RAF Museum London News

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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Take a Virtual Tour of Milestones of Flight

Become A Facebook Fan for a chance of Winning

Become A Facebook Fan For A Chance Of Winning " Dambusters - A Landmark Oral History "

In return we promise to keep our page updated on a regular basis so that you are made aware of future events once they have been confirmed and to place regularly on the page exclusive images and videos of the people and events that bring the Museum to life. To reward your loyalty we will hold regular competitions and run special offers which only members of our Facebook Fan Club will be able to take advantage of.

This month we are offering all our Facebook Fans the opportunity to win one of six copies of "Dambusters, A Landmark Oral History" donated to us by Virgin Books. All that you need to do is to sign up to our Facebook Fan page and should you be a lucky winner, we will contact you accordingly. Competition Rules are posted on our Fan Page.

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Go to our Facebook Page

October's Navigator Highlights - 4 New Highlights for Your Enjoyment

October's Navigator Highlights - 4 New Highlights For Your Enjoyment

This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers FOUR new sets of highlights on Radar Equipment, Medical Equipment, Uniform Photographs and Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.

The featured photograph is from our "Uniform Photographs" highlight and is entitled "Incorrect positions of RAF trouser bottoms over shoes" from 1955.

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Visit Navigator Online Collection

New Winter Exhibition Announced - Alex Henshaw: a Life In Art.

New Winter Exhibition Announced - Alex Henshaw: A Life In Art.

26th November to 8th February.

Born in 1912, the son of a wealthy Lincolnshire businessman, Alex Henshaw took up flying at the age of 20, embarking on what was to become a twenty-eight year career in aviation. It was a career that saw him break world records in endurance and speed before becoming the Chief Production Test Pilot for Vickers-Supermarine Company - the manufacturer of the iconic Spitfire.

It was Henshaw’s publishers who, in 1979, first put Alex in touch with the artist Michael Turner, from whom they wished to commission the dust jacket for Henshaw’s auto-biographical “Flight of the Mew Gull”. This commission lead to a lifelong friendship and a unique collection of paintings detailing Henshaw’s aviation exploits from 1932 to 1948.

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Discover more about the Percival Mew Gull

Lest We Forget - 30th October to 19th December

Lest We Forget - 30th October To 19th December

2008 heralds the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. In this, the Royal Air Force’s 90th anniversary year it is fitting that we remember those whose sacrifice throughout the Service’s history have defended our ideals and way of life; as well as those they left behind.

‘Lest we forget’ is a poignant and unflinching exhibition that highlights the sacrifices made during human conflict. It invites us to reflect on the loss of the individual and the impact that their departure has on their families and loved ones; whilst exploring the invaluable work of the agencies and support networks that have emerged during the last 90 years to bring practical aid and comfort to those RAF families who have suffered bereavement.

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View our online exhibitions

Lindbergh's Aircraft Arrives at Museum

Lindbergh's Aircraft Arrives At Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the arrival of the MILES M.12 MOHAWK G-AEKW/HM503. The aircraft is now on display in the Milestones of Flight Gallery, as part of the ‘Trailblazers’ exhibition.

The aircraft arrived at the Museum on the 18th of August, by road, after a final re-paint at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, Cosford.

First flown by Charles Lindbergh in 1936 it was given its distinctive orange and black colour scheme, with the fuselage and undercarriage in black, with orange fuselage cheat line, orange wings and tail, by the famous American pilot as a high-visibility scheme.

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Learn more about the Miles Mohawk

Museum Honours The R A F's Diverse Heritage

The 22nd of June commemorates the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in the East End, bringing with it the first of many groups of Afro-Caribbean immigrants who have so enriched the economic, social and cultural life of the United Kingdom since their arrival.

Amongst the passengers were ex-service personnel who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, many of whom decided to make the trip to rejoin the service in the U.K. On this anniversary, members of the Afro-Caribbean, Indian and other ethnic communities may wish to visit the Royal Air Force Museum, London where the Museum is currently honouring the contributions that their peers have made to the RAF with a permanent exhibition “Diversity in the Royal Air Force”.

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Take A Virtual Tour of Historic Hangars

Record Breaking Legend Lands at The Museum

Record Breaking Legend Lands At The 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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Learn more about the Mew Gull replica.

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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News

Latest News: 7 October 2008