By: danjama
- 13th July 2016 at 23:59Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I visited the BoB Museum at Hawkinge on Sunday for the first time, and have to say I loved it. Although I was irked about the ban on photography and even phones, I love the quaintness of the place, and it's historic authenticity is not to be ignored. Plus of course the thousands of exhibits with excellent background info. Walking around the place is as much about reading as it is about looking. The icing on the cake for me was the fine art collection in the ops room and the dozens of battle damaged engines dotted around the place. As a pistonhead, these were a real treat.
What does this have to do with the RAF Museum I hear you say.
Well, I will be recommending it to anybody with an interest in the Battle of Britain, along with a recommendation to avoid the RAFM.
By: svas_volunteer
- 14th July 2016 at 10:15Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Interesting link Brian I'm all up for them using the other buildings and trying to get more of the general public to look around, not so sure of spreading some of the airframes around the country but I concede it gives a better chance for people who wouldn't travel to London to see them. Which bf109 is moving as in the article they talk about bf109e 'black 6'?
By: AlanR
- 14th July 2016 at 11:06Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Reading what Maggie Appleton has to say about the future of Hendon, it doesn't seem to be all doom and gloom.
I look forward to visiting again, once everything has been set up for the 100 anniversary. Very often change turns
out to be for the better. As with the AAM at Duxford for instance.
By: aeronut 2008
- 14th July 2016 at 11:19Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Reading that article makes me wonder what space there is at Cosford and just which aircraft previously on display there will end up out of sight in one of the blister hangars.
By: hawker1966
- 3rd August 2016 at 17:05Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I visited the BoB Museum at Hawkinge on Sunday for the first time, and have to say I loved it. Although I was irked about the ban on photography and even phones, I love the quaintness of the place, and it's historic authenticity is not to be ignored. Plus of course the thousands of exhibits with excellent background info. Walking around the place is as much about reading as it is about looking. The icing on the cake for me was the fine art collection in the ops room and the dozens of battle damaged engines dotted around the place. As a pistonhead, these were a real treat.
What does this have to do with the RAF Museum I hear you say.
Well, I will be recommending it to anybody with an interest in the Battle of Britain, along with a recommendation to avoid the RAFM.
Seconded:
I totally agree with you danjama the Kent Battle of Britain Museum is an absolute Gem, i guess with what is currently happening to the Battle of Britain hall at Hendon, we must be even more grateful that we have such a dedicated Museum to the memory of the Few and keeping the Battle of Britain story alive alive.
I visited the Hawkinge Museum on Sunday and it is remarkable what they are achieving there displays are changing every year and the facilities and volunteers are very public friendly, when you think of the size in comparison of the 2 Museums the Kent Version for me certainly puts the London version to shame.
I visit Hendon in the region of some 7/8 times a year but once the Battle of Britain hall is no more then i know where i will be spend more of my Saturdays.
The word disrespectful comes to me in summing up Hendon ref the Battle of Britain Hall
Interesting view, and strangely it shows how it might be going, Multi media area, plastic spit outside ( I hope) and squat real aviation wise shown inside, its appears to of had the heart of the museum ripped out of it, and that is the main reason it is there, to show the relics of the RAF, to the public. The BOB was the worlds first aerial battle and was the pivotal moment in the UK's history, to remove and disperse this collection is both stupid and a great disrespect to those that fought to save the Country.. People the world over travel to Hendon to view this collection, to disperse it is crass.
Sadly it is what you get when you take on a new CEO who has not served nor understands the RAF.
By: TonyT
- 4th August 2016 at 11:12Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
the Museum will be interpreting the Battle of Britain story within the wider context of the Second World War across both London and Cosford – which currently does not reference this important chapter in the RAF’s history.
Err so I never saw a Dornier, Spitfire MK1 or Hurricane at Cosford? my, how my eyes are failing me...
By: Planemike
- 4th August 2016 at 11:57Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I visited the Hawkinge Museum on Sunday and it is remarkable what they are achieving there displays are changing every year and the facilities and volunteers are very public friendly, when you think of the size in comparison of the 2 Museums the Kent Version for me certainly puts the London version to shame.
Just don't try to take a photograph there.....!!! You can at Hendon !!!!
Well at least they managed to tick all the PC boxes in those presentations. I wonder if future generations will thank us for this current revamp. The people who established the RAFM must be spinning in their graves.
By: Rocketeer
- 6th August 2016 at 20:08Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
words fail me.....very depressing. The kids who come to our museum love looking around cockpits and sitting them, not sure they'd like the new RAFM. They say the display in the ex BoB Hall was permanent....that's what they said about the BoB Hall museum!
By: aeronut 2008
- 6th August 2016 at 20:19Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What they appear to want to put in the BoB hangar could easilly fit in the side galleries of the main building. These galleries and the Dermot Boyle Wing (Do they ever use that?) should be put to use before the floor space that can take aircraft. They are reducing the number of airframes at Hendon, there is precious little space left at Cosford and I doubt Stafford will take any more. In addition the RAFM airframes at MOSI look like they may have to move (where to?). Just where are all these airframes going to go? and I suppose they'll have to stop collecting any more or start selling those they alrfeady have.
Posts: 429
By: danjama - 13th July 2016 at 23:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I visited the BoB Museum at Hawkinge on Sunday for the first time, and have to say I loved it. Although I was irked about the ban on photography and even phones, I love the quaintness of the place, and it's historic authenticity is not to be ignored. Plus of course the thousands of exhibits with excellent background info. Walking around the place is as much about reading as it is about looking. The icing on the cake for me was the fine art collection in the ops room and the dozens of battle damaged engines dotted around the place. As a pistonhead, these were a real treat.
What does this have to do with the RAF Museum I hear you say.
Well, I will be recommending it to anybody with an interest in the Battle of Britain, along with a recommendation to avoid the RAFM.
Posts: 2,656
By: Pen Pusher - 14th July 2016 at 05:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/centenary-programme/raf-centenary-programme-news/a-new-dawn.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/rafmuseum
Brian
Posts: 142
By: svas_volunteer - 14th July 2016 at 10:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Interesting link Brian I'm all up for them using the other buildings and trying to get more of the general public to look around, not so sure of spreading some of the airframes around the country but I concede it gives a better chance for people who wouldn't travel to London to see them. Which bf109 is moving as in the article they talk about bf109e 'black 6'?
Posts: 405
By: Jur - 14th July 2016 at 10:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This one .....
Black6-02 by Jur van der Wees, on Flickr
Black6 by Jur van der Wees, on Flickr
Posts: 4,996
By: AlanR - 14th July 2016 at 11:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Reading what Maggie Appleton has to say about the future of Hendon, it doesn't seem to be all doom and gloom.
I look forward to visiting again, once everything has been set up for the 100 anniversary. Very often change turns
out to be for the better. As with the AAM at Duxford for instance.
Posts: 1,528
By: aeronut 2008 - 14th July 2016 at 11:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Reading that article makes me wonder what space there is at Cosford and just which aircraft previously on display there will end up out of sight in one of the blister hangars.
Posts: 405
By: Jur - 20th July 2016 at 18:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I've found some more pictures from my visit to Hendon in 1980. A few examples....
Some present an interesting comparison to pictures I took in 2009
Posts: 774
By: hawker1966 - 3rd August 2016 at 17:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Seconded:
I totally agree with you danjama the Kent Battle of Britain Museum is an absolute Gem, i guess with what is currently happening to the Battle of Britain hall at Hendon, we must be even more grateful that we have such a dedicated Museum to the memory of the Few and keeping the Battle of Britain story alive alive.
I visited the Hawkinge Museum on Sunday and it is remarkable what they are achieving there displays are changing every year and the facilities and volunteers are very public friendly, when you think of the size in comparison of the 2 Museums the Kent Version for me certainly puts the London version to shame.
I visit Hendon in the region of some 7/8 times a year but once the Battle of Britain hall is no more then i know where i will be spend more of my Saturdays.
The word disrespectful comes to me in summing up Hendon ref the Battle of Britain Hall
(Thats my own personal opinion)
Posts: 8,980
By: TonyT - 4th August 2016 at 11:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/centenary-programme/raf-centenary-programme-news/a-new-dawn.aspx
Interesting view, and strangely it shows how it might be going, Multi media area, plastic spit outside ( I hope) and squat real aviation wise shown inside, its appears to of had the heart of the museum ripped out of it, and that is the main reason it is there, to show the relics of the RAF, to the public. The BOB was the worlds first aerial battle and was the pivotal moment in the UK's history, to remove and disperse this collection is both stupid and a great disrespect to those that fought to save the Country.. People the world over travel to Hendon to view this collection, to disperse it is crass.
Sadly it is what you get when you take on a new CEO who has not served nor understands the RAF.
..
Posts: 8,980
By: TonyT - 4th August 2016 at 11:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Err so I never saw a Dornier, Spitfire MK1 or Hurricane at Cosford? my, how my eyes are failing me...
Posts: 1,813
By: Planemike - 4th August 2016 at 11:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just don't try to take a photograph there.....!!! You can at Hendon !!!!
Posts: 8,980
By: TonyT - 4th August 2016 at 12:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
So very true, but the point being Hendon is rapidly become as interesting to photograph as
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmleigh/5896843258
Posts: 3,778
By: Trolly Aux - 4th August 2016 at 13:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
And what will happen to Maffets Hurricane?
Posts: 2,656
By: Pen Pusher - 6th August 2016 at 16:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Enjoy
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/galleries/london-2018/?utm_source=LGPlane&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CentenaryNews-6Aug
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/galleries/raf-centenary-programme-first-100-years-of-the-r/?utm_source=LGPlane&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CentenaryNews-6Aug
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/galleries/raf-centenary-programme-now-and-the-future/?utm_source=LGPlane&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CentenaryNews-6Aug
Brian
Posts: 1,988
By: jeepman - 6th August 2016 at 17:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Well at least they managed to tick all the PC boxes in those presentations. I wonder if future generations will thank us for this current revamp. The people who established the RAFM must be spinning in their graves.
Posts: 405
By: Jur - 6th August 2016 at 18:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It seems to be turned into just another amusement/theme park, which you'll visit only once (if at all). Very sad for the real aviation enthousiasts.
Posts: 564
By: Wings43 - 6th August 2016 at 20:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Good job the museum is not for aviation enthusiasts then. They serve a tiny proportion of the museums remit.
Posts: 5,196
By: Rocketeer - 6th August 2016 at 20:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
words fail me.....very depressing. The kids who come to our museum love looking around cockpits and sitting them, not sure they'd like the new RAFM. They say the display in the ex BoB Hall was permanent....that's what they said about the BoB Hall museum!
Posts: 1,528
By: aeronut 2008 - 6th August 2016 at 20:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What they appear to want to put in the BoB hangar could easilly fit in the side galleries of the main building. These galleries and the Dermot Boyle Wing (Do they ever use that?) should be put to use before the floor space that can take aircraft. They are reducing the number of airframes at Hendon, there is precious little space left at Cosford and I doubt Stafford will take any more. In addition the RAFM airframes at MOSI look like they may have to move (where to?). Just where are all these airframes going to go? and I suppose they'll have to stop collecting any more or start selling those they alrfeady have.
Posts: 197
By: rafmatt - 8th August 2016 at 13:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hasn't Christopher Nolan bought the Luftwaffe aircraft to "crash" for the Dunkirk movie ;)