The Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, June 2024.
Jul 4, 2024 12:19:16 GMT 1
northbynorthwest, ian531, and 3 more like this
Post by viscount on Jul 4, 2024 12:19:16 GMT 1
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM, HENDON
A Museum established in 1972 and enlarged several times since. Today still a much-visited establishment (although it was half-term week when I visited) spread out across 6 halls in 4 separate buildings. As a collection of military aircraft from all periods of aviation it is an outstanding visit. I do have my doubts around some display sections.
Hall One "RAF First 100 Years 1918-2028", the entrance/Exit building, to me seems as if they ran out of inspiration (or cash) part way through, so half the building has just one aircraft present - although a large one! Do a DH.9A, Spitfire Vb, Sunderland MR.5, a Folland Gnat T.1, a Sea King HAR.3, a V-1 and a FSM F-35 Lightning II properly represent 100 years of the RAF?
The Grahame-White Gallery Two has a fascinating collection of World War One period aircraft in a limited, rather dim (despite plenty of lighting) original 'period' hangar space.
Gallery Six "RAF in an Age of Uncertainty" has modern aircraft artfully positioned, but for me fails to tell the post Cold-War story in any progressive, interpreted way - the aircraft were just themed exhibits.
Highlight for me is most certainly wondering through the huge open space of Galleries Three, Four and Five "War in the Air 1918-1980". Beautiful aircraft, most reasonably positioned apart, well-lit, with interesting information boards. In preservation terms, quite a number of types are not represented in any other UK collection. Very well worth the wonder around - which to do properly takes quite a while!
As the list of exhibits is a lengthy one, and well documented in the likes of 'Wrecks and Relics" ed.29, 2024 I'll not list all the aircraft here, but go straight into images taken during my visit.
'GATE' GUARDIANS:
Not particularly well displayed along the fence beside the access road, two recently refurbished replicas: Spitfire FSM "TB288/HT:H" and Hurricane FSM "P2725/TM:B".
HALL ONE: ENTRANCE & RAF - FIRST 100 YEARS, 1918-2018
Hall 1:"RAF First 100 Years, 1918-2018", also serves as entrance, exit and cafe. A building of little architectural character and a reasonable walk from the car park, which would be unpleasant in rain, especially as it another reasonable outdoor walk onward to each of the main display hangars.
Apart from the two 'fence guardians', the only other exhibits kept outdoors are these two, once smart looking, now rather weather beaten RAF Rescue launches. Why, oh why are they not under a simple open sided barn-roofed 'shed'? Outdoors, but out of the weather. Being the RAFM any standard 'barn roof' style construction would probably only cost a very small percentage of the consultative reports, planning permission enquiries and architect's submissions. However onwards...
HANGAR 2 - WORLD WAR ONE IN THE AIR, 1914-1918
Hangar Two, the Grahame-White Factory building houses a fascinating collection of 1914-1918 aircraft, some originals, some rebuilds, some good quality replicas.
HALL SIX - "The RAF in an Age of Uncertainty"
Hangar Six: "The RAF in an Age of Uncertainty" houses a number of more recent types, in many ways bringing the story through to the current day.
Overview of the Hall from an upper balcony.
Part two: Halls 3, 4 & 5 to follow.
