Yeovilton today

Thanks to Septic for the kind words about FAAM and the great pictures, until Easter we are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays(half term excepted) but open the other 5 days from 1000 until 1630. From Easter until the end of October we will be open 7 days a week from 1000 to 1730. On February 12th we hold what has now become one of the largest one day model shows in the SW of England, a great day out for everyone(other than photographers who should heed the advice above).
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Thanks for the info Rob…………Yeovilton here I come!

The lighting in the Concorde hall looks great. An example to other museums. ( could not see your hand in front of your face at Elvington last week. must have been saving money on electricity ). Looks like a fantastic place. Must go when funds allow.

Nice pictures, I’m way overdue a visit to Yeovilton.
Coming as I do from sarf London, I was thinking that it maybe worthwhile to book into an ‘Alan Partridge’ style ‘Travel Tavern’ near the museum rather than having a long drive there and back in the same day………or am I being a wimp? 😮

Nice photos Septic.

Thanks for all the kind comments, and if you are at loose end over the next few months consider supporting the FAAM @Yeovilton.

A few plus points.

More imaginative displays than Hendon or Duxford.

Away from London.

Less crowded than either DX or Hendon.

Warmer than Duxford!

Situated on an Operation airfield.

All the best Septic.

Just to finish, one last shot.

Fantastic pictures guys, Robbo 😉 You have a great eye 😉 :rolleyes: 😉 Anna 😀 “for a shot” 😀 😀 :diablo: :diablo: :diablo:

Great pics, great museum 🙂

The reason that Concorde is at Yeovilton is that when the flight testing programme ended, the then Minister of Transport(Anthony Wedgewood Benn) insisted that the aircraft was preserved in the West Country where it was built, at that time FAAM was the only museum in the West Country who could take it. So don’t bother looking for those pictures of 002 on a flight deck.
The exhibition that it stands in is called ‘Leading Edge’ by the way, Milestones of Flight was used as a working title and dropped prior to the opening.
As for the Phantom and no unit markings, it was decided not to paint on markings that the aircraft never carried. This particular aircraft is still in its original paint coating as applied in 1968, it spent its entire career with BAe on trials.

Great pics Septic and Robbo. If I ever make it to the UK again (and I’m shure I will cross the pond again), I should visit this museum for shure!It houses an amazing collection of rare aircraft! 😎

Thanks for posting tose superb pics!

J.V.

I really really do need to get back to Yeovilton, i’ve not been there for 15 years or so now 🙁

What on earth has a Concorde got to do with the Fleet Air Arm? It seems very out of place (unless someone can come up with pictures of Concordes operating off carriers??

What is the blue pointy jet under the Concorde next to the sharp, pointy Huntery-looking thingy? Is it a Mirage?

The Concorde is on loan from the Science Museum, and was the centrepiece of a ‘Concorde’ exhibition at Yeovilton.
She’s now been absorbed into the new ‘Milestones of Flight’ display.

The pointy Huntery-looking thingy is exactly that – Hunter T.8M XL580.

I hope they get started on the Barracuda project soon. Didn’t they get some high ground wreckage a few years ago to speed up the project (yes, I know funding is the stumbling block).

The story about the Skua was published in the latest issue of FlyPast. Altough a significant relic, a reconstruction would be a more sensible thing to do. In Norway they have restored a cockpitsection and there were plans to fully restore a Skua from several wrecks.

Cheers

Cees

The Wyvern is in bare metal since that was the scheme it wore (nearly said in service): none of that mock service markings stuff – Nermal

I must really get around to going back to the FAAM.
Last time was in 1978 when the ramp opposite was full of Canberras and Hunters….. 😮 :rolleyes:

I have to say it does look a bit different to back then…. 😉

That F-4K display looks quite effective with the lighting to represent the reheat, very clever 🙂 , just a pity when you get around to the front and see the deck crew postions…..hmmmn….me thinks that task would be somewhat prior to reheat engagement….. 😮

Shame they never painted some squadron marking on the F-4, it looks a little bare…. 🙁

Has that wonderfull Wyvern been restored recently, wondering why it’s in bare metal…??

Corsair conservation looks marvellous, must be one of the few ‘unrestored’ examples left…?

Dave,

It is the the former FD-2 Fairey Delta before conversion to a Concorde test machine and fitted with the Ogee wing.

Mark

She was renamed as the BAC 221.

‘Sniffy’!

What is the blue pointy jet under the Concorde next to the sharp, pointy Huntery-looking thingy? Is it a Mirage?

Dave,

It is the the former FD-2 Fairey Delta before conversion to a Concorde test machine and fitted with the Ogee wing.

The FD-2 held the world air speed record with Peter Twiss in the 1950’s

Here is a shot I took last year with a silly lens, hand held, and a large flash.

Mark

Interesting photos. Thanks for sharing them.

Were the Skua bits recovered from under the icy sea or something? I don’t quite get that display – is that a scuba diver? Do they have more bits of it and the Barracuda? And if so, will they be restored fully eventually?

What on earth has a Concorde got to do with the Fleet Air Arm? It seems very out of place (unless someone can come up with pictures of Concordes operating off carriers??

What is the blue pointy jet under the Concorde next to the sharp, pointy Huntery-looking thingy? Is it a Mirage?

I think he has eyes on the Grumman Martlet next 🙂

While on the subject of the Corsair let’s have a ‘big up’ for Dave Morris who has been behind the work.