Just a point of detail, BAPC stands for British AVIATION Preservation Council, it was changed from Aircraft several years ago to illustrate that it covered other things than just the aircraft.
By the way what makes a national collection?
Does it mean one that contains rare types, the size of the collection or what?

Regarding free admission, wasn’t this a political decision made quite a while ago in respect of all state-run museums in the UK? In other words, they are no longer allowed to charge admission so the funds must be coming from elsewhere (i.e. the taxpayer, presumably).

The situation is not quite that simple, the museums which come under the DCMS banner are free, the RAFM comes under the MOD banner, as does the National Army Museum which has always been free, the much maligned Dr Fopp put a case for free entry to MOD. His point was that all the collections in London were free and he was having to compete against them for visitors, in RAFM’s case this point was accepted and free entry was introduced not only at Hendon but Cosford as well, unlike IWM where its free in Lambeth but at Duxford you pay, despite being a DCMS collection. When the 4 naval museums asked for free entry for children the MOD turned down the request, so thats why you have free entry to 2 of the national military museums and payed entry to the other 4. It does cause problems as people can’t understand why you get into Hendon free but have to pay at Yeovilton etc, funny old world we live in.

Andy, good luck with finding volunteers for the visitor centre, its well worth a visit, I visited a few years ago now as I don’t get up your way that often, must say the gentleman on duty that day certainly knew his stuff.

I think XP142 is inside Cobham Hall now, as I’m sure there was a Wasp in its spot during February.

Just to confirm that yes indeed ‘Humphrey’ the Wessex 3 is in Cobham Hall and its place in the Falklands Exhibition has been taken by Wasp HAS1 XS527, later in the year the Wasp will be replaced by a Lynx.
But back to the subject, although not in a museum Wessex HU5 XT765/J is preserved as the 848NAS hangar guard at Yeovilton

As mentioned above ZH800 has been painted as ZH801 and is at Greenwich for a final Shar Dinner on I believe the 31st March after that it is due to remain there until moving to Cottesmore in time for 801NAS standing up on 1st October, it will then become the hangar guard.
The last ever FAA Shar landing was at Culdrose yesterday(29th) when ZE690 was delivered to the SFDO.
ZD582 arrived by road at VL yesterday for re-finishing by Serco who have been contracted by the new owner after seeing the work they had done on the VL gate guard and ZH800 and ZH801, he wanted his like them so its said.
So at the present time the VL F/A2 population is XZ499(Cobham Hall), ZD578(VL gate guard), ZD582(awaiting re-finish), ZH801(waiting road move to Cottesmore to be 800NAS hangar guard)
I think thats the current situation, unless another one has sneaked back not wanting to leave cider country
HTH

Just to confirm the above, Dave Morris is the man to talk to, the book is due for publication at the end of April

Just to bring this thread up to date, the matter is now in the hands of the appropriate authorities and thanks to Nick for giving us the heads up on the matter
Bob Turner
HoCS FAAM

Is WV911 still in outside storage at Yeolivton ?

Yes, was still there this afternoon