floor.
Lastly the Battle of Britain hall. Again some the displays that I remembered were missing
I had expected with the 75th anniversary it would have been spruced up, at least the lights were on! It was nice to see the Defiant and the Battle both beautifully restored by M.A.P.S. at Rochester in prominent and properly lit positions. They haven’t been given any further commissions recently I believe, another waste of resources.
All around the site I saw boards with incomplete information unlike the Mosquito museum as we have noted in its thread.
All around the site also there were collecting boxes. ‘Please give £3 to help keep this museum free.’ How does that add up?
It is all very sad compared to my first visit over 40 years ago, when just the main building and the galleries kept us interested all one Sunday afternoon. All done in 2 hours this time.
So sad.
mmitch.
By: trumper - 25th January 2016 at 10:24
For christ’s sake, Hendon is free to get into. Where else in the world can you see a Vulcan, Lancaster, B17, B24, Wellington, ‘Halifax’, Beaufighter, P47 et al all under one roof??? Same goes for the Battle of Britain and Graeme White hangars. If you don’t like it stay away!
Nothing is free , surely it’s paid for by the tax payer which is –oh us .Why is it good enough to settle for something that could be better in certain ways.
Last year the museum had a bit of a boost [if you believe an mp,give with one hand take more with the other ]
http://www.museumsassociation.org/news/18032015-budget .If you don’t ask for improvements where possible then it may never happen.
By: steve jaksic - 25th January 2016 at 09:28
G’Day All, Ive been fortunate enough to visit the museum at Hendon a few times over the years. I’ve also been fortunate to do a bit of travel around Europe, the USA and also Asia. Hendon is a standout no matter where you go. We all know money is a contentious issue wherever one goes. As long as the aircraft are safe, maintained out of weather as best is possible and new exhibits restored no-one can complain. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those involved with the museum. Regards from a hot W.A.:cool:
By: Dobbins - 24th January 2016 at 22:53
For christ’s sake, Hendon is free to get into. Where else in the world can you see a Vulcan, Lancaster, B17, B24, Wellington, ‘Halifax’, Beaufighter, P47 et al all under one roof??? Same goes for the Battle of Britain and Graeme White hangars. If you don’t like it stay away!
By: SADSACK - 24th January 2016 at 13:21
very well said. and yes, a lot of people miss the galleries
By: Wondy - 24th January 2016 at 01:31
Being a forum where i hope everyone is entitled to an opinion (accepting i have an emotional tie) i hope i can post some positive experiences relating to the RAF Museum.
I am now 32, and ever since a young age (just remember the Beverly!) my Dad would take me to Hendon. My dads father flew for the Luftwaffe which sparked (i asume!) the interest in aviation!
It may not be Duxford as a ‘live’ Airfield or have the illumination standards of many other museums, but what it does posses is…a genuine Heinkel 111, a Lancaster that flew over 100 missions and a real Sopwith Camel.
I guess what im trying to say is you have to appreciate the exhibits and not the surroundings. Everytime i visit Hendon i respect and appreciate the rich diverse content and just wanted to provide some positive feedback.
As stated above merly an opinion on my own experiences of the Museum and enjoy reading fellow ‘forumites’ opinions regardless of their views.
(p.s anyone else miss the galleries in the main halls?!)
Wondy
By: SADSACK - 23rd January 2016 at 22:43
I tried writing a thread about it only for it to be locked 🙁
By: Pen Pusher - 23rd January 2016 at 17:21
And where abouts on the RAFM Facebook page does it say that?
Was in there this morning and it looks like Duxford. War birds with bits missing.:D
Brian
By: SADSACK - 23rd January 2016 at 17:03
is it a hoax, the suggestion that the Battle of Britain Hall is becoming a conference centre?
By: Meddle - 20th January 2016 at 12:27
Yeah we don’t want to be kept in the dark !
I thought that was part of Hendon’s charm. :applause:
By: Pen Pusher - 20th January 2016 at 08:42
Pictures of the dismantling for the survey are being posted on the RAFM London Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/rafmuseum
Brian
By: SADSACK - 17th January 2016 at 21:49
model builders and researchers are in for a treat.
By: Shorty01 - 17th January 2016 at 21:25
A few comments as a parent on Hendon. Nipped in there yesterday with my 12 yr old and 10 yr old lad for a few hours on the way back from the London Model Engineering Exhibition. We hadn’t been since 2011 and we all found it as good as before, so no complaints from us. Despite protests from the youngsters I loitered in the Graeme White hangar which we missed last time. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the Cauldron & the Dolphin which I had not seen before, I think they actually did as well even though they like WW2 & after.
In the other parts of the museum the accessible aircraft were a big hit again with the lads, these being the Chinook, Victor, Provost and Sunderland. They have also sat in the cockpit of the Solent Skies Sandringham and seen it’s civil interior so the military Sunderland was an interesting contrast to that.
A large portion of RAF aircraft and others are represented with lots of “whoa look it’s a …”. Their knowledge of these things having grow in the last 4 years. My eldest especially appreciated the rarer types like the JU 88, Me 262 & Stuka.
I didn’t feel the lighting in some of the other halls was as dingy as before but maybe that’s living with low energy LED bulbs at home these days.
So to sum up, two of the next generation suitably enthused and I enjoyed it the most out of my three visits (1986, 2011 & 2016).
By: Creaking Door - 17th January 2016 at 20:31
“The first of these surveys will commence in the Battle of Britain Hall and will last until November. During this time some of the aircraft contained within the Battle of Britain Hall may not be on view to the public or may be on view partially dismantled. Some aircraft may also be moved to other parts of the Museum so that they can be surveyed more effectively.”
Blimey! Moving some of the aircraft in the Battle-of-Britain Hall, viewing them partially dismantled…
…I’d actually pay extra to see that…..they ought to make a special feature of this work! 🙂
By: David Burke - 17th January 2016 at 20:19
Yeah we don’t want to be kept in the dark !
By: trumper - 17th January 2016 at 18:39
Well i hope they list the dates each part of the museum and aircraft will be out of public viewing.
By: Pen Pusher - 17th January 2016 at 17:45
From RAFM Web Site
London Museum Aircraft Survey Announced
From Monday 18 January the Royal Air Force Museum London will start conducting a condition survey of its aircraft as part of the Museum’s on-going plans to commemorate and celebrate the RAF’s Centenary in 2018.
The first of these surveys will commence in the Battle of Britain Hall and will last until November. During this time some of the aircraft contained within the Battle of Britain Hall may not be on view to the public or may be on view partially dismantled. Some aircraft may also be moved to other parts of the Museum so that they can be surveyed more effectively.
The Museum would like to take this opportunity to apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this might cause visitors to our galleries during this survey period. As surveys take place of other aircraft across our London site we will keep you informed.
Brian
By: AlanR - 9th December 2015 at 09:11
Any mention of the car parking facilities? :highly_amused:
No 🙂
By: Meddle - 8th December 2015 at 23:08
Any mention of the car parking facilities? :highly_amused:
By: AlanR - 8th December 2015 at 23:06
Hendon is featured on Forces TV. Wednesday 10:45am
Only a short 15minute programme I believe.
By: SADSACK - 18th November 2015 at 19:29
Ah ok… thanks
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September 24, 2015 at 12:49 pm