That’s just the problem Bunsen…
Because they’re not “Service” people, and have little or no connection with the RAF, they have no empathy with and for the artefacts in their care.
Putting aircraft up on poles in semi-darkness, in a straight and level attitude, so all you can see is the underside.
Stripping the Sunderland Hall of everything but the Sunderland, to make a large cafe.
Shortening, modifying or whatever they did to the Sunderland float support struts just so they could get more tables and chairs under them.
Cramming the aircraft removed from The Battle of Britain Hall into the other halls, where it’s difficult to get a good view of them and appreciate them for what they are, warplanes.
And whatever their nationality, British, German, Italian, etc, friend or foe, whatever part they played, pristine or wreck, they’re still part of the RAF history.
I seem to recall it being drummed into me during my 22 years in the RAF as an aircraft technician, that our job in peace was to prepare for war. The Battle of Britain exhibition was an important part of the RAF history, of a war, (albeit a generation before me and my proud RAF service history) and while most of the aircraft were only representative of the types involved, they told the story of “our finest hour”, all in one place.
I went to Hendon a few weeks ago, the day after attending a football match at Wembley.
I’ll be polite and say that I was underwhelmed by what the RAFM have done, to the point that I found it embarrassing. A cross between a kid’s play park, amusement arcade and a theme park.
Sorry but a cardboard cut out of the Vicar of Dibley and the station goat does nothing for me at all.
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