The questions:
1) What do you like most about Duxford?
It’s not a dead museum. Great to see, hear and smell the active airframes. You never know what you might see when you visit. The AAM is the dog’s knackers. The restoration hangars are incredibly interesting too.
2) What do you dislike most about Duxford?
Not a huge fan of the Land Warfare Hall, but I accept it’s part of the IWM. Agree about the state of the outdoor exhibits. Just because they’re big doesn’t mean they have to fester away. The Victor and Shackleton ARE appalling. In their current state they are a disgrace to the collection and not befitting of a museum collection revered across the world.
3) What makes you return to Duxford? (When time and distance allows of course!)
Airshows. Especially Legends. It’s only an hours journey for me, so I always try for at least one non-show visit too each year. The “what might I see” factor in terms of airfield activity’s another reason for going.
4) What do we get right at Duxford?
Pricing for the museum is reasonable. Catering is better than other places (notably Hendon). Pre-AirSpace chaos the museum was better than most for photography too. From what I hear, the school visit programme is absolutley bang-on-the-button.
5) What do we get wrong?
Airshow pricing and airshow lineups. Prices ARE too high, especially when the lineups for most shows are carbon copies from the previous year. And a three hour flying display, even for the showpiece events is rather taking the pee. In terms of the museum, there’s not an awful lot wrong with it.
6) What changes or improvements would you like to see made at Duxford?
Cheaper airshows. More TLC for the exhibits that live in the open.
7) Should we put on more airshows? Or fewer? Quantity or quality – for example have fewer airshows with longer displays?
Fewer shows. Legends and the September show would suffice. Each with 4hrs flying minimum.
8) If sometimes you are accompanied to Duxford by family or friends who are not particularly interested in aircraft, do they leave feeling they have at least had an interesting day out, or do they think that Duxford is for enthusiasts only?
I’ve taken the missus who loves her history, but is nonplussed about aviation and she loved it.
9) How do you rate the catering outlets at Duxford? Expensive or good value for money? Enough variety?
Decent value. Better than other places.
10) How do you rate the Museum shop? Is it well stocked for enthusiasts with something new to catch your interest each time you visit? What in your opinion could we sell that we don’t already?
Never been to the shop.
Thank you in advance for your input, let the comments commence!
Becka
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