Fascinating film, can hardly believe the parachute training. I had always assumed with the Virginias that the parachutist would be in the fuselage and exit via the floor. Also shows some of the monster bi-planes like the Horsley and Fairey 111F. Just a shame so few military aircraft of this era survived. Had no idea that RAF officers of the era had compulsory tours abroad of 5 years, very popular with those with families no doubt!
Rob

Trouble is where in 2017 could you build a news RAFM on one site. Ideally a expansion period RAF station, current or former. It would need to be pretty central, with good transport links, so not Coningsby, but maybe Wittering or Cottesmore? What About Mildenhall, although not very central but shortly available. The former RAF camp at Biggin would also be interesting but lacks hangars. Of course it is just a pipe dream and it could cost millions.
It is interesting to see that visitors figures for Cosford and Hendon are roughly the same around 350,000, with Duxford at 278,000, according to this site http://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 .IWM London shows at 1.1 million!

Am I the only one that doesn’t have any issues with the RAFM being at Hendon? You could also say why was Cosford chosen when it has such a short runway. Yes somewhere like Kenley, Biggin or North Weald would have been a better location but it is at Henson so we live with it. I first visited back in 78 and have made 2-3 visits per year in the last 15 or so years.
To get a idea of how non enthusiasts feel I can look at my own experience of visiting the tank Museum at Bovingdon. It was somewhere I had always wanted to visit despite having only a passing interest in tanks as part of a general military history interest outside aviation. I found the place somewhat boring as there are just so many. What I wanted to see was a Tiger, Panzer, Sherman, Churchill, T-34, WW1 tanks etc. Probably how somebody may feel about seeing Spitfire,Hurricane, Lancaster, Stuka etc when going to Hendon.
IMHO Hendon just needs to be brought into the 21st century but that does not mean losing aircraft as has happened. They needed to clear Milestones rather than the BoB hall. Personally I would love to see the original hangars turned into a WW2 only area with many more non aircraft exhibits (AA guns, bombs, vehicles etc) and much better exhibitions. Keep the existing WW2 content and move the BoB aircraft there. Add a Dakota, a Pacific section with some of the Japanese aircraft from Cosford, and a Desert war section(maybe with a certain P-40). That would free up half the bomber command hall, Milestones and the BoB Hall for a move around. The last thing we really need is a glorified tech showroom with some aircraft which is what the BoB hall looks to become?

So glad the Pima guys will be getting a Spit. When I was last there it was number one on their list. For somewhere the other side of the world they probably have the best British aircraft collection outside the Uk. Off the top of my head they have Bolingbroke, Hurricane, Viscount, Gannett AEW, Shackleton, Gnat, Jet Provost, Lightning, Hunter, Vampire, Harrier GR3, Jaguar and a Tornado even though its a German one.

I think museums do need to adapt to a new generation but not to the determent to the older ones. What ever happened to the RAF’s ‘Nimrod’ trailer? That was a good walkthrough exhibit. What is needed is a 737/A320 fuselage from the Kemble scrap heap from the floor up and fit it out with various stations that explain the likes of radar, navigation, bomb aiming. Of course that costs money.
I like open cockpits, like Old Sarum but find them a bit dead. rather than lots of cockpits one, or tow accessible ones would be better. Lets have the panels lit up, when I move the throttles lets have speakers with the appropriate noise, same with the undercarriage, have a ATC tape on a loop.
My pet hate is poor descriptive sign boards. I know its a voluntary museum but the Midland Museum only have a very small sign with each type name on it . Unless you know your types its very anonymous. Without signage its just a line of different looking aircraft without any story.