Posted by Flightline UK on 07/12/2009 under Museums | 
Imperial War Museum Duxford is delighted to announce that it is the proud recipient of the Digital Access Onsite Award in the Jodi Awards 2009.
The annual Jodi Awards are given by the Jodi Mattes Trust for accessible digital culture. Imperial War Museum Duxford shares this valuable award with Antenna Audio. It recognises and celebrates the innovative audio guide that is offered to blind and partially sighted visitors within AirSpace, ImperialWar Museum Duxford’s stunning exhibition gallery which tells the story of British and Commonwealth aviation.
The potential for an audio guide to form part of the interpretative process for blind and partially sighted visitors was identified at the concept design stage for AirSpace. The exhibition itself contains many opportunities for tactile and sensory engagement, which the audio guide enhances and complements. The guide has been designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people and was created with the dedicated support of focus groups consisting of visually impaired people who were actively involved in the project from conception to completion. IWM Duxford is extremely grateful for the support provided by these groups, which included the Saffron Waldenbased Support 4 Sight charity and Fighting Blindness – the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society.
The audio guide empowers blind and partially sighted people to visit AirSpace alongside their family and friends on equal terms. It integrates with a full range of access provision at IWM Duxford, including RNIB Map for All, designed for sight and touch in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People. All access facilities are available free of charge.
Peter Bosher, Jodi Awards Assessor, whose enthusiastic visit to IWM Duxford lasted a full five hours, said: “I have rarely enjoyed a visit in such depth. I shall return with my family.”
Richard Ashton, Director of IWM Duxford, said: “My congratulations go to all staff in IWM Duxford’s Interpretation and Collections Department for whom winning this award is a fantastic testament to their skill and dedication. I hope that this accolade will encourage blind and partially sighted people to bring their families to IWM Duxford for a fun day out.”
Posted by Flightline UK on 17/11/2009 under Museums |
The Vickers Vimy replica made it’s final flight into Brooklands on November 15th 2009. The aircraft had been stored at Dunsfold Aerodrome prior to it’s last flight. A special grass runway was laid out at Brooklands to allow the aircraft to land there. It will be placed on show at Brooklands Museum where it will be the star of a specially themed day on November 21st.
A video of the aircraft’s final flight has been posted on Youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHPe79Bhvb4
Posted by Flightline UK on 05/11/2009 under Museums |
On Remembrance Sunday, ImperialWar Museum Duxford will be holding a special service of remembrance.
Admission to the Museum is free for all on this day and we very much hope that people will take this opportunity to explore IWM Duxford on the day when members of the Armed Forces, who have lost their lives in active service, are remembered. At 11.00am, there will be a candle-lighting ceremony in the American Air Museum to remember the US Forces who fought and died in the Second World War, and to honour the US service personnel who continue to make the ultimate sacrifice. A representative of the 492nd Fighter Group, RAF Lakenheath, will undertake the candlelighting ceremony.
The Remembrance Service will commence at 12.30pm and will be preceded by a marching display featuring Sawston Youth Group Band with local air cadets. There will be standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and the Burma Star Association.
The ImperialWar Museum Family History Group will be on hand to answer questions regarding tracing family history. The ImperialWar Museum archives are a memorial to
those who have suffered and died in conflict from the FirstWorld War to the present day. They offer a wealth of material for the family history researcher. Imperial War Museum staff will offer advice on how to negotiate the archives to resolve your family history queries.
Imperial War Museum Duxford’s Department for Learning will be offering hands-on activities for families, encouraging children to understand more about the significance and history of Remembrance Day. Between 10.00am and 3.00pm, families will be able to read the story of why we use the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, make their own poppy or make a stained glass window.
Join us at historic ImperialWar Museum Duxford to remember those who gave their lives, in conflicts past and present, to ensure that the world continues to enjoy the freedom that it does today.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is open 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11. Ample free parking is available. For further information, visit http://www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or telephone 01223 835 000.
Posted by Flightline UK on 19/05/2008 under Museums |
Newark Air Museum have announced the following up date on Cockpit-Fest, the premier event of it’s kind in Europe.
We now have more than 30 cockpits / rigs / interiors confirmed as participating including an international participant from the Netherlands [the first for this year]. As you will see it is building up into an excellent assortment of visiting cockpits.Items marked ** are totally new to the event.
Cockpits confirmed are: Beagle Pup; Lightning F.6; Swift F.7**; F.27**; Anson; Jet Provost T.4**; Tornado F.2; Meteor F.8; Harrier GR.3; DB 8A-3N [Nomad] (from the Netherlands) **
Hunter F.1; Hunter F.1**; Hunter F.2; Hunter F.4**; Hunter F.5**; Hunter T.7; Hunter FGA.9; Hunter FGA.9; Hunter FGA.9; Hunter GA.11; Hunter GA.11**; Hunter FGA.78;
Instrument Panels & Aircraft Interiors confirmed:
Stirling FN5 Gun Turret and Cockpit Layout
Boeing 737 Main Panel, with glass cockpit and associated panels
The Canberra PR.9 panel collection
Phantom instrument panel with ejection seat and Meteor ejection seat
Jet Provost instrument panel and ejection seat
Harrier, Gnat and Phantom instrument panels
A display of V-Force items, and assorted control columns
Mannequins and memorabilia
Cockpits Rigs confirmed: Vampire FB.5**
Special Visiting Displays
The Ex-Military Land Rover Association
Book Signing – One of the Few by John Shipman new from Pen-and-Sword (Sat/Sun 10-4)
Book Signing – A Passion for Flying by Gp Cpt Tom Eeles, new from Pen-and-Sword (Sat 10-4 Sun 2-4)
Book Signing – RAF Harrier-Ground Attack Falklands by Sqd Ldr Jerry Pook, from Pen-and-Sword (Sat/Sun 10-4)
A display by the Thorpe Camp Radio Museum
Crusader 80 – British Army of the Rhine living history display
Owls from the Raptor Foundation
A display from the Newark Millgate Museum
Flying displays of jet powered scale aircraft
Display by the Lincolnshire Integrated Aviation Heritage Partnership [LIAHP]
Book signing – Wrecks and Relics (21st Edition) by Ken Ellis, times TBA [bring your own copy, or buy from NAM on the day].
A steady stream of advanced bookings is now coming in for the AEROBOOT aviation and avionics sale that runs alongside this event, don’t miss out on the advanced booking discount that can be secured if you book by June 1st.
Regular updates relating to confirmed participants will continue to appear over the coming weeks at www.newarkairmuseum.org
Posted by Flightline UK on 24/04/2008 under Museums |
The Imperial War Museum Duxford was recognised last night at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence awards ceremony, which was held at St George’s Hall, Liverpool. The Museum scooped Gold in the prestigious Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award category, facing stiff competition from other large attractions from across the country.
Says Richard Ashton, Director of IWM Duxford, “I am absolutely delighted that we have won the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award. We are constantly striving to enhance the visitor experience at Duxford as well as showcase, to the best of our ability, the wonderful and amazing collection in our care. To be recognised in this way for our commitment is a great honour and a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team – the staff, volunteers and partners at Duxford who do so much to make any visit to the Museum a memorable and enjoyable experience.”
The Imperial War Museum Duxford was one of three finalists in the Large Visitor Attraction category and was up against the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for the coveted title. The awards showcase the rising quality and broad range of award-winning tourism business in England, as well as recognising a number of individuals who have been recognised for their outstanding service and contribution to English tourism.
All of the finalists demonstrated excellence against strict criteria such as service and customer care and were selected from over 100 regional winners submitted by England’s 9 regional tourism partners by a judging panel. One of the judges – Brian Richardson, Executive Secretary of The Caravan Club, commented “Each year, we are faced with an even tougher challenge as standards continue to improve. What sets these awards apart is the fact that all the regional winners are assessed anonymously by independent inspectors according to a strict criteria of excellence and we feel that the results are an honest reflection of the very best that England has to offer.”
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, now in their 19th year, are widely known as the “tourism Oscars” and recognise the crème de la crème of domestic tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England’s place as a world-class destination.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford is open daily from 10.00 am and located just south of Cambridge at Junction 10 of the M11. Ample free parking is available. Admission is FREE for Children under 16, £16.00 for Adults, £12.80 for Senior Citizens and Students, and £9.60 for Concessions. For more details visit the Duxford website www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or call 01223 835000.
Posted by Flightline UK on 22/04/2008 under Museums |
Enthusiast Tours – An additional set of dates for the middle part of 2008 have just been released by Newark Air Museum for their popular Enthusiast Tours and these will be on the following Saturdays. Please note that the museum is open as normal on these dates
May 31, 2008
June 7, 2008
July 5, 2008
July 19, 2008
August 2, 2008
August 16, 2008
Places are only available by pre-booking and the all-inclusive entrance fee is £15 per person. Tour participants are greeted with a welcome snack before being taken in small escorted groups onto various museum aircraft including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom Cockpit. A special part of each tour is a behind the scenes tour to see “missing airframes” i.e. those undergoing restoration or that are in long-term storage around the site. After the tour, participants are free to wander around the extensive museum site at their leisure. Each Enthusiast Tour is limited to just 12 participants.
Web: www.newarkairmuseum.org
Posted by Flightline UK on 04/03/2008 under Museums |
The award winning Sywell Aviation Museum at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants has its Grand Opening for 2008 on Easter Saturday, the 22nd March 2008 from 10.30am. Newly revamped displays and artefacts await including a new temporary exhibition on the Northamptonshire Home Guard. On the day of opening a collection of WW2 military vehicles will be attending and the Museum’s aircraft cockpits will be available for inspection!
Entry is free and donations are welcome – other attractions include the wonderful on site Art Deco bar and restaurant, free parking, aircraft viewing area, full disabled access throughout and a marvellous collection of artefacts, models and uniforms for all enjoy.
The museum remains open from 10.30-16.30 weekends and bank holidays until the end of September. Group visits can be arranged outside those hours by prior arrangement.
For more information please visit www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/museum.php email sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com or call Ben Brown, Museum Secretary on 07968061708
Posted by Flightline UK on 01/02/2008 under Museums |
2008 Events Programme
At Newark Air Museum
Throughout 2008 Newark Air Museum celebrates a series of anniversaries. To make these special the museum volunteers have put together their most ambitious set of events ever! These are listed in three categories for which different admission rates may apply.
On-Site Events 2008
Admission for each of the following events is Adults £6.25, Over 60s £5.75, Children £4.00 and Family ticket [2 adults & 3 children] £18.50.
7 February: Celebrations to mark the 25th Anniversary of Vulcan XM594 being flown in to Winthorpe Airfield; Free admission to the Vulcan cockpit on this day for anyone paying to visit the museum.
9 to 17 February: Half–Term Open Cockpits – each day during the half-term period at least one cockpit will be open for inspection [a small additional fee is charge to access the cockpit]
13 March: Buccaneer Anniversary Markings – unveiling of a set of temporary anniversary markings on XN964 to celebrate the types 50th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of XN964 being delivered to the museum.
24 & 25 May: Fighter Cockpit Days – special opening & viewing of some of the museum’s fighters.
14 & 15 June: Cockpit-Fest 2008 & Aeroboot – Annual display of visiting cockpits from around the country & the traditional Aeroboot avionics and aviation goods sale.
13 & 14 September: Battle of Britain Open Cockpits – special opening & viewing of some of the museum’s cockpits and a range of visiting displays.
Special On-Site Events 2008
Enthusiast Tours – The first five dates for 2008 has now been agreed for the popular Newark Air Museum Enthusiast Tours and these will be on the following Saturdays. Please note that the museum is open as normal on these dates
9 February 2008
23 February 2008
8 March 2008
5 April 2008
19 April 2008
Places are only available by pre-booking and the all-inclusive entrance fee is £15 per person. Tour participants are greeted with a welcome snack before being taken in small escorted groups onto various museum aircraft including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom Cockpit. A special part of each tour is a behind the scenes tour to see “missing airframes” i.e. those undergoing restoration or that are in long-term storage around the site. After the tour, participants are free to wander around the extensive museum site at their leisure. Each Enthusiast Tour is limited to just 12 participants.
Day-Night Photo Shoot – The first date has been selected as Saturday May 24, 2008. The event will commence after the museum closes at 5pm. The event will feature themed ground equipment; uniformed personnel; and illuminated aircraft. The aircraft being featured for this first event will include: Vulcan, Shackleton, Hastings & Buccaneer. Admission costs £20 per person and places will be limited to 50 people. Anyone interested is asked to email in for details via the museum website.
Off-Site Events 2008
A series of talks based on the Avro Vulcan during five decades of service with the RAF has been arranged at the Holy Trinity Community Centre, Boundary Road, Newark, NG24 4AU.
22 May 2008 @ 2000 hours – Flying the Vulcan – by Group Captain John Laycock.
21 August 2008 @ 2000 hours – Fighting the Vulcan – by Squadron Leader High Prior.
20 November 2008 @ 2000 hours – Showing the Vulcan – by Squadron Leader David Thomas.
There will be just 200 places available for each talk and tickets will cost just £5.00 per person.
Footnote: Several other events are still at the planning stage. When details are confirmed they will be released via the News Page of the museum website at www.newarkairmuseum.org
The On-site and Special On-Site events will be held at the museum’s Winthorpe Showground, Site, Newark, Notts, NG24 2NY. Telephone: 01636 707170.
Unless otherwise advised the event opening times will be November to February daily 1000 – 1600 hours; October to March daily 1000 – 1700 hours (including weekends & Bank Holidays).
