01/05/2021 – Update from NASAM …

Update from the Chairman

Forthcoming Opening Dates and Times

The Museum Committee have agreed to a new set of opening dates provided the lockdown restrictions are eased in line with the current Government thinking.  The proposed dates look as follows:

• Outside only Sundays (as per the current schedule and restrictions) until the 16th of May, including the early May Bank Holiday on Monday the 3rd of May.
• From the 22nd of May until the 31st of May, the Inside of the Museum (excluding the rooms behind the shop) will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, plus the late May Bank Holiday Monday on Monday the 31st of May.
• From the 2nd of June until the 20th of June, the Inside (excluding the rooms behind the shop) will be open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• As from the 21st of June, the whole of the Museum will be open including the rooms behind the shop on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• The timings on all days will be from 1000 until 1600.

We will put these dates into our Social Media calendars soon.

Second Day Of Opening

Our second day of opening was not as warm as the first, nonetheless almost as many visitors came to see what was on offer. A range of weapons were laid out at the entrance to the hangar and attracted a good amount of attention. Several visitors promised to return once we are able to open the buildings again, we look forward to welcoming them back (Second Open Day 01 thru 04).

Logging time

The estate that owns the woods between the museum and the road have had logging work done to remove a large number of Ash trees that are suffering from Ash Dieback disease. The contractors needed access to the woods, which is not readily available from the road. We have offered them access via our own entrance track to make life easier for them.

In return, we asked if it might be possible for them to use their lift equipment to move the two Skyflash missiles to the Phantom as they are extremely heavy and require six people to lift. They were very happy to help and as can be seen, they made light work of moving the concrete-filled dummy missiles (see Phanton-Skyflash 00 -video and Phanton-Skyflash 02 thru Phantom-Skyflash 11 photos).

Spot the difference

The Phantom was the scene of more work this week as well. All of our aircraft stand on axle stands. This reduces stress on the tyres and means that we do not have to maintain very high pressures inside them. The stand for the nose wheel was put into place this week, unless you look very closely it can’t even be seen (Phantom Nose Wheel Stand 01 and Phantom Nose Wheel Stand 02).

Steve Bell

General Updates

Paint Team Out and About

Barry sent in an update from the workday on Tuesday the 27^th of April

Another fine day allowed the Paint Team to crack on with washing and sanding. Gwen and Cliff continued with the pressure washing, working their way progressively up the field towards the main hangar. The Bloodhound is now clean(er), as are the F27, Sea Prince (Paint Team Sea Prince) and the Jet Provost (Paint Team Jet Provost). Next on the wash list is the collection of Canberras (or should that be Canberri, or Canberreau?).

Down in the front field, Mark, Ian and Barry continued with the hard yards of sanding and grinding of the Meteor (Paint Team Meteor) which is generously giving back many layers of previously applied paint. Some of the more fiddly areas may require a go with the media blaster.

Scanning Continues

Paul R sent in four photos which he thinks are from Berlin, “they seem to be from East Germany, Cold War-era ?” (East Germany – Cold War 01 thru 04).  It is reported that the aircraft are at the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr – Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow, The museum is located on a former Luftwaffe base which then became Royal Air Force Gatow.

Thanks again to the contributors.

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Brain Teaser

In this edition of the blog we have moved away from the anagram puzzle and instead have a word search teaser.  As previous teasers, it is the aircraft in the museum.  Just the aircraft names and not manufacturers and any space have been taken out.  The aircraft names you are looking for are under the puzzle:

The solution is at the foot of the blog and the green buttons below will take you there and bring you back.  Good luck.

Go To Solution

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Coming In The Next Edition

Nothing planned at the moment, although I am hoping that we will get a few updates from the Volunteers doing projects and tasks around the Museum.

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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 part-funded mostly by visitor and membership 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 Solution

The solution to the word search teaser in this edition of the Online Flier:

You can use the green button link below to return back to your place in the blog.

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Return to Blog

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