Stopped buying Flypast many years ago because all the previous posters comment. Text over photos, oddly cropped photos, back ground colour / contrasting text colour hard to read, the random use of “info boxes” and the afore mentioned CGI / airbrush artwork to illustrate. Since Key’s purchase of Aeroplane I agree the quality has improved and it still covers stories that interest me. Sadly the CGI artwork is starting to appear, see front cover and page 35 of January 2016. Utterly surprised that a magazine can run a six page piece on the use of a British prototype , the BP111, without even including a single photo of the aircraft as preserved at Coventry. Surely a better use of page 35.

Was it not the case that lend lease aircraft had to be paid for if they survived the war, thus many were dumped at sea as this could be classified as war damage / lost and written off ?

Congratulations to ARco for investing in Duxford and the future of the British historic aviation industry. This building will not be cheap. I dont expect IWM are putting their hand in pockets to pay for it ? Indeed ARco will probably get a big tax bill from Cambridgeshire Council to use it !! Indeed ARco could have build the new hangar anywhere, out of sight from the public access afforded by the IWM Duxford.

Can anybody confirm what is on offer this weekend ? Main question, will W4050 be positioned outside in suitable place for photography. The cramped conditions within the hangars at the museum have always made clear photographs difficult.

Would think that Steve Hinton has a rather full log book.

Hello me again.
Whilst I do not under estimate the cost, time and effort required to move aircraft around a site or to place aircraft temporarily outside might encourage repeat visitor and thus increase footfall ?
The Gatwick collection has been mentioned earlier in this thread and their new display building will be most welcome for the longer term preseravation. But next time I visit Gatwick airport will in bother to call in if all I can see outside are the same two or three large airframes ? Maybe not compared to the last couple of years when having seen that xyz are working on the Hunter. To maintain interest I hope Gatwick can regularly move aircraft outside, not just for one off private photoshoots, which I understand can be profitable, but just to allow the public to see them. The summer months outside can be that bad for aircraft preservation.

First they charge you for car parking, now they expect you to take your own torch !!! Next there will be a slot for 50p at the door to turn the lights on for 3 mins. 😀 😀

Why on earth would they institute a parking charge, then give it all away?

All franchise operations are the same. The operator, in this case NCP, pays the RAFM a fixed monthly amount to run the franchise. NCP are then responsible for the pay machines, staffing, maintenance and probably insurance and security. Expect they also have the franchise for RAFM Cosford as well.

Similar franchises will have been let for the catering at both museum sites. If you think your £3.00 coffee is benefiting the museum, think again, RAFM will only be paid a monthly “ground rent”. Its no different to any other contracted catering operation.
Before somebody says it I know some contracts allow for a share / percentage of the till receipt to be passed on direct.

p.s. I have no connection or direct knowledge of the RAFM arrangements