Having visited both Cosford and Hendon this year I would like to add to the debate. Are the RAF Museums ‘sad’, in my opinion no, they have however been allowed to decay and can they be certainly improved. The decay problem is mostly likely a case of the reduction in funding of the past few years, and perhaps some decisions made by past management, new management this year will hopefully see things improve, but dont expect any increase in the annual budget.

It is a shame that the management do not seem to be interactive with either the enthusiast or the wider general public. I have asked questions of IWM Duxford and received answers, they also have an active Twitter feed. RAFM dont seem to engage the same way. The staff on the ground seem to have the same problem, speak to a guide or engineer at DX and you will have a conversation, and if safe, the oppertunity to photograph something inside the barrier close up or to move a sign board. At Hendon I obtained a ‘tripod pass’ and proceeded to take some long exposure shots, granted the beeping form the timed exposure on my camera did echo around the G-W building but having been asked what I was doing I was then watched by security as I carried on around. I told the security person that the long exposure was due to the low light levels and the location of the overhead spot lights he stated nobody else had ever complained. Clearly he had no idea of what he was employed to watch over.
I do agree with mmitch the Bomber Command Hall is an untidy mess, although I did not see any fences. If the museum has ‘work in progress’ it can be excused, if it is daily maintenance thats gone wrong it can not. If certain areas of the museum have to be closed because work can not be carried at after hours then better that than what we see today.
Again its a personal opinion, but a little can go along way to improve things. Suggest that it is time to move away from the themed BoB, Milestones and Bomber Command areas, the G-W does stand alone and works well. But better signage leading the way to the G-W. (I understand a plan is in place to do just that) As non enthusiast general public make up the bulk of the visitors they are one who need the information. Maybe a colour coded map show each aircraft and its role or era, I disagree with the audio tour or phone app because if thats the case you might as well stay at home and watch the DVD, but if it is what the bulk of the visitors want then so be it, but for it to work it will cost money, and then there will be even less to spend on paint.

Did any of the DX snappers see the SR-71 move from Airspace to AAM on Tuesday, they were no photos, so did it happen ? No twittering from IWM yet other than to say the P-51 will move. The sun shining in Peterborough so need to make a move if I am going to DX today. If they are ready to load the SR-71 assume the BUFF is not coming out again.

Thanks for any info.

VIP guests on Sunday. The Chartered Royal Flight S-72 helicopter (G-XXEB) arrived around mid-day, some minor looking royal (Duke of Kent ?) got out, was greeted by Diane Lees (IWM Director) and whisked away. By 3.00 O’clock he was back and left, having not even seen the finale. Why is it that the organisers of events think it necessary to have these VIP’s make guess appearances ? I am sure the Royal member involved is a nice person, but obviuosly had no interest in the event, otherwise he would have arranged to stay to the end. Guess he spent most of the time shaking hands and having lunch. And we moan about “freeloaders” in the naughty field 😀

Expect even more people wil use Grange road, naughty fields or not. I have always been content with watching and photography the show from the area between the shop/cafe and TFC hangar. Sometimes at the fence line others by the car. Great shots could be had of the aircraft arriving / departing over the Airspace hangar, top side heading North. The Western end of the airfield, from tower to tankbank has always been over crowded, especially when filled with corperate / private enclosures. Hopefully all will be good on Sunday.

If it does have to move to Cosford let us hope that it can be stored undercover in one of the Tech Training School hangars until such time those hangars can be included in the museum collection.

Given the amount of film footage Channel 4 must have shot on Tuesday one hopes they could offer a better version , or DVD ? at a later date.

Two questions re the SR-71.

1) Is the move on Wednesday from the Airspace Hangar to AAM or just a photo shoot out doors with some F1 cars, then back to Airspace ?

2) Is this move more weather dependant than some of the other aircraft ?

Agree strange thing to do. But if fairness little of the work carried out by the MB Meteors is directly linked to UK MOD. It is mostly used for company product testing.
Interesting thought, considering the sale of Coventry based aircraft could their Meteor T7 be of interest to Martin Baker, even if only as a source of engines and spares ?