I’m sorry but we’ll have to disagree!

When I compare the effort that I put in around the edge of the event now, to what I was able to do from 2003 through to 2006/7, back then it was miniscule by comparison. At that time I was part of the project team for the HLF project – I still am, completing the regular ‘monitoring reports’ that were part of the original HLF contract.

The point above is made not to try to be clever, blow my own trumpet, or diminish the huge ‘in-detail’ effort put into Cockpit-Fest by the other organisers at NAM – who make a fantastic effort with minimal resources. It is meant to illustrate the original observation that I made in post #81; that includes the e.g. of negotiating prizes from the USA for the 2013 event in Newark.

Also if you observe the date of my joining this forum you will also note a correlation to the dates mentioned above!

As for how to attract more cockpits, you tell me I’ve long since given up trying to understand the rationale behind why all sorts of people, participate (or don’t) at events!

Maybe it’s something to do with the number of locations / organisations trying to replicate the event, as I said above I don’t know. However what I do know – it’s a nice feeling and a privilege to have been involved with such an innovative event as Cockpit-Fest for such a long time – including the highs and occasional ‘not so highs!’ 🙂

If this event takes off like the one in the UK, then after three years, it will be down to about half the numbers that it had when it started, and it will take a further seven years to get back to it’s original size….

Perhaps – especially if the Kansas Aviation Museum has a major Hangar building project to successfully implement, which means that the museum has to focus its limited volunteer resources into that project rather than ‘event organisation’. 😉

By the way I like the logo Justin!

Plus the prizes for 2013 arrived safely – many thanks; sorry for the delayed acknowledgement, ‘time pressure’ is one of the perils of a heavily involved volunteer!! 🙂

Graham from my perspective it’s still as in #22 – no time set (we can set one if people prefer) – I’m due to be on site all day; the ‘rolling tab’ will be in-situ and I will be bringing over ‘Nottinghamshire’s mince pie mountain!’ 😀

A bit of a round up about AHL past and future can be found in the news release about last week’s conference at Hemswell Court.

“Reflective Autumn Conference highlights the future of AHL

More than eighty (80) delegates attended Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) 2012 Autumn Conference that was held at the delightful Hemswell Court on Tuesday 20th November.

Following a brief review of AHL’s recent achievements presented by the Aviation Development Officer, Phil Bonner and the Outreach and Learning Officer, Dave Harrigan; special presentations were made to personnel from North Kesteven District Council who had initiated the steering group for the project in 2004 and hosted the AHL staff for the last two years.

The keynote speaker for the conference was the Chief Executive of VisitEngland, James Berresford. James whose early career was in tourism in the East Midlands provided details of VisitEngland’s role as the official tourism body for England, which is working in partnership with government and industry to grow the value of the visitor economy at all levels.

During his presentation James made the following comments about AHL. “Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire has been instrumental in joining up the dots in the county’s aviation offering, which has been a magnificent achievement.” He concluded by encouraging the AHL partnership to greater heights by saying, “Please make sure that you pass on your visitors to other venues in the county and make sure that you highlight to your visitors the unique qualities of the Lincolnshire aviation experience.”

After lunch a short presentation was given by the Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), Tony McArdle about why LCC had decided to support the continuation of AHL by hosting the team for the next three years. This was followed by presentations by Phil Bonner and Dave Harrigan about AHL’s future aims and activities. This included providing the delegates with details about the new funding for education projects that AHL has received from Arts Council England through the Museums and schools programme. {This is explained in more detail in this weblink on the AHL website http://www.ahleducation.org.uk/frequently_asked_qestions.html }

Delegates were then provided with details of the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Appeal http://www.lincsbombercommandmemorial.com by AVM Paul Robinson. The appeal aims to erect a memorial on the top of Canwick Hill, in Lincoln. The site overlooks Lincoln Cathedral which was a major landmark for crews leaving Lincolnshire and as a navigation point for those lucky enough to return.

The culmination of the day’s proceedings was an enlightening and thought provoking presentation by Tim Wallis from the RAF Museum Conservation Centre at Cosford, about their Hampden Project. The subject matter was particularly poignant as Hampden bombers had been the mainstay of Bomber Command operations out of Lincolnshire during the early stages of World War II and the type had operated from the former RAF Hemswell airfield, where the conference was being held.”