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The RAF Museum occupies two public sites in the UK at Hendon in North London, and Cosford in Shropshire, West Midlands. Find out the latest news from each site here.
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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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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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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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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If you are looking for an unusual present for Dad this Father's Day look no further than the The Royal Air Force Museum's online archive print store www.rafmuseumphotos.com.
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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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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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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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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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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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
If you are looking for an unusual present for Dad this Father's Day look no further than the The Royal Air Force Museum's online archive print store www.rafmuseumphotos.com.
Read more...
Kenneth Wallis, creator of the famous autogyro used in the James Bond film, ‘You Only Live Twice’ will be holding an exclusive talk at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 28th May 2008 as part of the Museum’s Half Term Spy Week.
He will be bringing with him autogyro XR944, one of the 3 autogyros built for evaluation by the Army in the1960’s as aerial reconnaissance platforms. His autogyro will be on display in the Museum’s National Cold War Exhibition for one day only.
Image: Avro Rota
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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.
Read more...
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford and the Sideways Theatre Company offered schools from the West Midlands the opportunity to experience at ‘first hand’ some of the most significant events of the Cold War era in a series of interactive workshops on 10th and 11th April.
In an action packed day, held at the National Cold War Exhibition, re-enactors portrayed some the period’s most charismatic and influential people in the aptly named ‘Coming in from the Cold’.
Image: Members of the Sideways Theatre Group
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We're proud to announce that the National Cold War Exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford won ‘Best Exhibition’ and ‘Best of the West’ at the prestigious Renaissance West Midlands Awards which celebrate achievement and innovation amongst the region’s museums and galleries,on 2nd April.
The National Cold War Exhibition beat off heavy competition from over 40 organisations across the West Midlands to win “Best of the West” at Renaissance West Midlands’ inaugural awards ceremony held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Image reading from left to right: Paul Kaynes, West Midlands Creative Programmer for the Cultural Olympiad with Michelle Worthington and Karen Crick of the Royal Air Force Museum.
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Last year, an unprecedented 357,000* people experienced days out at the museum in Shropshire, breaking all previous attendance records. The centre of attention was the £12.4m National Cold War Exhibition, which was opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, in February 2007.
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In a year which began with the successful opening of the National Cold War Exhibition, the Museum has garnered a number of awards in many fields.
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