Lecture finished early today so made my way over to South Kensington to have a look at the aircraft in the Science Museum. Entry is free, and received a rather amused look on the face of the woman who checked my bag (turns out the chlamydia testing kit I had thrust in my hand at freshers fair (do I seem the type?!) had fallen out of it’s bag I was hiding it in)
First off went to the ‘Making of the modern world’ gallery on the ground floor, past the stationary engines and the space gallery. Been to the museum a few times before but still amazed by the exhibits they have there, including a sectioned Mini, the first car in England, ‘Rocket’ steam locomotive, the oldest steam locomotive in the world (can’t remember the name), a Lockheed 10 Electra (gorgeous!) as well as other vehicles. Almost missed the Avro 504 hanging from the roof, and the Short SC1 look a bit sad bolted to a wall, on it’s side, with one wing missing. The Rolls Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, aka the ‘flying bedstead’ is easy to miss as well and would be very hard to photograph. Both the SC1 and the flying bedstead are behind a wall in the making of the world gallery, so to see them you have to head towards the strange lighted area past the gallery, then behind the wall of cars, hey presto two national treasures.
From there made my way up to the Flight gallery on the third floor (seen the Spitfire exhibition complete with late mark Spit on the second (I think) floor before and wasn’t too interested). Although it’s dark, and the aircraft are hung, it’s still very, very impressive.
The models and photos alone are worth the visit – there’s a fantastic photo of Croydon airport at night with a 1930’s airliner in front of the building, all lit up, as well as lots of interesting models of pre-WW2 airliners, most of which I have never seen before. The exhibits themselves are fantastic – the Gloster E28/39, the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic (the Vimy), Amy Johnson’s Gypsy Moth, Spitfire and Hurricane Mk I (Hurricane has the early small spinner, only one of two left with that I think, and the other is in Finland), and the beautiful Supermarine S6B racer.
My favourites had to be the early aviation exhibits though, especially the gondola from the 1910 Airship no 17 ‘Beta’, and a 1909 Antionette. Although I didn’t have my camera with me, and photography would be very difficult anyway (I also heard there was a no tripod rule too), I have a cunning plan, so hopefully within the week i’ll post again with some photos, especially of the pre-WWI exhibits.
It’s well worth a visit if you haven’t been, or another visit if you have, I spent most of my time there watching colour film (with sound) under the walkway of the Gloster E28/39 flying, and very early 616 Squadron operations with Meteor F1’s
By: Loose-Head - 3rd October 2007 at 21:12
Hey, can you think of a better way of getting that gag back into appropriate territory for the forum? 😀
Adrian
Oh dear,…..so many punchlines……so little time …:D
By: adrian_gray - 3rd October 2007 at 17:23
No…we cant Adrian…its like shooting rats in barrel!
:diablo:
Hey, can you think of a better way of getting that gag back into appropriate territory for the forum? 😀
Adrian
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 3rd October 2007 at 16:49
No…we cant Adrian…its like shooting rats in barrel!
:diablo:
By: Rlangham - 3rd October 2007 at 16:00
Haha, my missus will kill me if she ever reads this!
I saw the Pterodactyl hanging in the roof, looked as if one wing was missing but that was just because the fabric is off one wing. Very hard to even see let alone photograph, although i’ll try and get a photo of that.
Had a look at the agriculture exhibit, quite liked the ‘1960’s-ness’ of it, and also the flight gallery (presumably that has’t been modified since about the 70s/80s?). Had no idea that Britain was saved by the Fordson tractor towards the end of WWI! Next to the agricultural area there was a very interesting exhibition about the history of plastic (no, really!). The dividing walls of the exhibition were made with those strips of plastic you see in supermarkets hanging down from the roof, but this time red and opaque, gave the exhibition an authentic smell at least. Exhibits included a bakelite coffin, and a piece of plastic that changed it’s shape when it saw your face. There was also a Spitfire bubble canopy from ARC (I think, can’t remember) at Duxford on loan for the exhibition
I’m planning to use my mini-tripod which is about 7 inches tall (just let myself in for another joke now….), plan is to quickly get it out my bag, screw it into the camera then take a picture of something, then hide the tripod still attached down my sleeve so hopefully no staff notice! To be honest didn’t see any on that floor though so might be safe anyway….
By: adrian_gray - 3rd October 2007 at 15:01
LOL!
You havent met him…the galluping knob rot is alive and well in Hendon I hear! :diablo: :diablo:
Indeed. It’s why W1048’s cockpit is in such a terrible state.
Adrian
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 3rd October 2007 at 14:35
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Used or unused ?????:diablo:
LOL!
You havent met him…the galluping knob rot is alive and well in Hendon I hear! :diablo: :diablo:
By: ALBERT ROSS - 3rd October 2007 at 14:27
I challenge you to get a better picture of the poor SC1!
Challenge accepted…but you didn’t say in its present location!
By: CSheppardholedi - 3rd October 2007 at 14:14
First accross “the pond” by either means was quite a feat. Don’t think I would be up to the task. It is a long enough flight in an airbus while sipping drinks and watching movies!
How many of the first accross attemts mearly dissapeared and were never seen again? Brave, crazy or both!
By: Loose-Head - 3rd October 2007 at 14:06
Papa Lima wrote :
I’m going to stick my unipod down my trouser leg next time!
…C’mon now. That poor woman….finding Rlangham’s Chlamydia’s kit was bad enough, but this could be the end of her !!!:D
By: Papa Lima - 3rd October 2007 at 14:03
Vimy at South Kensington
First non-stop across the Atlantic
By: CSheppardholedi - 3rd October 2007 at 13:58
Technically speaking, the Vimy was Second aircraft to cross Atlantic, though First to cross directly in one shot. It was beat the month previously by the USN NC-4 flying boat.
By: Creaking Door - 3rd October 2007 at 13:56
Last time I was there (on a flying visit) I had a quick look at the Supermarine S6B and remember thinking (or rather not thinking) what a nice replica they had of the Schneider Trophy…..Doh!! 😀
By: Papa Lima - 3rd October 2007 at 13:55
Short SC1
I challenge you to get a better picture of the poor SC1!
I’m going to stick my unipod down my trouser leg next time!
By: adrian_gray - 3rd October 2007 at 13:43
Somewhere in there is a Westland-Hill Pterodactyl – now that really is a weird bird! But it’s so dark I don’t recall ever seeing it…
You should try the agriculture section – it must have been state-of-the-art in its time, and obviously heavily supported by Ford, but now it’s a fascinating early ’60s period piece.
Adrian
By: Loose-Head - 3rd October 2007 at 13:34
(turns out the chlamydia testing kit I had thrust in my hand at freshers fair (do I seem the type?!) had fallen out of it’s bag I was hiding it in)
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Used or unused ?????:diablo:
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October 2, 2007 at 10:11 pm