Royal Air Force Museum London
Opened in 1972 by Her Majesty Her Queen and situated on the historic site of London Aerodrome at Hendon, our North London Museum is the only London attraction to house over 100 aircraft from around the world including some very early aircraft designs through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft. With free admission plus free interactive and fun activities at weekends throughout the year - check our "What's On" section - our London museum offers entertaining and educative days out for all the family just 30 minutes from Central London.
Latest News: 17 May 2008
This Half Term Leave Them All At Sea!
26th to 30th of May - Search and Rescue Half Term Week.
In this free and exciting activity for children 5+ both they and their friends will become active participants in a sea rescue and discover how the Royal Air Force mounts such operations in hazardous conditions.
In each session they will have the choice either to learn about survival techniques, in a raft with their fellow crew members, or to become a member of the heroic team that guides the RAF to the raft's location via 2 way radio communication.
Sessions are at 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00 each day and last approximately 30 minutes. All that we ask is that you report to the entrance of the Dermot Boyle Wing, located at the back of Historic Hangars, 10 minutes before each session to avoid disappointment.
Please note, younger children will need to be accompanied by an adult, but are welcome to participate in this experience.
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Dambusters Anniversary Publication Uncovers Hidden History
A new book produced to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the legendary Dams Raid uncovers elements of hidden history crucial to the success of 617 Squadron’s attack on the German Dams in May 1943.
The book produced for the Royal Air Force Museum by Newsdesk Media Group is titled ‘BREACHING THE GERMAN DAMS – FLYING INTO HISTORY’ and has been written by Robert Owen, the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Aircrew Association, and Richard Morris, author of acclaimed biographies of Wing Commanders Guy Gibson VC and Leonard Cheshire VC. The foreword is by New Zealander, Les Munro, the sole remaining pilot to have taken part in the epic operation.
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Purchase Breaching the Dams - Flying Into History
Only 8 Days Left To Pre-Register Your Bids For Our Conservation Experience
As part of May’s Museums and Galleries Month we have teamed up with online auction house Top Lots to offer an exclusive experience behind the scenes at the Museum’s Cosford site.
A must for any aviation enthusiast this exclusive day will allow the successful bidder and a guest to witness the ground-breaking conservation and preservation work undertaken by the staff at our Michael Beetham Conservation Centre.
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Pre-register your Interest with Top Lots UK
This Father's Day Weekend Revisit His Childhood Dreams
14th and 15th June.
Inside every man, no matter how old he is, there is still that little boy who used to run down the street arms outstretched pretending that he was an Ace Fighter Pilot.
This Father's Day Weekend why not allow him to rekindle his childhood dreams by visiting the Royal Air Force Museum's Hendon Pageant,a weekend of themed Edwardian Events that the entire family can enjoy?
Consisting of an open air living history experience demonstrating the story of the world’s oldest independent air force fathers and sons of all ages, plus mothers and daughters, will be able to meet costumed interpreters, participate in our Edwardian Family Fancy Dress competition and enjoy all the fun of the fair.
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Listen to Hendon Pageant Podcast
Operation Aviation - New Teachers Pack
A tidal surge, caused by a low pressure system, threatens to flood London. Thanks to a recent rise in sea-levels attributed to Global Warming London's flood defence systems will be tested to their limits. Accordingly, the government of the day has asked the Royal Air Force to develop a relief plan to bring aid to those trapped in the capital.
In this fun and informative pack teachers will be able to plan lessons before or after a visit to the Royal Air Force Museum's "Operation Aviation" activity.
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May's Podcast News - 2 New Podcasts Now Available For Download
Given the popularity of our 1st Podcast "Hendon Pageants and Air Displays", we decided that rather than posting one Podcast in May we would give you two!
This month's podcasts are Lucky Charms, which compliments a current exhibition that is being held at our Cosford site - so why not download it and listen to it whilst viewing the exhibition - and the birth of the Royal Air Force in 1918.
Each podcast is available on iTunes, My Yahoo, Google Reader and RSS. To automatically receive each podcast just copy and paste our “Feed URL” into your podcast software or RSS feed reader.
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Royal Air Force Museum Podcasts
May's Additions To Our Navigator Online Collection
This month we have added 3 new exhibitions to Navigator "Tools", "Coastal Command" and "Briefing".
Tools, test pieces and test equipment were vital to the maintenance of Royal Air Force aircraft, vehicles, installations and equipment. In this informative exhibtion we have posted a selection of the Museum's large collection of tools online.
RAF Coastal Command was founded in 1936 but when war began in 1939 the Command was ill equipped to fight the German U-boats making do with obsolete aircraft and weapons as priority for equipment and aircraft was given to Bomber Command.This selection of fine art shows the some of the aircraft and people of Coastal Command.
Briefings were given to RAF air crews before and after operations. Intelligence groundwork would have been relayed during the briefing prior to flying their missions so the crew would be aware of the threat scenarios, the target and how the attack would unfold. Here, you can witness photography of briefings.
Visit Navigator
Set Course For A Trailblazing Exhibition
Saturday 31st May until Wednesday 31st December
Many people identify the Golden Age of aviation as the period between the two World Wars, a time when young men and women sought thrills, danger and, ultimately, international recognition through trailblazing aviation exploits that set the world alight.
This small group of pioneers were the first to conquer oceans and seas or just the physical and mental demands of long distance flying, without the comfort of the modern technologies that we take for granted today, making their achievements, for many, even more wondrous.
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Record Breaking Legend Lands At Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the arrival of the Percival Mew Gull Replica, generously donated by the Alex Henshaw Estate.
Alex Henshaw (1912 – 2007), was a British Air Racer during the 1930’s and a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong in the Second World War. As a result it is estimated that he flew 10% of Spitfires made during that time.
Image: Mr Alex Henshaw Jnr reviewing the replica's interior.
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Royal Air Force Museum Hosts 90th Anniversary Celebrations
On the evening of Tuesday 1st April the Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum held a VVIP banquet for the Royal Air Force at the London site.
At 1900hrs a BBMF Spitfire piloted by Squadron Leader Al Pinner did a flypast across the Museum site. This was closely followed by a formation of nine Eurofighter Typhoons.
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Our New Typhoon Cooks Up A Storm!
The Royal Air Force Museum has become the first museum in the UK to take delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The aircraft, a prototype DA2, was successfully delivered to the Museum on Monday 21st January and is now on display in the Milestones of Flight Exhibition,suspended from the ceiling in a dramatic pose.The previous replica aircraft, which has been on display since 2003, will be erected on a pole out of doors at the front of the Museum. Watch out on the web for further updates.
Plan a day out at Hendon, RAF Museum London...
RAF Museum London, is one of the two museums housing aircraft and exhibitions which bring the history of the Royal Air Force to life. In the West Midlands - near Wolverhampton, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford displays an equally large and important part of our collection.
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