Cosford visit

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11 years 3 months

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Visited Cosford a short while ago and was very impressed with the range of exhibits. In particular the unique gems in the Test Flight hangar; the rare warplanes and the beautiful Comet 1.

The Cold War "hangar" is fairly unusual. I take it the shape is meant to represent something? Unfortunately, I found the layout makes photography in there fairly difficult (at least with my little camera lol)

A few photos -

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Member for

11 years 3 months

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Also nice to see some activity on the airfield itself -

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Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 271

Good stuff, thanks for sharing. I had reason to visit Cosford a couple of weeks ago (my line management is based there!) and couldn't resist a quick trip round the museum. Because of a function in one of the museum hangars, some aircraft not normally seen out in the sun were temporarily parked outside. Made for an interesting perspective. I'm no fan of the Cold War Hangar but it does keep an amazing number of aircraft safe and dry. Some are also displayed in rather unusual ways. I was pleased to see the Comet test piece structural failure on display as that had been in our structures and materials lab at Cranwell for eons prior to being transferred to the Museum a couple of years ago.

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Member for

11 years 3 months

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Thanks Ted. Nice to see the Dinah outside - though I wish the covers were off! Great photo opportunity.

Member for

19 years 1 month

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Nice idea - a Cosford thread : )
I also visited this summer - it was a short notice trip and many apologies for the pic quality (only had phone with me)

The Beautiful Brit

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01132_zpsbe45c8fe.jpg

The Elegant Neptune

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01133_zps4a9896ef.jpg

Neptune and Nimblerod (with the monstrosity creeping into the pic on the right)

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01134_zpsc3ff1600.jpg

The Prone Meteor F8

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01137_zpsd12ed532.jpg

Just for a laugh - I took a close up - seems to give the aircraft a comical 'expression' : )

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01140_zps8719fb5d.jpg

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

The Cold War "hangar" is fairly unusual. I take it the shape is meant to represent something? Unfortunately, I found the layout makes photography in there fairly difficult (at least with my little camera lol)

The building is shaped as an aerofoil section similar to a prop, I can post some aerial shots if you want :)

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15 years 2 months

Posts: 674

I visited too a month or so ago, unfortunately there was a flight sim show on so hangar 1 was ticket only. One question that baffled me is the York has black painted 'windows', any idea why? All I can think is that is was a civil freighter before being retired and it has never been properly restored by the RAFM?

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19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

Godfrey Auty istr was the voted the man most likely to eject in the coming year at an ETPS dinner,fortunately he did not have to : ) !

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01142_zps47b87dd3.jpg

Perforated airbrakes (speedbrakes) on the B188

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01143_zps12f0b3ee.jpg

Kawasaki Ki 100 : )

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01152_zps468c619a.jpg

Me 410

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01163_zpsc9111555.jpg

Me 410 Engine

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01164_zpsd4d9a28b.jpg

The Sleek Dinah

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01169_zpsbae9d54e.jpg

Rear quarter attack view on 410 : )

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01172_zpse2d4c9c6.jpg

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

The Cold War "hangar" is fairly unusual. I take it the shape is meant to represent something? Unfortunately, I found the layout makes photography in there fairly difficult

Yes it represents 'how not to design an aircraft display building LOL'...I still cannot figure how they got planning permission for it as it hardly 'blends in' with its surroundings !
Hopefully if the museum can get hold of a couple more hangars in a few years time then the cold war monstrosity can be relegated to some other role !

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16 years 3 months

Posts: 1,813

Yes it represents 'how not to design an aircraft display building LOL'...I still cannot figure how they got planning permission for it as it hardly 'blends in' with its surroundings !

Wonder if they actually need planning permission as it is on an active (well sort of!!) RAF station.?

[/QUOTE] Hopefully if the museum can get hold of a couple more hangars in a few years time then the Cold War monstrosity can be relegated to some other role ![/QUOTE]

Bazv, would not hold your breath..!! Some topflight architect is probably working on a project to demolish the hangars as we speak and erect some prestigious "iconic" structure so he can win an award or be given a knighthood! Yep, cynical..... that's me!!!

PM

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17 years 5 months

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I think it is a stunning building both internally and externally, but you do need to see it from the air to appreciate it.

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

Tony
As a building I guess it could be described as 'stunning' - but as a building specifically designed to display aircraft I would say it is an absolute disgrace : (

A complete jumble of aircraft !

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01203_zps262dadb1.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/DSC01204_zps7f30a9ab.jpg

The upshot is that the beautiful Canadair Sabre is relegated to be nailed to the roof at a bizarre angle (where it is impossible to see any detail) and the Gloster Javelin is hung out to dry
The lightning is hung on the wall as an afterthought (yeh we can squeeze the thing in there LOL).
Inside the monstrosity one had the feeling of being in a badly erected tent and sitting in the 'caff' - one could not see any further than the outside path because of the 'fashionable' angle of the 'window' which appeared to be made from ready aged plastic !

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19 years 3 months

Posts: 597

One question I have is...

Are all the airframes that they use for Ground Instructional purposes with DSAE relocating to the Defence training college at RAF Lyneham ? or is there going to be a massed disposal sometime?

Shawbury is filling up with Hawks that the Red Arrows are getting rid of for others, and I suspect there are quite a few Tucanos available for trade training.

Tim S

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17 years 5 months

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I disagree Bazv, I think they are displayed as close to their natural environment as possible twisting and rolling around in the roof, the lightning for one is a stunning set piece... It is far better than row upon row of static aircraft. I seriously love the building, the way the structure has been deliberately rusted to contrast agains the skin... And the place has been designed to minimise light damage on the exhibits.

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17 years 5 months

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Binbrook I would imagine they will move, thinking about it, most Tornados we're reduced to produce, so more advanced replacements will be far and few between, so the Jags I would imagine will soldier on for several years to come.

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17 years 5 months

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Btw makes you feel old when realise you were involved on a running team for the KI 100 and ME410 and clambered all over the Dinah as it was being rebuilt lol

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

I disagree Bazv, I think they are displayed as close to their natural environment as possible twisting and rolling around in the roof, the lightning for one is a stunning set piece...

High up in the roof/wall is ok for less important/less rare aircraft but it means nobody can get close to see any details - how many other ex RAF Sabres are on display in the UK ??
The building could have been made to look striking in a far more practical way - to me it just looks like a temporary building !

It is far better than row upon row of static aircraft.the place has been designed to minimise light damage on the exhibits.

Perhaps...... if it had a proper mezzanine level to allow close inspection - the lift was out of use the day I was there - and no stair option LOL !
The building could have provided anti light damage protection even if it had been designed in a totally different way to fit in with its surroundings !

Member for

11 years 3 months

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as a building specifically designed to display aircraft I would say it is an absolute disgrace : (

A complete jumble of aircraft !

Couldn't agree more - I found the exhibits far too cramped together and the lighting was variable with some areas fairly dark. Pretty awful from a photography point of view. Nice pics from the other hangars though :)

Video of the construction of the monstrosity on the museum website -

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/media-vault/videos/national-cold-war-exhibition-how-it-was-construc/

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The building is shaped as an aerofoil section similar to a prop, I can post some aerial shots if you want :)

Much as I don't particularly like the building, it would be interesting to see these thanks.

I noticed there seems to be a walkway on the top - is this for maintenance purposes only? Must be quite a view from up there!

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11 years 2 months

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Why not just build a 'normal hanger?' Shows how long it has been since I went to Cosford, it wasn't there on my last visit. The only plus is a lot of a/c are now inside.

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Just a few more pics -

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