The honest answer is that ultimately no aircraft that is left outside will survive. The challenge that Newark and every other museum with exhibits outside faces is being able to raise enough funds to put up a building big enough to get large aircraft like the Hastings, Shackleton and Vulcan inside.
IMHO Newark made a huge step forward when Hangar 2 was built, thereby enabling the Varsity to go inside; when that happened WF369 was the only one of its type inside in the UK – soon to be followed by Cosford and Duxford (not necessarily in that order). Here’s what Newark currently display inside. 🙂
Funding sources change their priorities and currently you struggle to secure funding for large capital projects like a hangar of the size required.
Food for thought and tin hat time :rolleyes: – the amount of money given by the HLF to get the XH558 flying would have more than covered (excuse the pun) the cost of a basic building like Hangar 2 at Newark, to get the Hastings, Shackleton and Vulcan inside a single structure.
At present it’s doubtful that funding for such a scheme can be generated, hence why the NAM priority has moved (temporarily) towards securing the development of the Southfield Site, which is owned by the museum and not leased.
The really clever bit is getting the work required on external exhibits down to sustainable levels so that you can keep looking after them until such a time that funds become available, or can be generated; thereby allowing capital projects to be completed without bankrupting the organisation through excessive rates, utility bills etc!
Peter – the Hastings has electric in now, which powers dehumidifiers 24/7, as for powering the aircraft systems, currently (I’m on form this morning – sorry :rolleyes:) I am not aware of any plans to keep TG517 ‘live’. Good progress being made on the Argosy procedures trainer through!! 🙂
Sign In
