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Post by planecrazy on Jul 6, 2018 16:49:50 GMT 12
Next stop on the UK tour across the country, to the west then north on our way to the Lakes district broke the trip up with a stop over at the museum at RAF Cosford. A huge complex with free entry you pay to park your car. First up an aeroplane I always wanted to see in the flesh, Gloster Gladiator.   Spitfire K9942 is one of 1,556 Mk Ia models built, she is 155th built, the oldest Spitfire in existance.  Flatter less bubbled canopy with no armour plated windscreen.  Hawker Hurricane MkI P2617 flew operational sorties in France before Dunkirk.  The sole intact Defiant was operated by a Polish Squadron during the war.   Kawasaki Ki-1001b  The museum’s FW 190 was originally used in the Mistel combination with a JU88 full of explosives attached under this aeroplane.  The BF 109G was originally captured by Australians in the North African desert.   Me163B-1a Komet  Me 262A-2a Schwalbe  Notable thing about the canons fitted to both the 163 and 262 is how small these units are.  Phew, as stated above the complex is huge so more to follow…… |
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Post by baz62 on Jul 7, 2018 14:07:17 GMT 12
Nice photos planecrazy! I wonder if the FW190 was the one normally hung from the roof at the Imperial War Museum in London? Of course could be another one that used to be a combined 190/88.
I was amazed to see the 2 seat 190 at Hendon when I visited in 2001 as I hadn't known about that mark.
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Post by rayo on Jul 7, 2018 16:33:20 GMT 12
Nice photos planecrazy! I wonder if the FW190 was the one normally hung from the roof at the Imperial War Museum in London? Of course could be another one that used to be a combined 190/88. I was amazed to see the 2 seat 190 at Hendon when I visited in 2001 as I hadn't known about that mark. Yes it is ex IWM |
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Post by baz62 on Jul 8, 2018 13:56:45 GMT 12
Thanks Rayo.
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Post by planecrazy on Jul 10, 2018 6:50:30 GMT 12
The Focke Anhgelis was towed aloft from a submarine the pilot would telephone potential targets back to the Boat boat. When a potential target was sighted the gyrocopter kite would be either realed in dismantled and stowed or sometimes abandoned along with its pilot!.  Beautiful German engineering.  There are some great twin engine types in the museum.       |
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Post by flyinkiwi on Jul 10, 2018 9:27:14 GMT 12
The Defiant was in bits when I was there in September (as was Hendon's Tempest), it's good to see it reassembled again.
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Post by planecrazy on Jul 10, 2018 9:33:57 GMT 12
I'm tossing up if it's Old Warden or Hendon, don't know if I'll make both any tips which is better?
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Post by flyinkiwi on Jul 10, 2018 10:48:17 GMT 12
I'm tossing up if it's Old Warden or Hendon, don't know if I'll make both any tips which is better? I didn't make it to Old Warden, but I'll say this: There are two reasons why I'd pick Old Warden over Hendon - 1) It's a living museum where most of it's exhibits are airworthy and are flown when weather and circumstances permit, and 2) Hendon was having some major capital works done when I was there and one of the hangars was closed to the public. They'd jammed in as many of the exhibits into the other areas as they could so getting to a decent vantage point to see the Stuka and Tempest was very difficult. Having said that try to fit both in, you won't be disappointed. |
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Post by planecrazy on Jul 10, 2018 16:24:02 GMT 12
I'm tossing up if it's Old Warden or Hendon, don't know if I'll make both any tips which is better? I didn't make it to Old Warden, but I'll say this: There are two reasons why I'd pick Old Warden over Hendon - 1) It's a living museum where most of it's exhibits are airworthy and are flown when weather and circumstances permit, and 2) Hendon was having some major capital works done when I was there and one of the hangars was closed to the public. They'd jammed in as many of the exhibits into the other areas as they could so getting to a decent vantage point to see the Stuka and Tempest was very difficult. Having said that try to fit both in, you won't be disappointed. Great tip I'd love to do both my travelling partner, wife, likes aeroplanes but doesn't love aeroplanes, now any tips on talking her around? At least at Old Warden she is entertained as well, see how we go. Here's the last of the batch from Cosford, great museum well worth it but you need to set aside a few hours, easy to look around but huge! No offence intended, some of the early British jets where quite unique.     The Lightning and Hunter, in fact, all the machines they have hanging from the roof are so impressive!    Some of the larger types live outside.    |
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Post by gibbo on Jul 11, 2018 19:02:37 GMT 12
I'm tossing up if it's Old Warden or Hendon, don't know if I'll make both any tips which is better? I didn't make it to Old Warden, but I'll say this: There are two reasons why I'd pick Old Warden over Hendon - 1) It's a living museum where most of it's exhibits are airworthy and are flown when weather and circumstances permit, and 2) Hendon was having some major capital works done when I was there and one of the hangars was closed to the public. They'd jammed in as many of the exhibits into the other areas as they could so getting to a decent vantage point to see the Stuka and Tempest was very difficult. Having said that try to fit both in, you won't be disappointed. I did both Hendon & Old Warden in 1989 & again both in 2016... if you had to pick 1 only it'd have to be Old Warden by a country mile - particularly if it's an airshow weekend! I just love O.W. to bits... the variety of aircraft is so unique compared to what you'll normally see - I bet your wife will really 'like' the planes at O.W. Also they now have tours of the old homestead & gardens and I even enjoyed both of these in their own right. The garden was a restoration work in progress in 2016 but a pleasant stroll in between the cafe / shop & the homestead. I think there's a small charge for the garden but your other half will love the place... they'll be no nagging at O.W.  |
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Post by planecrazy on Jul 11, 2018 19:57:50 GMT 12
Thanks folks, sounds like Old Warden will keep both parties happy, I'm grateful.
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Post by nuuumannn on Aug 8, 2018 12:57:41 GMT 12
Yes, as rayo pointed out, it was at IWM Lambeth, but only on loan, as it was part of the RAF Air Historic Branch collection, which was taken over by RAFM in 1998. RAFM has aeroplanes in museums all over the UK; the Canberra suspended from the roof of the Air Space hangar at Duxford is theirs, the Hunter and Meteor at Tangmere, the Supermarine 510 in the Cobham Hall and the Handley Page HP.115 in Air Space at the FAA Museum at Yeovilton, the Shackleton at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry are some.
The Fw 190 at Cosford is the top half of a Mistel, the bottom, a Ju 88 was scrapped after the end of the war. You can see mounting points under the '190's fuselage.
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Post by nuuumannn on Aug 20, 2018 15:41:27 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2018 16:37:51 GMT 12
The Hampden is looking good but gee they are taking forever on that restoration.
And the poor old Wellington looks worse for wear. That was one of the aeroplanes that impressed me most when I saw it in Hendon in the 1990's.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 18:53:02 GMT 12
I may be mistaken but I believe the Wellington's being restored?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2018 20:07:13 GMT 12
Yes it is. But it really does look tatty. I noticed when they were disassembling the He111 and Stuka and a few other of the aeroplanes last year how much they looked like they were suffering from long term display too and need a full restoration or a very good tidy up.
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Post by nuuumannn on Aug 21, 2018 15:34:53 GMT 12
The Wellington and Hampden are in the Conservation centre. The extent of the work required on the Wellington is huge. It hasn't had any real conservation work done since the RAF Museum has been opened. Nor have so many of the museum's airframes. I was told that the Beaufighter will probably be up for restoration as it is in bad shape. I did notice a torn fabric control surface. Most of the German stuff hasn't been worked on in years, so that is all looking a bit long in the tooth. The entire museum was looking a bit 'olde' (especially the Battle of Britain Hall - dare I say it - it was looking tatty when I was there nearly 20 years ago) hence the upgrades round the Hendon site.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 21, 2018 18:04:39 GMT 12
The Hampden is looking good but gee they are taking forever on that restoration. It's a restoration not a race..... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 21, 2018 18:37:46 GMT 12
That is not the point though Baz.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 21, 2018 21:05:02 GMT 12
That is not the point though Baz. There are reasons things take time Dave. Patience is a virtue. |
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