The originally postulated location for the RAFM in the early 60’s was not to have been at Hendon: RAF Henlow was mooted. This was turned down at the time at least partially on grounds of its then “remoteness”. Interestingly one point put in its favour, at least informally, was its proximity to a flying site at Old Warden.
However, at that time, a great proportion of the population was then reliant solely on public transport and Henlow’s poor access by these means counted strongly against it. I would suggest that today good road access and parking is of significantly greater importance than was then appreciated in attracting visitors. Certainly this is a positive feature with some other museums to which RAFM might in some aspects be compared, including FAAM and IWM Duxford. My point is that a London location using the city’s public transport access is not perhaps necessarily an ongoing essential prerequisite for the location of RAFM.
I also believe that a structure does not have to be new to be identified as becoming “iconic”. For example, I would suggest that the Chain Home radar site outside Dover is iconic for what it engenders regarding an understanding of the conduct of the Battle of Britain. Regrettably one tower has already recently been demolished. I would expect that the justification for this action being one of its necessity, invoking safety concerns and cost of upkeep.
This type of situation does not generate any optimism regarding the eventual outcome of the long term delapidation/building safety issues concerning the two also, I would consider, “iconic” airship sheds at Cardington.
These are striking edificies in their own right, unfortunately they will admittedly require a significant investment, across several bureaucracies, to ensure their long-term preservation. Without this they must inevitably disappear. Obviously they do have a huge internal volume that could accommodate a multi tiered reconfigurable internal structure for displaying large artefacts (and certainly there would be minimal problems with external door access!).
I expect here are a host of immediate considerations, even well beyond those that I have been made aware of , which from our current standpoint in time will and have been be put forward as being “practical” stumbling blocks regarding Cardington. This basis of of argument, whilst understandable, destroys at first post any serious consideration of the sheds’ adoption (and adaption) for preservation and additional utilisation as a major aviation museum.
But what of the implications for a few decades time?
It was around 50 years ago that the the last Whitley and Dornier 215 were ejected from hangarage and destroyed by the then totally justifiable argument on grounds of what was then put forward as being reasonable and practical by those involved : that they were taking up much needed space.
I do wonder if, 50 years hence , when the sheds of Cardington have been long demolished, that a strange looking edifice full of dated software games and plastic models and attracting as little public attention as the “iconic” London GPO Tower does now, is itself up for demolition as of having reasonably demonstrated no current utility, architectural merit or historical relevance.

I’m just waiting for somebody to suggest it all be moved down onto the Milennium -dome site. 😉

I don’t think that it is too bleeding obvious ‘dant’ and I am in total agreement with your sentiments.
My suspicions are that this exercise has little to do with ( yet) another commemoration of the Battle of Britain.
I fear it could be more akin to the fulfillment of a Pony-tail’s wet dream, linked eventually to some wide boys in the construction industry.
The RAF Museum ( and thus the general public) are probably lined up to be the dupes.
As for Hendon being the “Gateway to London” , my thoughts go immediately to the Goons’ satire,
” Bal-Ham , gateway to the South”
P.S. As expected, there is nowhere on their website that allows any feedback, comment , or opinion to be expressed on this “initiatitive” .
Do also note that the opinions on this Key website reflect those of people who are the backbone of support for the preservation of U.K. Aviation history.
I rest my case.

There were also the experiments with upwards firing rockets (IIRC) from the “Sunflower” Hurricane , of which little seems to have been be published.

Both General Moukabri and later Wg Cdr Bernie Hunter were interviewed around the time the original letter referred to by ‘Super Sioux’ was written. It transpired that there was more than one Meteor involved in the interception. The letter’s author was subsequently interviewed by Brian Cull ( author of ” Wings over Suez”).

I think it says “If you can read this you are too gulllible…” Did you know there are three “L’s” in gulllible by the way ?

Er………. four

Hi A.A.
Sorry no internal photos!
IIRC Dad showed me the ply wrapped bands building up the shape in a crossover pattern. As an ex-Halton pre-WW2 war (just!) “Brat” he was fascinated by the construction which fell into his original training brief.
We did contact Jack Bruce (later of RAFM), who was a close family friend, on this matter’ and I would like think we played a small part in the early days of rescuing the other flying boat hull, now in RAFM.