Canberra PR3

The Chinook exhibition was very good I thought – it’s actually a former US Army Chinook, but marked up as ‘Bravo November’, the Chinook that served in the Falklands Conflict (remember a while ago there was talk about preserving Bravo November at the RAFM because of her historic significance – presumably now Hendon already have a Bravo November they won’t bother now?)

Dh9A

How long does it take the RAFM to change a wheel? About three years and counting!

Lockheed Hudson

Phantom

Humber Light Recce Car

Forward control car of 1919 built airship R33 – the control car was based on the design of Zeppelin L33 that came down in Essex during WWI.

The fantastic Supermarine Southampton fuselage

Never cease to be amazed by the size and beauty of the Supermarine Straenraer. The vehicle next to it is a 1924 Trojan tender

The two RAF Pinnaces outside the workshop buildings – presumably the larger one (which has been there the longest) is now about to undergo some much needed work?

As it was now nearing 12 and the CGW hangar was due to shut, I reluctantly made my way to the Milestones of Flight hangar. Although when you first see the aircraft it looks like the making of an enormous plane crash, you can get some interesting photos

Me 262 ‘Schwalbe’ (Swallow)

“There’s nothing wrong with the Women’s Auxiliary Balloon Corps!” – Blackadder goes Forth

Bleriot and airship Gondola

Sopwith Camel, one of the two original Sopwith Camels in London (and the UK?) and both hung up

Fokker DVII

dH Gypsy Moth

“They’re firing sir, they’re firing!” – Blackadder goes forth (can you tell i’ve been watching it on youtube?)

From the Milestones of Flight hangar, it’s a short walk through a covered tunnel to the Bomber Command hall, where you’re greeted by a Wellington T10, converted to look like a bomber version

Avro 504 inside the hangar – spent over an hour in there, not just taking photos and looking at exhibits but soaking up the atmosphere. All the lovely WWI and earlier aircraft and vehicles, with the smell of dope and oil, fantastic. Too bad it’s only available two hours a day

Caudron engine

Bleriot

Bomb release mechanism in front of the Vimy. Presumably a refugee from the upstairs WWI gallery, as well as the vehicles and the WWI model trench diorama, sat on a hand truck behind the Gunbus

Bristol M1c Scout (I like the dragon painted on the side of the fuselage)

Caudron G3

Crossley Tender – gorgeous vehicle, one of the best things about Hendon to me is the vehicles. I remember seeing in an old visitors guide (a 1970-something one) they had a Rolls Royce armoured car – any idea what happened to it?

A selection of WWI engines (I read somewhere the RAF Museum has a Zeppelin engine, presumably in the upper gallery though as I couldn’t find it)

Ford Model T Tender (couldn’t get a decent photo of this because of the way it’s positioned)

Haha, my missus will kill me if she ever reads this!

I saw the Pterodactyl hanging in the roof, looked as if one wing was missing but that was just because the fabric is off one wing. Very hard to even see let alone photograph, although i’ll try and get a photo of that.

Had a look at the agriculture exhibit, quite liked the ‘1960’s-ness’ of it, and also the flight gallery (presumably that has’t been modified since about the 70s/80s?). Had no idea that Britain was saved by the Fordson tractor towards the end of WWI! Next to the agricultural area there was a very interesting exhibition about the history of plastic (no, really!). The dividing walls of the exhibition were made with those strips of plastic you see in supermarkets hanging down from the roof, but this time red and opaque, gave the exhibition an authentic smell at least. Exhibits included a bakelite coffin, and a piece of plastic that changed it’s shape when it saw your face. There was also a Spitfire bubble canopy from ARC (I think, can’t remember) at Duxford on loan for the exhibition

I’m planning to use my mini-tripod which is about 7 inches tall (just let myself in for another joke now….), plan is to quickly get it out my bag, screw it into the camera then take a picture of something, then hide the tripod still attached down my sleeve so hopefully no staff notice! To be honest didn’t see any on that floor though so might be safe anyway….