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The Battle of Britain Beacon News - RAF Museum London

Latest News: 28 December 2012

Our Christmas Opening Times

If you're planning a visit to us during the Holiday Period with family and friends, now might be a good time to remind you what our Opening Hours will be during the Festive Period.

The Museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day opening daily to the public from 10am to 6pm from Thursday 27th December until Monday 31st December.

The Royal Air Force Museum London Launches Apprenticeship Scheme

The RAF Museum is proud to announce its London based apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with Barnet and Southgate College.


Raf Museum Receives Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund Grant For First World War Collections Project.

The Museum is proud to announce that it has received £64,000 to digitise, preserve and provide public access to around 300,000 First World War personnel records as part of a new permanent exhibition.

World Record Breaker Ends Another Adventure At The Raf Museum

SAILING world record holder Mike Perham is attempting to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world by land, sea and air – and he's well on his way to achieving it.

December's Flickr's Collection - Rnas Personnel

This collection of photographs, found during a recent inventory of unrecorded photographs, was donated to the Museum in 1978.

British Military Tournament Competition Winner Announced.

Earlier this month we ran a competition asking in which television series did Penelope Keith, one of the comperes of this year's British Military Tournament, play the character of Margot Leadbetter.

Museum Curator Tracks Down Lost Historic Local Artefact

RAF Museum curator Andy Simpson recently followed a trail from Colindale to Stanbridge and unearthed a rare wooden carving once owned by Claude Grahame-White.

'if Not Hendon, Where?' - Our Latest Podcast.

The RAF Museum was opened at RAF Hendon by Her Majesty The Queen in November 1972, but Hendon was by no means the first site suggested for such a museum. Indeed the idea of a Royal Air Force Museum can be traced back to the First World War, when Lord Rothermere gave instructions for examples of aircraft to be allocated for an exhibition.

40th Anniversary Of Opening Of Our London Site.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Royal Air Force Museum at our London site, in Colindale, formerly the site of RAF Hendon.

100 First Air War Objects

The RAF Museum is planning a new exhibition to mark the centenary of the First World War and we want you to help shape it.

Our curators have selected 100 artefacts from the RAF Museum’s rich and diverse collection of First World War objects, each of which we feel has a particular story to tell about this cataclysmic period of 20th Century history. We would like you to add comments and favourites to this collection.

Remembrance Weekend Activities

Throughout Remembrance Sunday Weekend, we will be holding at our London site aseries of activities to honour those that have fallen in battle whilst defending our freedoms and liberties.

Win Tickets To The British Military Tournament.

The British Military Tournament
Celebrating the Life and Times of H.M. The Queen

The British Military Tournament at Earls Court, London is an unforgettable and breathtaking opportunity to marvel at the skill and precision of the British Armed Forces and support The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers' Charity and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

The programme includes over 600 participants and over 150 horses, massed bands, the legendary Field Gun Run, the Musical Drive of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery and commentary from Anthony Andrews, Robert Lindsay, Penelope Keith and Dan Snow

Our Latest Podcast : Hubbert Allen - Learning To Fly At Hendon

The memories of Hubert Allen, one of the men who started his aviation career at the Hendon Aerodrome before flying in the RNAS in World War 1.

Celebrate With A Model Birthday Party.

If you’re searching for a new and unique celebration for your child’s Birthday, why not consider holding a fabulous flight themed party at the Royal Air Force Museum London? Celebratory packages are available for children with each child receiving a party bag containing a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a model kit to take home and build, courtesy of Airfix.

November's Flickr Album Now Live

This collection of photographs, found during a recent inventory of unrecorded photographs, was donated to the Museum in 1978 by RAF West Drayton.

Museum's Harrier Jump Jet Given Heritage Engineering Award.

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, also known as the Harrier Jump Jet, on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon was presented with a prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Award on Thursday 18 October.

The award recognises its position as the first vertical take-off aircraft to go into volume production.

Museum Appeals To Airfix Fans

The Royal Air Force Museum London will be launching in Summer 2013 a signature exhibition commemorating and celebrating the national institution that is Airfix. This exhibition will chart the history of this Great British Institution by displaying original Box Art as well as Airfix’s most popular models from the 50s, 60s and 70s in the Museum’s Art Gallery.

Athletes And Olympians Extended To 30th Of November 2012

On the day that London celebrated the Olympians and Paralympians of Team GB with a victory parade across the capital, the Royal Air Force Museum London is proud to announce that it is extending the run of its exhibition 'Athletes & Olympians : Sport in the RAF' by popular request.

Snipe, Albatross & R.e.8 Ready For Take Off!

The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the unveiling of the Snipe, Albatros and R.E.8 aircraft constructed in New Zealand by The Vintage Aviator Ltd. The Albatros and R.E.8 will fly in airshows this year (including Shuttleworth), as a tribute to the Royal Flying Corps during its Centenary year, after which all three aircraft will be on public display at the Museum’s London site.

Winning Photographs Now On Display.

The winning photographs of the Service Children's Support Network 2012 photography competition can now be viewed in the Museum's Aeronauts Gallery.

Former Artist In Residence Returns To Museum To Celebrate 25th Anniversary.

The Museum is delighted to invite back for a week’s residency the artist Mark Postlethwaite who first exhibited at the Museum in 1987. His residency will run from Monday 20th August to Sunday 27th.

Enter Our Competition To Meet James May At Our Sister Museum In Cosford.

Fans of the popular TV Presenter James May will have the opportunity to meet their idol next month when he officially opens the new 4D Experience at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford. The Museum has launched a free competition for fans to enter and be in with a chance of joining James May on a ride in the 4D Experience along with their friends and family.

Winners of the competition will be invited to the Museum on Wednesday 5th September, where they will be treated like VIP’s for the day. There will be private time for the winners and their guests to meet with James to take photos and for him to sign autographs before he joins them on a ride in the new 4D Experience. With two flying themed rides to choose from; ‘Fly me to the Moon’ and ‘Dog Fight – Red Baron’ the Museum’s latest exhibit combines cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D computer animation, with the added fourth dimension of dynamic seating and special environmental effects.

After experiencing all the thrills and exhilaration of the 4D Experience, competition winners will be treated to a special two course lunch and drinks in the Refuel Restaurant. The VIP treatment will continue into the afternoon when winners will be given a guided tour of the Museum by one of our experienced guides to ensure they see everything Cosford has to offer.

So, to be in with a chance of meeting James May, enjoy a VIP visit to the Royal Air Force Museum and take a ride on the new 4D Experience with a celebrity, just answer this simple question:

What 1:1 scale Airfix model did James May build at the RAF Museum during the BBC Toy Stories series?

A. Hurricane
B. Spitfire
C. Lancaster

To enter the competition, visit the Museum website anytime from now until Wednesday 29th August 2012. The three lucky winners along with two guests each will be selected at random from all the correct entries and notified by telephone on Thursday 30th August. Anyone wishing to enter the competition to meet James must ensure they are available on Wednesday 5th September between 11am and 3pm. You can also enter the competition by sending your answers and contact details through the post or by filling in a competition form at Cosford Museum.

To send you entry via post, please address your envelope as follows:

James May Competition
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
Shifnal
Shropshire
TF11 8UP

This will be the third time James May has visited the Museum in recent years. His first visit was back in 2009 when he filmed an episode for the BBC Toy Stories series. His second visit was earlier this year when filming a programme due to be aired this Christmas. During his third visit next month there will be no TV scripts in sight, James will be here as a guest and taking some time to enjoy the Museum.

Entry to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is free of charge.

July's Flickr Appeal - Hayward Collection, Part 3

Another unique collection of photographs has been added to Collection on Flickr. The prints dating from November 1915, are the third instalment of a series of albums relating to the RNAS/RAF career of Wg Cdr C.H. Hayward. The photographs from this album are of various scenes at RNAS Chingford. They were found during the inventory of un-accessioned material.

Tweet Me A Cab!

The Royal Air Force Museum London unveils today its latest strategy to promote its presence to tourists, office workers and people living in central London – its first ever fully branded taxi-cab. As part of this year-long campaign, the Museum is also launching today a new competition that invites members of the public to tweet the Museum with images of the cab on its travels around the capital with all Tweeters being entered into a weekly prize draw to win exclusive prizes from the Museum.

New Website Is Cleared For Take Off

After 9 months of redevelopment the Royal Air Force Museum officially launched its new website this morning at 9 am. With a fresh, open sky-scape design; a greater emphasis placed on rich content, such as video and podcasts; and much more intuitive navigation, the new website allows online visitors to interact rapidly with the Museum’s full collection before visiting the London and Cosford sites.

Meet Renowned Red Arrows Photographer

On Saturday 28th July the Royal Air Force Museum London is giving members of the public the unprecedented opportunity to meet with Keith and discuss his experiences with the Red Arrows at a book signing that will be held in the Museum's shop from 12 noon to 3pm.

Mum, Dad Make Their Summer Fly By

If you’re currently scratching your brain as to how to keep the younger members of the family entertained during the Summer Holidays, at a time when family budgets are being squeezed ever tighter, the Royal Air Force Museum in London might be able to provide you with a possible solution. From the end of July until the beginning of September, the Museum will be hosting a series of themed weeks specially created for younger family members, the activities of which are totally free.

Aeronauts Closed Wednesday 11th July

As part of its on-going refurbishment, our interactive Gallery for children, Aeronauts will be closed for the day on Wednesday 11th of July.

The Museum would like to apologise for any dissappointment that this might cause our younger visitors intending to visit us on this day.

Aeronauts will be open again to the public on Thursday 12th July from 10:00 am.

Travelling To The Museum This Weekend - 7th To 8th July

This weekend the Edgware Branch of the Northern Line will be closed for engineering works from Hampstead to Edgware.

Replacement Rail Bus Services will be running throughout the week from Hampstead to Hendon Central from where it will be possible to get the 186 to the bottom of Aerodrome Road.

Alternatively, you may wish to travel from St.Pancras Station to Mill Hill Broadway from where it will be feasible for you to obtain the 303 bus to the Museum.

If you are unsure which route is best for you to take, please visit the Transport For London website, clicking on the link below.

RED TAILS Competition - Winners Announced

Red Tails Competition - Winners Announced

Inspired by the true story of World War II's first African American Fighter Squadron, RED TAILS is a thrilling action packed film with the most realistic dogfights ever to hit the screen.

To celebrate the release of RED TAILS, the RAF Museum and Momentum Pictures offered 2 lucky winners the opportunity to win 2 P-51D Mustang Airfix Kits and 1 RED TAILS poster that has been signed by the cast,each.

The competition closed at midnight on 29th June and the Prize Draw was held at 9.30am on 2nd July.

The two names drawn out of the hat were David Colquhoun of Cannock Staffordshire and Matthew White of York. Their prize packs will be sent out to them shortly.

The Museum would like to congratulate both of them on their win and thank everyone who entered the competition.

RED TAILS is still currently on show in cinemas around the country.

Barnet's Finest, 7th To 8th July

FREE EVENT
7th & 8th July

Get ready for a BIG weekend!

Barnet's Finest combines outdoor family fun with help and advice for local people from various community action groups.

Channel your inner Sharu Khan by participating in our Bollywood Dance Classes.

Try your hand as a Falconer in training at one of our Wild Bird Displays.

Be transported back to 1860s America by the Southern Skirmish Association American Civil War re-enactment group.

Test your DJ skills and take part in our Rugby tag and Jymtime sessions.

By popular request local brass band, the Barnet Band, will be giving two concerts on Saturday underneath the Museum's Lancaster Bomber at 12 noon and 2pm.

Other attractions include Bouncy Castles, Fairground Rides, Face Painting, Video Games, Chill Zone and Nail Art craft sessions(charges apply).

Community groups on hand to give help and advice to visitors include Age UK Barnet, Victim Support Barnet, Sangam Association for Asian Women, North West London Credit Union, Barnet Police Community Services and Barnet Work Finder plus many more.

Throughout the weekend the Museum will also have on-site members of the RAF who will be happy to answer any questions that visitors may have about being in the Royal Air Force.

Barnet's Finest is gratefully supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

This Month's Flickr Appeal - The Hayward Collection: Part 2

This month, another unique collection of photographs has been added to Collection on Flickr. The prints dating from July 1915, are the second instalment of a series of albums relating to the RNAS/RAF career of Wg Cdr C.H. Hayward. The photographs from this album feature scenes from the Gallipoli Campaign. They were found during the inventory of un-accessioned material.

The full set can be viewed on the link below.

Spitfire Flypast - Saturday 30th June, 5.30pm

To commemorate Armed Forces Day the Museum will be hosting, subject to weather conditions, a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at approximately 5.30pm.

This activity will be run in conjunction with our activities for our younger visitors for National Insect Week.

Under Attack! Bugs And Bombers.

Join us on Saturday 30th June for our fun packed Family Insect Day.

Follow our Museum Trail to find out some fascinating facts about insects and aircraft, and join in our creepy crawly craft activities. Make an insect mask or a pompom bumblebee.

Become a “pest detective”. Our Collections Management team will be on hand to introduce some of the insect pests that inhabit our Museum.

Discover the damage bugs do to our collections and have a go at identifying some specimens from insect traps.

Creepy crawly craft activities cost just 50p each.

All activities run between 11:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 to 16:00. For further information, please telephone 020 8358 4896.

Image taken is of an adult Webbing Clothes Moth, reproduced by the kind permission of Andy Dean.

Bomber Command Memorial Concert - 7.30pm, 29th June

Bomber Command Memorial Concert - 7.30pm, 29th June

FREE EVENT
7.30 PM, 29th June

On the evening of 29th June the Royal Air Force Museum London will be opening up its Milestones and Bomber Halls for a special concert commencing at 7.30 pm dedicated to the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who never returned home and current members of the Bomber Command Association.

Attendance at this event will be by pre-registration only and due to limited space will be restricted to a maximum of 2 people per registration for members of the public wishing to attend this evening i.e 1 person plus 1 guest.

Members of Bomber Command are invited to bring a maximum of up to 3 guests with them.

Our £100 Amazon Voucher Winner

Earlier this month the Royal Air Force Museum invited our online visitors to take part in a short survey that will be used to help the museum gain some insight into the thoughts of our visitors into museum membership.

Each person participating in the survey was, as a thank you for sparing their time, entered into a Prize Draw to win £100 Amazon Voucher. The closing date for participating in this survey was Monday 21st May.

In total over 1,500 people answered the survey. To each and everyone of you a MASSIVE THANK YOU. Your help and assistance has proven to be invaluable in the development of products and offers for Museum Members. We'll be making an announcement about these developments later in the year.

But in the meantime we would like to congratulate Martyn Russell from Bristol who was drawn this morning out of a hat for winning our £100 Amazon Voucher for his assistance.

R.A.F Museum Rules the Waves for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

R.a.f Museum Rules The Waves For Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

A recently restored rescue craft used during World War II will be returning to the water at Hythe Marina at 11am on Thursday 24th May. ‘ST 441’ will be recovering its sea legs ahead of representing the Royal Air Force Museum at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

Museum To Exhibit Fresh Air

Museum To Exhibit Fresh Air

FREE ART EXHIBITION
21st May 2012 to June 2013

The Royal Air Force Museum London will be displaying from late May a year long retrospective of the work of renowned aviation artist David Bent in an exhibition entitled, Fresh Air

Over the last decade David Bent’s modern and distinctive style has won a plethora of devoted fans including the Red Arrows, with whom he has collaborated as Artist in Residence. Considered as challenging, thought provoking and innovative, his works combine art with technology and compel the viewer to stop and take notice. Each composition demands time for re-examination as details, previously hidden when first seen are revealed anew forcing multiple re-interpretations of the works viewed.

His work is considered by many to be a breath of fresh air in the world of aviation art.

Now Available For 1st Time Raf Hendon's Complete History

If any one airfield in the world could claim to be the home of military aviation, RAF Hendon has to be the no.1 contender.

The story starts over 150 years ago in August 1862, when one Henry Treacey Coxwell took a party on a balloon flight from the present-day Hendon site. In was not an auspicious start - suffering from light winds they only just reached a field near Mill Hill.

RAF Hendon: The Birthplace of Aerial Power narrates the full story of this remarkable airfield through war and peace and provides a wealth of information for historians and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Through the Eyes of A Service Child

Through The Eyes Of A Service Child

Free to Enter Photography Competition for U.K. Service Children.

Following the success of the 2011 ‘Through the eyes of a Service Child’ Art competition, the Service Children Support Network in association with the Royal Air Force Museum is proud to launch their 2012 ‘Through the eyes of a Service Child’ photographic competition; the winning entries of which will be displayed in an exhibition at the Museum’s London site later this year.

The children of all personnel currently serving in any of the United Kingdom’s three Armed Services (Navy, RAF or Army) and their Reserve Units are invited to submit a photograph that reflects their experience as a Service Child. Entries are by age category: Aged 5 and Under; Age 6 to 9 years; Age 10 to 13 years; and age 14 to 18 years – with each child able to submit a maximum of 3 photographs per entry.

Our latest exhibition now open to the public

Our Latest Exhibition Now Open To The Public

On display: 22nd March - 30th September 2012
Admission: FREE

A brand new temporary exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum has opened to the public today that celebrates the contribution and importance of sports in the RAF.

In Athletes and Olympians: Sport in the RAF the Royal Air Force Museum explores how sport has proven to be central to the maintenance of morale during operations; and how it has enabled the gain of trust and respect amongst foreign communities by RAF personnel, particularly during times of crisis.


We also examine the histories of a selection of those RAF personnel who reached the peak of their disciplines to represent Great Britain at previous Summer and Winter Olympics; whilst casting an eye forward to the contribution current and former members of the Royal Air Force will make to the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012.

Image shows those members of the RAF who will be competing or officiating at London 2012.

Museum's Review of 2011 now available to download.

Museum's Review Of 2011 Now Available To Download.

2011 proved to be quite a year for both our London and Cosford's sites and 2012 is currently shaping up to be even better.

We now have available to download our annual review which recaps on the major events that happened at the Museum last year such as:

- The arrival of the Hercules, Dominie and Comper Swift at Cosford.

- The live broadcast of Any Questions from our London site.

- The unveiling of a permanent tribute at Cosford to National Service Personnel.

- The progress of the Wellington Restoration.

- The progress of the Dornier Project.

To read about these stories and more, please click on the link below.

Bomber Command Memorial Wreath Arrives At Museum.

Bomber Command Memorial Wreath Arrives At Museum.

A bronze wreath, which will form part of the design of the Bomber Command Memorial currently under construction in Green Park, has arrived in London today by Chinook helicopter at the RAF Museum.

The wreath, which was designed by Bomber Command veteran C J Dudley DFC in his home town of Adelaide, Australia, has travelled to the UK courtesy of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. C J Dudley flew 39 sorties as a navigator flying Halifax bombers with 578 Squadron. After D-Day in June 1944, he took part in one operation where a large store of V1 flying bombs was destroyed.

The wreath will be displayed in the Museum’s Bomber Hall from Monday 2nd April until it is installed at the Memorial in central London this summer.

Museum Unveils Unique Aircraft

Museum Unveils Unique Aircraft

The Dolphin reconstruction is a project that has taken over 40 years to complete. It is now on display and is the only one of its kind in the world.

The Sopwith Dolphin single - seat fighting scout served operationally from Jan 1918 to July 1919; at its peak in Oct 1918 it equipped five RAF Squadrons, mainly in France. A handful served with No.141 Squadron on home defence duties. A total of 1,778 were built in Britain 1917-19, with possibly a few others in France; 1,055 remained on RAF charge at the end of Oct.1918. Production ended in August 1919 and the type was declared obsolete 1 Sep 1921.

Image shows Tommy Sopwith, the son of Sir Thomas Sopwith the founder of the Sopwith Aviation Company, about to unveil the Sopwith Dolphin.

Listen to our new podcast: Women's Suffrage and Women Pilots

Listen To Our New Podcast: Women's Suffrage And Women Pilots

The turn of the last century was a period of immense technological and social upheaval, leading many to question the role of women in society and the discrimination that they suffered particularly when it came to them not having the right to vote.

There were, at the time, many pioneering female aviators from across the world that helped demonstrate that women were just as capable as men - women such as Mrs Winifred Buller who worked as a test pilot for the British Caudron Company based in Cricklewood and Harriet Quimby who became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.

In this podcast we examine their achievements and those of other early female aviators and look at how the equality of women as pilots helped advance the profile of the Women's Suffrage movement in the United Kingdom.

Green Park Memorial Gives Charity Exposure

Green Park Memorial Gives Charity Exposure

The construction of a memorial in London’s Green Park has given a children’s charity vital exposure via a 100m long advertising hoarding.

The Memorial to honour the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives in World War II is currently being constructed in the North West corner of Green Park, close to Buckingham Palace.

During the eight month build, the Bomber Command Association has partnered with national children’s charity, Caudwell Children, to run an advertising campaign along the stretch of Piccadilly being used for the Memorial.

Museum Unveils RAF Photography Exhibition - 15th January

Museum Unveils Raf Photography Exhibition - 15th January

The winning images from the annual Royal Air Force Photographic Competition will be on view to members of the public at the RAF Museum London from 15th January 2012.

The Royal Air Force is celebrating the superb achievements of its photographers following the judging of the annual RAF Photographic Competition. The winning entries are to be displayed at a unique exhibition at the RAF Museum in North London which opens on 15th January.

Wanted, Your Unwanted Books

Wanted, Your Unwanted Books

The Royal Air Force Museum London is launching an appeal for members of the public to donate their unwanted military and aviation books & magazines to the Museum’s shop. These items will then be sold by the shop with the money raised going to the continued and on-going maintenance of the museum’s collections.

Interactive gallery to receive £25,000 upgrade

Interactive Gallery To Receive £25,000 Upgrade

The Royal Air Force Museum is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust for the purpose of upgrading its interactive gallery for children.

The grant comes soon after the Charitable Trust supported the successful upgrade of the interactive gallery at the Museum’s Cosford site earlier this year, which refurbished the older exhibits and also added updated ones.

The upgrade will create a new interactive activity area for younger visitors and families and allow the Museum to develop advanced scientific information displays for older visitors.

Gloster Meteor F9/40 arrives in London

Gloster Meteor F9/40 Arrives In London

Hot on the heels (or should that be tail fins?) of the the F.35 full scale model arriving in Milestones of Flight last week we are able to announce that the Gloster Meteor F9/40, which was originally on display at Cosford, has also joined this gallery's aircraft collection and will be fully on display to the public from this weekend (1st October).

This aircraft was the first F9/40 manufactured. However, due to engine problems with the early prototypes the fifth prototype became the first to fly on 5 March 1943. Employed in essential early airframe and engine development trials, the F9/40 fleet laid the groundwork for the introduction into RAF service of the Gloster Meteor fighter and represented a milestone in the use of jet engines by the British aircraft industry.

F-35 model takes pride of place in Milestones of Flight

F-35 Model Takes Pride Of Place In Milestones Of Flight

The Royal Air Force Museum has recently taken delivery of a full scale model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the model is a fully accurate representation of the aircraft currently in flight test and due to enter service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy in 2020.

Measuring 15.4m long with a wing span of 10.67m, the F-35 Lightning 2 makes an impressive debut alongside the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter and the earlier Harrier GR3 – a veteran of the Falklands War. The model has been employed by Lockheed Martin across the world at numerous exhibitions and air shows.

Their decision to donate the aircraft to the Royal Air Force Museum reflects the importance of British companies in the development of the F-35 and the aircraft’s significant role in the Royal Air Force’s future front line.

Sir Richard Branson helps kick start Dornier campaign

Sir Richard Branson Helps Kick Start Dornier Campaign

The Royal Air Force Museum has launched today a fundraising campaign to rescue the sole surviving example of the WWII Dornier Do-17 aircraft.

The Museum is now appealing to the public to raise the remaining £250,000 to complete the recovery and restoration project. The public fundraising campaign is also endorsed by Sir Richard Branson who is a supporter of the Museum.

Sir Richard Branson states: “The discovery of the Dornier is of international importance. Please support the RAF Museum’s appeal to save this unique aircraft as a tribute to the loss of life on both sides of the Battle of Britain.”

Omani Hunter Officially Unveiled

Omani Hunter Officially Unveiled

On Thursday 21st of July, our London site was proud to welcome the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, Air Vice Marshal Yah Ya Al Juma. Whilst at the museum, The Air Vice Marshall conducted the official unveiling ceremony of the Hawker Hunter FR10 (Oman) which was donated to the Museum by the Sultan of Oman.

Visitors will now greeted by our newest Gate Guardian on arriving at the Museum. The Omani Hunter is located, dynamically showcased 10 feet off the ground, in its new position directly opposite the Museum’s Main Gates.

To read the full history of this aircraft, please click on the link below.

Battle of Britain Hall Opening Hours From 1st July.

Battle Of Britain Hall Opening Hours From 1st July.

From 1st July 2011 the Museum's Battle of Britain Hall will be opening to the public from 10.00 am as opposed to its current published opening hours of 12 noon.

To reflect the Hall's new opening hours 'Our Finest Hour' the Museum's sound and light show, which narrates the story of the RAF in the Battle of Britain, will be shown daily on the hour from 11am to 5pm.

Last admission to the Museum's Battle of Britain Hall will be at 5.30pm.

These new opening hours reflect the recent extension of the Grahame White Factory opening hours to 6pm and the re-opening of the Museum's Art Gallery.

Get Ready 4d Feeling Of Flight

If you have ever wondered what it actually feels to soar amongst the clouds or to participate an intense aerial battle wonder no more. From next Saturday visitors to the Royal Air Force Museum will be able to experience all the thrills and exhilaration of powered flight by entering the Museum’s newest attraction – its 4 Dimensional Theatre.

Copyright © 2012 Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum