Well “WH904”, you’ve pretty well summed up my thoughts of today’s visit.
My overwhelming memory of today’s experience, will be having my ears assaulted by screaming children. Children of
an age where they have no interest whatsoever of anything aviation related. There was also a coachload of teenage
school children who seemed to have little interest in looking at exhibits. Also a big party of ATC cadets, whom I would
assume had some interest.
Finally a party of cubs and brownies, who were well behaved and supervised, but still not really of an age where I would
think they took much in.
There was nowhere to sit and eat at the coffee bar, so we went to the cafe. Hardly anyone in there, apart from a couple
of screaming brats running amok, who were being ignored by their mothers.
(Stands by to receive accusations of hating children)
Right, now I’ve got that off my chest, my observations about the museum itself. As I said previously, the lighting didn’t
worry me too much, apart from when taking pictures.
It was annoying being asked to leave the BoB hall, as a film presentation was about to begin.
It’d difficult to be objective about the museum as a whole, without making comparisons. Obviously a lot of thought has
gone into how the aircraft are positioned, and they have done the best they can in the space available.
I just find it very claustrophobic and sterile. Having recently been to OW, and a few trips to Duxford this year, where
you can look at aircraft which actually fly, and smell like aircraft, I find Hendon very two dimensional.
Maybe as aircraft enthusiasts we are spoilt ? Hendon isn’t just for aircraft fanatics, but for everyone. In a similar way perhaps
that seaside airshows attract people from all walks of life. .
The big plus for me, is being able to see so many German WWII aircraft, and RAF types come to that, which I am not
able to see anywhere else. Wouldn’t it be great to see some of them where they really belong, in the air.
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