Badger, many moons ago, before the Victor was moved indoors, and before the restoration workshop was built, I was on a Fitters course at RAF Cosford (1999). Whilst bored I visited the museum to see if I could help. back then Phil (can’t remember his surname) was the aircraft manager, and for a few glorious months, let me play with such wonderful aircraft as the York, Hastings, Victor and Vulcan – all just routine servicings and washes. My then future wife (now current wife, plus kids) also joined and we have many happy memories of the place. We both visited again this year for the Guild of Aviation Artists AGM. Its amazing what has happened there, and it inspired me to get back to NEAM and help preserve aircraft again after so long.

I was a volunteer at Cosford some years ago…. seems odd that they now refuse volunteers – perhaps someone from there could add something?

Kev, sorry for losing my temper. There are several threads like this on this forum, and all seem to rubbish the attempts of the few underfunded, undervisited. We can’t all be like Duxford who have had MAJOR investment and are located around really big cities.

As has been said, getting exhibits under a roof is key to the long term survival of ALL airframes, but no one person can or should say what is best for everyone. What exists now is what counts – good relationships between museums is key to keeping the interest going and providing a future. It will put alot of peoples nose out of joint by saying that ‘lesser’ or ‘unimportant’ airframes should be scrapped to save the few lucky ones. We can work together but we cannot all work under a single roof…

Also, if you do not wish to upset particular places, please don’t name them!

David, I am sure there are deals to be done, and behind the scenes of many museums, as I’m sure you are very much aware, these are taking place. Again, I can only speak for NEAM and the aircraft we have there.

Most of the aircraft in the collection were aquired by enthusiasts wishing to preserve aircraft for no particular cause other than preservation. I think this is why we have the likes of T33s and Mysteres in abundance. Not relevant to the UK at all, but plentiful and cheap. These formed the nucleus of small museums, still ntent on simply preserving airframes. As museums grow, it is then possible to exchange and add the aircraft types to incorporate historical significance into the collection.

We at NEAM have a Shorts 330 operated by Gill Air – a small operation from Newcastle. Its unique and important to the North East. We have some smaller aircraft which were built by Northerners in the Tyne, Wear and Tees Valleys, namely the Mignet Flea and Luton minor. What kind of a museum would we have if were not for the ‘crowd pullers’ like the Vulcan, F86D, Lightning and Hunter? What use is a Jet Provost as an instrument of education if it cannot be compared to comparable types like the T33? Same with the mystere and hunter – comparable types. Incidently, JPs were a common sight up here thanks to Leeming, Dishforth, Topcliffe, etc. The Vulcan is the last tangable link to the former Sunderland airport – a reminder of the airshows and one of the last aircraft to land there. Many people up here remember the day he Vulcan landed. The list goes on. Not sure about the Pucara, but there you have it!

I fully support ALL museums in their own individual goals, and with the help of BAPC we can all preserve that which means most to us.

If you know of any Danish museums who would gladly swap a genuine 607 sqn hurricane for a genuine danish hunter, I’m all ears.

edit: The website (as said on the NEAM thread) is rubbish and in the process of being re-done with webcams, etc. I have said this on many occasions. The chairman does not really wish to advertise the fact that we exist due to the conditions at the site – which are being improved daily! With help rather than the usual ‘***** are pointless’ approach most small concerns can be brought up to a good standard. Kev, I am heartily surprised by your efforts to help a museum many miles from you, and I hope that you can make a difference there. The Vulcan is a massive draw, most people see her from the major road next to us, and come see what we have. The local council has limited the number of signs we can have leading to our somewhat remote and disguised location, so the Vulcan is the best thing we have had. I can’t speak for the efforts of those members before me (I have only been there a matter of weeks), but they have gone from having their original home built on, to having a field of knackered aircraft and a portacabin, to having three hangars full of aircraft being repaired, with only two airframes outside.

I believe that, getting back to the original thread, whilst a centallised collection of significant airframes is a good idea, it would certainly kill off the whole aircraft preservation movement to get rid of the ‘less significant’. Tell me, how did you get into the preservation scene? My guess is if you trace back far enough, it was a small collection of insignificant airframes, which over time, is now a major collection. Just remember, even the likes of Duxford and Cosford started with insignificant airframes and a portacabin.

I don’t know. I think TVOC have taken some bits from behind the consoles…. She will be gone within 18 months – that is all I know, but they have some special plans for the remaining structure once all the bits have gone to good homes. Mr. Edmondson, the engineering supervisor seems to be a Vulcan fanatic and rather sad to see 603 go, and so is ensuring that the surviving aircraft benefit.