Visiting RAFM Cosford

Cosford is as someone put the more interesting of the museums,such rare types.

Good collection of German missiles, including Wasserfal,an anti aircraft missile, and an airborne anti ship missile used operationally in the Med, V1 and V2. Earliest extant Spitfire, see a Hurricane and Hind close to each other and view the design cues passed down the line. Kneeling undercarriage of Andover, precursor of several more modern aircraft, plenty of training aircraft too, plus all mentioned above.

WZ

This is looking good, thanks guys!

Lots and lots of stuff at Cosford you won’t see anywhere else. Like the Bristol T188 (take your sunglasses to look at that one !) and the Saunders Roe SR.53 etc. if you are into fifties stuff. ME410, Kawasaki Ki 100, Mitsubishi Ki 46 Dinah etc. if you are into WWII stuff.

As has already been mentioned, the Cold War exhibition is a bit – ooer !!! – when you first walk in, but very impressive when you get used to it.

My friend and I visited the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre on one of it’s open days in November last year, parts of the Dornier in there, a Wellington that looked well on the way to completion and a Hampden that was also coming along nicely.
Seeing the apprentices in there, answering questions on the pieces of restoration they had completed (girls too of course !), I thought it was very gratifying to know that this work was in good hands for the future.

Just a few pics attached of the Conservation Centre, hope they show up OK, not into this Flickr stuff as yet !

I went at the weekend in the gales well worth a visit. There’s the VC10 C1K, Herc and Nimrod R1 outside for starters. The Short Belfast for sheer scale, the Comet 1XB for a dramatic demonstration of fatigue, an Avro Lincoln to see how many spot it’s not a Lancaster and the TSR2 to show what can be achieved despite adversity with a back story of how not to run a development programme.

People have mentioned the Cold War exhibition but another massive part is the prototype and development aircraft. There are such things as the EAP (Eurofighter pre development), Fairey Delta 2, prone position Meteor, HS Kestrel, plus one offs like the H126 and SB5, some weird and wonderful aircraft.

Cosford is what Hendon should be. They should never have allowed Hendon to be carved up, and historic buildings demolished. Hopefully Cosford will aquire more hangars in time.

I arranged a visit to the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre during a site visit by my local Aviation Society, so given enough warning this could be arranged for you. This was a definite highlight of the visit for me.

There are also aircraft you can sit in, depending on staff being available.

The ‘problem’ with Cosford is that everything is interesting 🙂 and possibly less familiar to most people, even enthusiasts, so needs more attention. You may have to limit the time you spend with each exhibit to ensure you get to see everything in a reasonable time.

Hi WP, parking is £3.50, cash in machine. A very different collection of aircraft with interactive displays. Big Cold War emphasis with many informative boards. Gift shop always has some excellent book offers (e.g. £25 reduced to £7.99) so take a little cash if it’s your thing. Cafe and snack shops on site, Esso garage and Subway at main turn off to the base. Staff are very helpful and will answer questions about aircraft. Red Arrows and 4D Red Baron simulator rides currently running at half price offer of £2 each for 5 min ride. A world class facility. Enjoy your visit.

Yes I am not a lover of the Cold War hanger which I consider to be far too cramped, but at least it provides cover.

Cosford is completely different to Hendon. Larger exhibits are outside, other than those in the Cold War, but for me it is the collection of test aeroplanes and prototypes which are of greatest interest. In general presentation is good and you are up close to the exhibits. I do not think there is any huge historical connections at Cosford, please correct me if wrong, whereas, of course, Hendon is steeped in both aviation and RAF history. So there is nothing like the Grahame-White factory and office at Cosford. As already mentioned here and in the current Valiant thread this is your only opportunity to see the whole airframe. The Vulcan is displayed so that you can stand in the open bomb bay.
You and your Cadets will certainly enjoy your visit.

AFAIK it is not yet on public display

Well for a start there’s the dornier that was raised from the sea a couple of years back

I’ll be there in Jan too with a group of my students – our focus will be Cold War so the National Cold War Exhibition will be our first port of call. Lots of supporting exhibits and exhibitions to complement the aircraft. Only place to see all three V-Bombers – the sole Valiant, and the Vulcan that wouldn’t pressurise on departing Ascension, leaving ‘607 and Martin Withers to fly Black Buck One. I like the way the aircraft are displayed, but I know it is a touchy subject! For me, the building does tell the Cold War story pretty well.

Following that, we’ll go around the other hangars to see the treasures there. Lots to see and do! Not been for a couple of years so will have been a few changes.