Paulf

Certainly agree with most of that especially the attention span not only of youngsters but also their parents, of our children’s age. As immediately post war children the predominant action books and films were about the war and used equipment that was still around. most RAF bases held Battle of Britain and/or at Home Days and certainly, my home aerodrome Biggin Hill, very well attended. Of course, the shows were a lot more, shall we say, lively pre H & S days. Are there any active RAF events this year other than RIAT? The “educational” aspect of museums is very important as these education programmes are fundamental to winning grants and lottery money. So the “little devils” are very necessary and I was told that DX has 5 school trips a day on average, so very significant. However, there is no excuse for not labelling things properly with two labels, one the quick “this is a Merlin engine” and a second plaque with more detailed information for those who are interested.
Please do not mention dust!!!!!:D If has dust on it, it must be inside and that is good. http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?134691-Another-Shackleton-in-danger

To hang or not to hang? Again a mix based on what you said but a gallery is always essential. DX got it right Cosford got it horribly wrong IMHO.

Please note where the “designers” have been let in to design the buildings the actual purpose of the space they were required to provided has been degraded with the exception of Air Space. The building at IWM North is sheathed in stainless steel and very strangely shaped on the outside. This has produced some very odd and confusing shapes on the inside. Put this together with very low lighting levels, so low we couldn’t read the information labels and gave up trying, some sort of noisy projection system, the SLOPING floors and the shear lack in numbers of exhibits on display the whole thing was a waste of time and money which could have been much better spent elsewhere. There is so little to see I would be surprised if little Johnny would like it much either. As others have said Lambeth was an opportunity lost to the designers again and what was a good museum of my childhood destroyed.

For me DX is an ideal mix with the features that you say, restoration companies on site, civil airliners, the tank museum and the huge advantage of flying aircraft. Show a boy a Vulcan on the ground and he marvels at how large it is. Show him a Vulcan in the air and he may be hooked for life. (Vulcan is just an example!!!!) DX has a nice cross section with something for everybody and therefore a bigger draw.

the resistance characters in the show actually looked proficient.

That’s because they weren’t actually ………..

Ah yes 78s, I remember them well! And Garrard 301 with good old Mallard valve amps. For sound quality you cannot beat analogue. Bit difficult to get in your pocket though.

On Monday we were treated to a fly by of a C130? Unfortunately didn’t seem to have the right idea about height.

27Apr2015_1571c by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

27Apr2015_1589c by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

Is it possible to ID the model please?

Did the Catalina fly Tuesday? It was towed onto the field at 15:30 on Monday but did not go up before closing time.

27Apr2015_2402 by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

27Apr2015_2611 by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

27Apr2015_2445 by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

This is the situation yesterday evening at 17:30.

Tackle has been fitted to the Avenger, almost all the glass is out but some frames are still to be removed.

27Apr2015_2562 by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

Duxford Monday 27th April:

Plenty of media attention on Spitfire P9374 today, though she was eclipsed by the presence of 19 Sq and Battle Of Britain veteran Ken Wilkinson:

The gentleman in question

27Apr2015_1378 by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

27Apr2015_1386c by p_meddemmen, on Flickr

https://www.cobseo.org.uk/battle-of-britain-pilot-returns-thanks-to-the-not-forgotten-association/