In many cases having an ‘outsider` can be a good thing, helping to challenge possibly outdated norms and prevent ‘groupthink’.

Provided the RAFM has a strong, Avn/RAF aware, team then this appointment may well be agood one if she brings some objectivity and missing skills into the Management Team.

Exactly. Experience running a broad variety of museums (which the appointee seems to have) , rather than merely passion for the subject matter (which, granted, she probably doesn’t have to any particular degree), might actually bring some new insights and transferrable skills to the role.

If it’s a choice between the appointee being a.) able to recite the specifications and performance data of the Lancaster by heart or have a deep and abiding understanding of what it was like being a Battle of Britain pilot; or b.) having experience of trying to appeal to a broad visitor base, conserve collections logically and respectfully and display artefacts sensitively and imaginatively, I’d probably marginally prefer the latter.

Of course, as has been said, you ideally need a middle ground and balance of skills and passion. Obviously a passionate aviation enthusiast with extensive experience running major national collections would be perfectly qualified But how many people perfectly qualified for this job really exist? As far as I can see this new appointee has at least some experience of the heritage sector (no “floating in” from Paradise or anywhere else required to recongnise that!), and therefore it is up to her to use this sensibly to run the museum in a way which supports and involves those who ARE passionate about the RAF’s heritage. Whether she does this remains to be seen.

Actively engaging with the “enthusiast base” (e.g. by posting on this forum, or hosting an open public consultation) would be a good way to start. This thread (and the other running concurrently) are full of our opinions on what should or shouldn’t happen at Hendon; if I were her I would begin by trying to engage with these threads and build some sensible and rational suggestions for how the Museum might be improved.

Not to mention the fact that reports of DCW’s demise have been greatly exaggerated! (Phew)

Thanks Oxcart and Sabrejet. The quality of the work is stunning! It looks like the team are trying their utmost to repair original material, however corroded, which makes it all the more amazing 🙂

Well, at least she’s got plenty of actual experience in the heritage sector!

In an ideal world, wouldn’t it be great to see this recovered restored for display in the UK, which apart from the YAM recreation, IWM cockpit and the wreck at Hendon is rather short of Halifaxes? As others have said though, it looks like it would come up in fist-sized bits if you tried to raise it.

That’s an amazing discovery and in surprisingly good condition.
The broken off nose is presumably due to the forces put on the aircraft while ditching? I seem to remember that NA337 had similar damage.
I wonder if Karl Kjarsgaard is paying attention?

I have visited Duxford and Cosford on the train, and would not consider Hendon by any other means of transport!
Have also done Newark by public transport (hard work, but if you have a friendly TwinOtter23 to pick you up not so hard!) and will be visiting Brooklands and London Colney by public transport before long.
I would much rather do this than trying to drive long distances, but perhaps I’m a bit unusual there.