What's On Next Month, August 2009
The following events take place next month at RAF Museum London.
Trailblazers
5 May - 31 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.
Last Summer the Royal Air Force Museum decided to honour this band of intrepid aviators with a free six month exhibition - ‘Trailblazers’. Such was its popularity that the Museum has introduced yet again the same four individuals whose courage, grit and determination captured the world’s imagination during this golden era of flight.
• Men such as Alex Henshaw, Spitfire Test Pilot and British Air Racer who flew in 1939 from London to Cape Town covering all 6,377 miles in just over 39 hours, a few short months before the outbreak of World War II.
• Amy Johnson who, in 1930, became the first woman successfully to complete a long distance solo flight to Australia – in a second-hand De Havilland Gipsy Moth.
• Francis Chichester, a superb navigator who, in 1931, was the first to make a solo east-west crossing of the Tasman Sea in his Gipsy Moth.
• Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to cross the Atlantic single-handed in 1927, with just a compass and the stars to navigate his way.
During Summer 2009 ‘Trailblazers’ will focus the spot-light on these pioneers, their achievements and the aircraft associated with them in the Museum's appropriately named Milestones of Flight Hall...and as the summer progresses we will be adding more heroes and heroines of flight to this temporary "Hall of Fame"
Women of the Air Force
13 May - 31 December
Series of activities and events highlighting the contribution and experience of women in the Air Force.
Our series will commence on 13th May with a display of the Museum's latest temporary exhibition, Women of the Royal Air Force, in the Sydney Camm Area of the Museum's Historic Hangars.
Other activities as will be announced as they come to fruition as the year progresses.
If you have any youngsters in your party 12 years old or younger don't forget to pick up our free puzzle sheet about Women of the Royal Air Force. Each child who completes the form and drops it into the post box located at the exhibition will go into a monthly prize draw to win £25.00 worth of prizes from the museum shop!
Congratulations to Emily Wettasinghe, from Northolt, who won May's Prize Draw. £25 of goods of her choice are now wending their way to her.
June's draw will take place on July 3rd. So keep those entries coming.
For further information please telephone 020 8205 2266.
Family Summer Fun
27 July - 30 August
A month of trails that get the entire family working together exploring the museum and the fun side of flight.
On arrival at the Museum's main entrance pick up one of our trail booklets and follow the clues around the Museum with help from the rest of the family.
Once you have completed your trail report to Aeronauts, the Museum's Gallery for children, where you will given a souvenir certificate for a mission successfully completed.
Don't forget that if the weather is fine you can picnic by our helipad, which, as it is used on a regular basis by the RAF, means that you may have the added bonus of seeing a large helicopter land at our site!
We make every effort to adhere to our published schedule. However, dates may vary without notice. Please confirm dates and times prior to the event to avoid disappointment.
