05/03/2021 – Update from NASAM …

News from the Chairman

The recent positive news from the government about being able to reopen has set the museum trustees working out what we can do and when. The rules say that outside attractions and non-essential shops can be opened from Monday 12th April. We asked ourselves the question of whether people would come purely for the outside areas of the museum, and concluded that there was only one way to find out, open up and see.

Thus the museum will be open from Sunday 18th April, initially only on Sundays, once we see the reaction we hope to open more days too. We do intend to open on Monday 3rd May as well.

We are allowed to serve teas and coffees on a takeaway basis, so these will be available from a kiosk outside.

Obviously, we can not open the buildings up, but we can open the hangar door fully so that people can see inside. It is also our intention to move some of the rarely seen exhibits outside on open days weather permitting. Watch this blog for further details of what will be on display.

The various trailers will be on outside display as is usual during the spring, summer and autumn days. These include the Civil Defence Office (shown in the Photo Gallery below, also included is a photo of the Eurowing Goldwing, one of the exhibits which we might move outside.

The plans are that the museum will be open on:

• Sunday 18th April
• Sunday 25th April
• Sunday 2nd May
• Monday 3rd May
• Sunday 9th May and
• Sunday 16th May

Assuming that the earliest dates are met in the government unlock process the buildings should be open from the week commencing Monday 17th May.  Again watch this blog for details of what dates we will be open from then.

Steve Bell

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 In This Edition of the NASAM Online Flier

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Brain Teaser

In this edition, we have a short anagram brain teaser puzzle. The subject is “Aircraft in the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum“.  The only clue is, the number of words in both anagram and aircraft name is the same.

1. BROOM CRYSTALISE
2. BELGIAN RECLINE SCRATCHER
3. DANE SIGHTLY WREAKED
4. LEGROOM TESTER
5. JUTTING PROVEN SHOT

Go to the solution

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Photo Scanning

The volunteers that are scanning in the assortment of photographs and post cards that have been donated have all sent me updates for this edition.  All of the scanned items are shown as photos are in the gallery below.  Two of the Volunteers had a few questions if anyone can provide the answers.

Update from Michael

The first folder turned out to be more than just Constellations, some of which were included in the last collection. It is a collection of photos of piston-engined airliners from just after the Second World War up to the 1970s.  The album may have been donated by a Mr Spencer (the writing is similar to that of the second album, which has his name as the collector in the front) but various clues lead me to think he received photos from other members of the “West London Aviation Group Photograph”, as same names and addresses crop up again and again on the backs. Most of the photos were taken at Heathrow Airport.

One of the earliest photos is of the Avro York C Mk 1 G-AHFE “Star Vista” of the British South American Airways Corporation. The history on the back of the photo says it was transferred to B.O.A.C, in September 1949 so this photo must be prior to that.

Of the latest (dated) photos is Douglas DC-3 ‘Dakota’ N3179Q belonging to (at the time) Welltrade at London Heathrow on 1st March 1970. There are several other Dakota photos in colour, including some used by the Air France Night Postal Service, but no dates or locations.

Moving onto the second album, which I haven’t completed yet, this is declared by Mr Spencer to be a photographic history of British Airways from just before the second world war up to the jet age – there are some photos of what appear to be Tristars at the end of the album. Most of the pictures so far have been either Post Cards or from BOAC/BA Photo Centre.

• Three photos, all post cards, that have struck me are:
  One pre-war picture is the Imperial Airways Seaplane Berth at Southampton Docks c.1938. No other information is given – can anyone identify the aircraft and what they were used for?
• The Junkers JU52 (BEA) in 1947. Again, no other information is given – is this a war reparation aircraft? what is its history? what happened to it?
• The Handley Page Halton. The information given by Kenneth to be “In July 1946 B.O.A.C. received the Halton, which was a conversion of the wartime Halifax bomber, and in all 12 were delivered. G-AHDU “Falkirk” is seen here at Cairo about 1947.” I for one have not heard of these conversions – has anybody else? What equally interests me is that there is a sentry under the port wing

Update from Paul M

Paul’s update is from the 3rd album that he is working his way through and thought that these may be of interest to our readers.  The list is below

• 014 Hurricane Mk IV
• 015 Spitfire Mk 9
• 016 Spitfire Mk16 E
• 018 Neptune Mk1
• 032 DC4 Skymaster
• 035 Avro 748 Rolls Royce engines
• 057 Armstrong Whitworth  Apollo
• 061 Vickers Wellington MkXI
• 064 DH Mosquito MkIX May 1943

Update from Paul R

In his update, Paul has tried to include some of the more unusual photos that are in the albums that he is scanning.  The ones below are all from the Mildenhall Air Fete of 1990.  These are titled and numbered Mildenhall Air Fete Of 1990 #1 through to #5

Update from Steve

Steve has attached five photos, four ( RB66 Destroyer,  F16 Fighting Falcon, Lightning XS928 and Spitfire G-FIRE are all from Alconbury air shows.  The fifth, which looks to be a Royal Navy Rapide, is another unknown so any information on that would be appreciated. It is from a glass slide and unfortunately, the slide itself has deteriorated a bit (well a lot really)

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Lockdown Project II Update

Malcolm, the volunteer working on the dedicated Luftwaffe WWII display of models has sent in an update to the work that they are carrying out and included two photos for the blog.

Update from Malcolm

The first is of 3 x FW-190’s ( 2 D’s and 1 A). The aircraft on its undercarriage had a full repaint and new decals, the flyers both had either a full decal replace (D) or partial decal replace (A).

The second, displays 4 x None Luftwaffe Machines which were mixed in a second lot of trays. The Hellcat was complete but was very poorly built so I virtually pulled it apart, rebuilt, repainted plus replacement decals( was originally in USN markings but only had R.N. decals in hand), The Beaufighter just needed cleaning up, the P1127 was an amalgamation of 2 kits, taking the best parts from each to make one ‘new’ one and finally, the Gnat was given new undercarriage doors, nose probe and touch up with paint and varnish.

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Gift to the Museum

The museum was contacted recently by someone who had visited us many times with his grandfather. His grandfather is in the process of moving into a much smaller home and no longer has space for some of the items he had built for his grandchildren.

One of these items was a ride on aircraft, a Spitfire. The museum was contacted and asked if they would like this item. We responded that we would and it was duly delivered recently.  Photos of the arrival of the Spitfire can be seen below as Spitfire Gift #1 to #3.

It is a well-constructed item that will doubtless appeal to our younger audience in due course, once we are allowed the use of such attractions again, hopefully later this year.

Steve Bell

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MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

As we are now in March, it is a useful time to remind readers of the blog who are members of the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum that membership renewals are due for any memberships taken out before 1st December last year. We can now offer four methods of renewing your membership:

By Post

Post a cheque to the museum with a note containing the following information:

• Your name
• Your Address

The address to send the cheque and the note is:

• Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, The Street,  Flixton,  Bungay, NR35 1NZ

In the Shop (after 18th April)

Pay by cash, cheque or card in the museum shop (as from the 18th April when we can reopen), if you do this, we will take your name and address from you at that time.

By Phone and Card (after 18th April)

Pay by card over the phone to the museum (again when the shop is open) on 01986 896644. The person taking the call will complete a slip.

Online

Pay via our on-line system at https://www.aviationmuseum.net/Membership.html  There is no need to complete a slip as the on-line form contains all the details we need.

We prefer not to have direct bank transfers as it is difficult to keep track of these.

A reminder too that membership is fantastic value at £10 for individuals, £15 for families and £5 for junior (under 18) membership. All methods do, of course, allow you to pay more than the minimum. If you are registered with us for gift aid then increasing your donation by £4 gives us another £1 from HMG.

If you are not already a member but would like to join us, then this can be done on-line @ https://www.aviationmuseum.net/Membership.html

Pam Veale

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Coming In The Next Edition

In the next edition, we will have:

1. Another short brain teaser on aircraft in the museum
2. Huby, a thank you to the retired Curator and Dedicated Flixton Stalwart
3. More on the scanning of photos for the archives
4. An update on Auster T10 renovations

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Would You Like To Help

The museum continues to incur expenses for insurance, maintenance and some essential running costs, and I make no apologies for keeping this section in the blog.  Normally being funded mostly by donations, in these restricted times, we have been forced to rely on some grants from local and national authorities to help us meet some, but not all, of those costs.   

If you feel able to help the museum, there are several ways you can do this.  Help by becoming a Museum Member, also by Volunteering to help at the museum, or by donating to assist in our running costs.  To become a Museum Member or to Volunteer Member, please click on the appropriate button below to see the details on our main website.

      

To donate, please click the donate button below to be taken to our donations page.

 

For all other details on the museum, please go to our main web page by clicking on the picture below.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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Brain Teaser Anagram Solution

The solution to the anagram in this edition of the Online Flier:

1. BRISTOL SYCAMORE
2. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRA
3. HAWKER SIDDELEY GNAT
4. GLOSTER METEOR
5. HUNTING JET PROVOST

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