NASAM Update as of the 10th Nov 2023
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Summary of Contents
What’s In This Edition
From The Chairman
We have a couple of articles from Steve covering a Scout Day visit and the annual move of the trailers into the main hangar. Although Steve says no photos were taken, we did have a photo from Barry once the move-in had been completed.
From Around The Museum
Barry has produced his weekly update (times two) of the paint team in action, with again more work on the Hunter and the Valetta together with other tasks around the Museum. The Valetta is now almost complete and both Barry’s photos and those from John S earlier in the year will be stitched together in the next few weeks to provide a video record of the Valetta’s refurbishment.
Speaking of the Hunter we have an update on part of the history of that aircraft XG254 and its pilot back in 1967.
John S also provided a photo taken on Sunday the 5th of November when the visitors were almost outnumbered by the volunteers … Certainly, this was the case in the NAAFI as John took the photo (or maybe that was the daily briefing).
Upcoming Special Event
If you are near the Museum on Sunday the 12th of November, why not pop in and see a number of motorcycles enjoying a ride out to the Museum. We host the Forever Two Wheels UK on this day.
Pete S
Chairman’s Update
Scout Day
On Saturday 28th of October 2023, around 40 Cub Scouts visited the museum to undertake work towards their aviation skills badges. This was the fifth Scout Day this year and the fourth in the autumn.
As usual, the Cubs took part in various activities such as making stomp rockets, polystyrene plate gliders (what will we do when we can’t get more polystyrene plates) and flying our various flight simulators. They also learned about the various uses we put aircraft to, the parts that make up an aircraft, weather forecasting and navigation.
All of the youngsters said they had enjoyed their day and promised to return with their parents.
Our thanks to all of those volunteers who have up their day to make the event a success.
(Photos) Scout Day 28 Oct 2023
Tuesday at the Museum
(31-Oct-2023) Winter must be approaching. Several volunteers spent a fair portion of the day moving two of the trailers in from the weather.
Every year we move them in during autumn and out again in spring. As we do it regularly why can we never remember how that bit moves, or why that bit doesn’t?
After considerable discussion, we determined exactly what had to go where and duly hitched them up in turn to the tug and moved them inside.
Once in, they pose a hazard to visitors as we remain open on Sundays for November. The next task therefore is to move some benches inside in order to act as a barrier between visitors and the trailers. It also, of course, protects the benches from the ravages of the winter weather.
Why then are there no photographs of the trailers being moved? Simple really, we were all far too busy discussing how to move them and then doing so to stand back and take photographs.
Steve B
[Note, there is a photo of the trailers in position taken by Barry … PS]
Around The Museum
Painters Update
31/10/23 – A visit from (former and very) RAF Top Brass!!!
Well, I’ll be an old ferret. Today at El Museo we were delighted to receive a visit from Roger Austin, a former pilot of our Hunter XG254. During the restoration, Roger had contacted me when he was alerted to our restoration by the 54 Squadron graphics department, whom I had contacted to obtain the correct heraldry for the squadron markings. Roger lives relatively close to the Museum and has visited us on several previous occasions. It turns out he is Patron of the 54 Squadron Association. Roger used to fly our Hunter and considered it as “his aircraft” during his stint with 54 Squadron in the late sixties. In fact, Roger sent in a photo of himself in El Adem (Libya) in 1967, standing alongside XG254, pointing at his name on the side of the aircraft (see pic 2311 01). More on this later.
I suggested some while back to Roger that he pay us another visit once the Hunter resto was complete. I also discussed with Ian H. personalising the aircraft to carry Roger’s name again, potentially allowing us to recreate Roger’s 1967 photo. Ian H. wrote back to me and advised that generally we don’t put pilot’s names on our aircraft, as in many cases several pilots lay claim to an aircraft being their own personal chariot. However, Ian H. said “in the circumstances” that it might be appropriate this time round. So, what I hear you ask were the “circumstances” this time round?
Well folks, it turns out that our 1967 Flt. Lt. Roger Austin went on to be none other than Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin KCB, AFC, FRAeS, former Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement and National President of the Royal British Legion!!!
Sir Roger had seen some photos of our Hunter restoration via an online Google photo album that Barry had set up and was very keen to pay us another visit. Little did he know that we had a little surprise in store for him! On the morning of his visit today, Barry had dropped by EPS Transfers to pick up a couple of extra decals so that we could put Sir Roger’s name back on the aircraft.
After Sir Roger arrived and had spent some time reminiscing with XG254 owner Ian H. we asked Sir Roger if he would like to ‘unveil’ the Hunter restoration. Earlier, Barry had cunningly placed a couple of white sheets over the newly applied decals, so they were hidden from Sir Roger’s view. Here are some pics of the grand reveal! (see pics 2311 01 thru 04)
After his visit, Sir Roger emailed in to thank us for allowing him to ‘unveil’ the Hunter and commented that it was looking as smart as he’d ever seen it!
In the afternoon, it was back to the grindstone.
Over at Coastal Command, Gwen continued with her touching up of the buildings (see pic 2311 05).
Up in the Metal Workshop, Ian put two coats of white gloss on the first of the flagpoles to be refurbished over the winter (see pic 2311 06). Next week we will have to shift out of there as apparently there is a Chipmunk coming in!
Down Main Street, following an improvement in the weather, Mark and Barry got back on the Valetta in the early afternoon and set about masking off the front of the red cheat line on the starboard side (see pic 2311 07). By the close of play the boys had managed to get a couple of coats of red on to take the cheat line up to the back of the cockpit window, the same as on the port side (see pic 2311 08). And that may be it for the winter on the Valetta. We shall see.
07/11/23 – Sticking to the task…(quite literally)!
With the forecast set reasonably fair, the team assembled in the car park and contemplated what might be possible in terms of bonus outside painting today.
Gwen tooled up and set off for Coastal Command to continue with her titivation of the CC buildings and associated external exhibits. MINEded to finish the job during the favourable weather, Gwen then roped in the Skipper (Cliff) to assist with the repainting of the sea mines (see pic 2311 09).
With a ‘wet Valet’ first thing and being a man down (no Mark this week due to domestic electrical issues), Ian and Barry toddled off to the Metal Workshop to help John S. and Roger clear the workshop, ready for the arrival of the Chipmunk on Thursday. First up, Ian’s recently repainted flagpole was evicted and strung up under the rafters in the Metal Workshop Extension. Next, the Grasshopper Glider fuselage was manhandled round to the BP Hangar and set up (for repainting) in a vacant space just behind the Anson (see pic 2311 10).
Later on in the morning as the sun came round, Ian and Barry thought they’d have a go at clearing the masking tape off of the Valetta cockpit screens. Ian got well and truly STUCK in (see pic 2311 11), teasing off the masking tape with a combination of paint scraper, lots of white spirit and a heat gun. By lunchtime, both Ian and Barry were finding their gloves progressively sticking together with the amount of masking tape residue that was coming off the Valetta. There was also a heady whiff of white spirit in the air.
After lunch, which included a very nice slice of Ginger Brownie cake, courtesy of Mrs Roger, Gwen and Cliff finished off the repainting of the mines (see pic 2311 12). Having packed up for the day, Cliff then noticed that Gwen had “missed a bit” on the top of the lamppost. Barry quickly moved in to capture this ‘faux pas’ on film but was quickly rebuffed by a slightly indignant Gwen. So, the best your correspondent can offer you in terms of photographic evidence of this very rare event is a shot from earlier in the day when Gwen was priming said lamppost (see pic 2311 13).
[Gwen was also captured on lampost painting by a passing volunteer (John S) see pic 2311 13a … PS]
Further on down Main Street, Ian and Barry got STUCK back into clearing off all the masking tape from the Valetta’s cockpit windows. By close of play the starboard cockpit windows and central windscreen had been cleared (see pic 2311 14). A bit of a Brucie bonus result given that we are now into November!
Barry
(Photos) Painters Update
Sunday at the Museum
One for the blog … Today (5th of November) we had 18 volunteers attending, doubtless due to Saturdays being closed.
John S
[Looks like the blue coats outnumbered the visitors … PS]
The Repeat Info
The repeat information is still here I’m afraid, and I make no apologies for keeping his section in our blog. We are a charitable organisation relying on monies from the public to keep us going. Any help we receive is gratefully accepted and enables the museum to continue in our mission “To conserve, preserve and promote the history of aviation in East Anglia, whilst providing a fun, family-friendly and interactive museum, promoting education and remembrance of the events of the past“.
Are you thinking of helping ??
We obtain most of our finances by donations and by membership fees. We save money by having a dedicated group of volunteers that keep the museum and the exhibits both manned and maintained. We hope therefore a few people may consider helping in the ways below.
There are three easy ways to help: Help by becoming a Museum Member, also by Volunteering to help at the museum, or by Donating to assist in our running costs. Please click on the appropriate button below to access the appropriate information:
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Pete S
