NASAM Update as of the 11th Dec 2023

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Summary of Contents

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What’s In This Edition

From Around The Museum

Firstly, in this edition, we have two weeks’ worth of updates from Barry in the Paint Team. Gone are the days of aircraft restoration and refreshment; now, it is down to maintenance around the site, getting the place spruced up for next season. Having said that, however, I did ask Barry to send me some latest pictures of the Valetta so that I could complete my video compilation of the work that has gone into the restoration this year. So, in addition to the “end of year” photos, Barry also provided some pictures that he took since the Paint Team got involved with the Valetta back in June. I have included these as a slide show after the paint team update (the slide show takes about a minute and a half to roll around).

Next, we have an update from Brian in Groundforce on new areas being prepared for next season.

Museum Open Days and Times

In December, we are open on two days only, Thursday the 28^th and Friday the 29^th December from 1000 until 1500.
We are then closed until the February half term, when the Museum will reopen on Saturday, the 17^th of February 2024.
From Saturday the 17^th of February 2024 we revert back to our normal opening times of:
- - Every Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
  - Plus, Bank Holiday Mondays
  - From 1000 until 1600,
  - Until further notice.

Pete S

Around The Museum

Painters Update

28/11/23 – Caption competition!

Well folks, only one photo of this week’s activity, which may pole-arise opinions (groan – Ed.). They say every picture paints a thousand words. Quite how many of those one thousand words would be printable this week is another matter altogether! However, feel free to apply your own caption (see pic 2312 01).

One could say that Mark succeeded where Ian Botham failed (legendary 80’s England cricketer, for our younger readers – Ed.). This assumes of course that our readers recall the infamous Radio 4 Test Match Special commentary by Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew from the 2^nd Test vs. West Indies in 1991. It was so funny that it was featured on the main 9 o’clock news that night (and can still be found on YouTube today). The particularly sharp-sighted of you may have also spotted Ivor in the background, who seems to be giving Mark some sort of encouragement (possibly)!

Anyways, to business. Hardly able to contain their excitement, this week Mark and Barry were on Pole-ing Station duty. With the weather set to cold but dry, the boys opened the BP Hangar doors and manhandled last week’s collection of uprooted flagpoles outside, to give each of them a good sanding back. Mark also cut off the remnants of the old plastic sleeves that the poles were set in, several of which came out of the ground with the pole! Many sanding discs later and by close of play all six flagpoles had been prepped; ready for some undercoat next week, back in the commandeered BP Hangar walkway.

Elsewhere in the BP Hangar, Gwen renovated the Coastal Command lifebuoy. The Skipper (Cliff) continued with his ‘sorting out’ of Bomber Command and Private Walker sensibly stayed at home in the warm as he was suffering with a bit of man flu. We wish him a speedy recovery.

05/12/23 – Ensalada Mixta and more RAF Top Brass to visit (potentially)!

Yes, mis amigos, there’s a right old mixture of topics to cover in this week’s painty blog.

First up, Mark and Barry continued with the ‘flag-athon’ in the BP Hangar. Red Oxide Primer was applied to the ends of the poles going back in the ground, until Ivor usefully (?) swung by and advised that the poles were galvanised, but a coat of ROP never did anyone any harm. The rest of the poles were then given a coat of regular grey primer and by lunchtime that was it for the day (see pic 2312 02), given the low temps and therefore slow drying times.

Also in the BP Hangar, Gwen finished her refresh of the Coastal Command lifebuoy, which was then re-hung back on the side of the CC building (see pic 2312 03). Nice.

The Skipper (Cliff) went off to Room 2 to help with the general refurb, but some confusion then ensued over what exactly was required of the Paint Team, so a temporary retreat was ordered… to be continued.

After luncheon, Mark and Barry turned their attention back to Grasshopper Glider in the BP Hangar. After Tony had usefully removed/pulled to one side a lot of the cables, Mark was able to start a light hand sanding of the various wood, metal and canvas parts (see pic 2312 04). Meanwhile, Barry set about recording and measuring all of the markings on the Grasshopper, before they are obliterated. At the end of the day, there was just time for Mark to demonstrate his piloting skills (see pic 2312 05), pulling the stick back hard in order to gain some elevation. He failed miserably, largely due to the lack of any headwind and the current absence of any wings!

During the week (and following Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin’s recent visit), Barry had been contacted by XO and Squadron Leader Pete Smith of RAF 54 Squadron, Waddington. Pete had learned of our summer restoration (in 54 Sqn. colours) of our Hunter XG254. In his email he commented that “XG254 looks fantastic in her new paint – well done to all the team and I’m pleased we were able to help in a small way. It’s brilliant to see this part of 54 Sqn’s heritage preserved so carefully.” Pete also said that he and some of his top team would like to come and see our Hunter early next year. I suggested (and Gary agreed) that it would be appropriate for the 54 Squadron team to come and visit us on a Tuesday workday, so that they can meet the team and have an exclusive wander around the museum – so watch this space!

Barry

(Photos) Painters Update

(Photos) Painters Compilation Valetta Refurb

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Groundforce Update

It’s the first stage of opening up the area behind the aircraft to allow public access. We grass-seeded this early this year. The next stage is roping the area around the aircraft and positioning the bollards. The first stage fencing was put up with the help of Cliff and Lottie

Brian

(Photos) Groundforce Update

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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