NASAM Update as of the 4th Oct 2024

In This Edition

Summary of Contents

First up in this edition of the blog’s “Museum News“, we have a very important article from Martin that will affect visitors to the Museum in 2025. In the new year, we will have to start charging visitors an entrance fee. Martin explains the reasons for this in his note.

I have included the days we will be open for the remainder of the year whilst we are still free to enter and have free parking. The start date for next year is also listed.

Next up starts with an apology from me, in that I missed some photos sent in by Steve from the Royal Observer Corps and Battle of Britain Day back on the 15th of September. For some unaccountable reason, Gmail, in all its wisdom, decided that the photos were “dangerous” and moved them all away from my inbox. I only discovered this later, and so I have included them in this edition.

We have an article from Gary, the Museum Manager, about a night photo shoot at the Museum. This was enjoyed by the participants and we are hoping to have some of the photos from this “shoot” in a later blog.

Also, in this section, we have photos from Joe taken on the MG Magnette Day at the Museum (Sunday, the 29th of September 2024).

From the Teams “Inside and Outside – The Museum“, we have the Painters’ update from Barry as they continue to keep the buildings and aircraft looking fresh and well cared for, as well as input from Mark on this week’s work at the Museum.

We also have an update from Malcolm on clearing the model store of unwanted models as well as an update on his model making.

In the “Events Information” section, we have details on two more events at the Museum in the next few days.

Pete S

Museum News

General news from the Museum

2025 Admission Charges

Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum (NASAM) – An Important Change

Our museum’s roots can be traced back 52 years to a handful of aviation enthusiasts, meeting in an old Nissen hut behind the Flixton Post Office. From those inauspicious beginnings, our museum has grown into a widely appreciated aviation attraction, now bringing in over 21000 visitors per year.

In all those years, we have never charged for admission. But, as we have grown, the demands have also grown. We need to maintain our ageing collection; we need to add to the attractions for our visitors; and, in keeping with the museum’s history of expansion, we have more plans for expansion over the next five years.

Despite not charging admission, the museum has never been ‘free’. We have always said that we rely on donations. Originally, we asked that visitors donated what they could afford. Latterly we asked that visitors donated what they thought we were worth. However, the average donation per visitor stands at £1.83 and the reality is, we cannot maintain our museum, much less improve it, for £1.83 per visitor.

And so, to ensure a bright future for NASAM, we have taken the decision that, from the beginning of 2025, we will start to charge an admission fee. We have taken our cue from other comparable museums and have set our prices accordingly. There will be a simple ticketing structure and, when Gift Aided, tickets may be converted to an annual pass, providing unlimited visits during that period. The prices will be:

Adult – £10.00
Child (over 5) – £5.00
Family (up to 2 adults, up to 3 children) – £20 (meaning children are ‘free’ on the family ticket)

We have always valued the patronage of local people and appreciate the support you have given us over the years. We recognise that, unlike many of our visitors, you’re not necessarily going to spend all day with us on your frequent visits. This had some bearing on our deciding to opt for a ticket valid for 12 months with Gift Aid. For those unable to Gift Aid, museum membership may be taken out at no additional cost which, in turn, will bestow an annual pass. We trust that, if you are one of our many repeat visitors, you won’t feel that £10 per person is an unreasonable ask for unlimited visits over a 12-month period.

As always, we welcome feedback and will be particularly interested to hear your thoughts on our decision to charge an admission fee. You can contact us by e-mail at nsam.flixton@gmail.com. Alternatively, why not drop in on the days that we are open and tell us in person? You’re always very welcome!

Martin

Remainder of the Open Days in 2024

Looking towards the remainder of the year, our opening dates will be:

Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1000 to 1600 until November 2nd (end of half term).
Sunday only November 3, 10, 17 & 24th, 1000 to 1600. Not all areas may be open during these days.
We will probably be open for a couple of days between Christmas and New Year; these dates, however, need to be agreed upon at the October meeting of trustees, and we will keep you informed via the blog and our social media sites.

2025

We will reopen on Wednesday, the 19th of February 2025 (half term).

ROC and BofB 2024 Update

Below are the additional photos from Steve on the Royal Observer Corps and Battle of Britain Day at the Museum on Sunday, the 15th of September 2024.

(Photos) ROC and BofB 2024

“Night at the Museum” Revisited

On Saturday 21st September The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum were both privileged and lucky enough to host The Centre Of Aviation Photography.

The photoshoot was organised by me in close liaison with Steve Comber and Rich Cooper of The C.O.A.P The team were booked in to attend from 1500 until 2100 to take staged photos of some of our aircraft with stand in “actors”.

The crew duly arrived with 15 people who had booked this event. The plan was to take photos of the F100, the T33, the Bloodhound Missile, the Hawker Hunter and the 2 Lightnings in the main hanger.

A few days before the event Steve asked me if I knew anyone with a series one Land Rover for the Bloodhound element. By some fluke, the previous Saturday we had a group visit the museum with said vehicles. I contacted one of them and he was very happy to attend this event and “loan” his vehicle for the shoot. Result! Many thanks go to Marting Nagg of Long Stratton for doing so.

The crew set up and started the shoot outside on the F100. I was shown some of the photos taken by Steve and to say that they were impressive would have been an understatement, and these were just on his smartphone!

The crew then moved onto the T33 and from there onto the Bloodhound and then the Hunter and the Lightnings.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and evening. Many thanks go out to Steve, Rich the team and the “actors” involved, and of course the guys who paid to attend the shoot. Oh and of course I must not forget my lovely wife Sarah who helped in the NAAFI.

I have attached a couple of images to whet your whistle. Steve and Rich are going to forward the images when they have been edited, prepare to be amazed. We will have permission to use these images for our own advertising purposes. If initial results are anything to go by, I am sure that we won’t be disappointed, they have brought our exhibits to life.

Here’s to hoping that they were suitably impressed and want to return and do it all over again one day very soon.

I understand that some images have appeared on the C.O.A.P Facebook site and on ours as well.

Gary

(Photos) Night at the Museum

MG Magnette Day @ The Museum

Bigger than its MG sporty numbers, one of which sneaked into the museum and mingled with its bigger cousins. The MG Z Series Magnette is styled like you’d expect a 1950’s British saloon to be. These photos from Joe show these well-kept collectable cars that came along to the Museum on Sunday, the 29th of September, to enjoy a day out. Also, on the day, a very impressive Ford appeared to join in.

(Photos) MG Magnette Day

Inside and Outside – The Museum

Information from the various teams

Paint Team Updates

24/09/24 – A game of two halves!

As your correspondent left Ipswich the rain was tipping down and low clouds were scudding across the sky. This did not bode well for any painting outside today. Upon arrival, the weather was decidedly ‘dreich’ as they say north of the border. Therefore, alternative tasks were sought. A bit of light cleaning of internal exhibits ensued for Gwen and Ian and your correspondent went off to reinstate the ‘camo’ on the Scout Car. Following a conversation with Ian H. a few weeks back it was clear that the very regimented round spots previously on the side of the Scout Car were part of an official MOD camouflage scheme. This was known colloquially as ‘Mickey Mouse ears’ camo. Staying faithful to this scheme, your correspondent had made up some cardboard ‘spot’ templates and set about spray painting the ‘ears’ back on the Scout car (see before and after pics 01 & 02 – Mickey was evidently very pleased with the work and turned up in person to acknowledge the reinstatement!).

Later in the morning, your correspondent went to have a look at the state of affairs down at the Sea Pest. With rain droplets everywhere, the only job that could be done was to clean up the fuselage windows. The windows were in a bit of a state, with some scratches and some spits and spots of paint from this and previous repaints. Using some thinners and some glass wool, most of the paint came off, but there wasn’t anything that could be done about the scratches and crazing of the Perspex windows (see before and after pics 03 & 04).

As luncheon was taken the ‘driech’ cleared off, the wind picked up and the sun briefly came out, all helping to dry off the Sea Pest.

In the afternoon, after a quick bit of wiping down, the boys were able to get back on with top-coating the Sea Pest. Private Walker (Ian) was clearly getting giddy with all the sunshine and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself painting the top of the starboard wing, followed by the starboard side of the fuselage (see pic 05). Over on the other side, the Skipper (Cliff) practiced his ‘chin ups’ while painting the under belly of the Sea Prince (see pic 06).

Dodging around the other two, Barry top-coated the front end of the port fuselage and under side of the port inner wing. By mid-afternoon, the boys were running out of paint, so Barry was dispatched to the Paint Store to find another tin of Light Aircraft Grey (LAG). With Marky mixy man absent this week, it fell to Barry to mix down the LAG with 5% thinners. Fortunately, there was no repeat of last week’s Phantom Raspberry Blower mixing ‘blow back’ and all the paint stayed in the tin this time! This was largely due to Barry’s deft hand with the mixing paddle (and the fact that he’d brought his variable speed drill, set to slow!).

Given half a day was lost to rain, the boys made pretty good progress and by close of play only the props, undercarriage and port under wing were still wearing their dark grey primer (see pics of starboard and port sides 07 & 08). Next week should see completion of the LAG, before we set about painting on the bright orange dayglo replica sections, plus other (non-LAG) detailing.

Barry

01/10/24 – Paper and Polystyrene – Exciting Day

With only Ian and Mark available, and with the weather looking wet for the day, it was off for a quick recce around the museum before deciding to clear a bit of space in the Paper Store for the team’s new vinyl cutter.

After moving various: tables; old cabinets; splat the rat; and other assorted stuff, the boys did confirm that there are some papers stored in the Paper Store.

Unfortunately, having spent the morning moving items to where they should be stored, having disposed of some items and having moved shelves full of papers, Mark decided that more space needed freeing up.

So they set about moving everything around for a second time (to a sound-track of Ian muttering “never again”, a phrase he last used when the same twosome spent several weeks painting the inside of the main hangar door a few years ago).

And Mark had to go “dumpster diving” after it was pointed out that the ‘disposed’ boxes and bags of polystyrene plates and plastic bottles are used to build model aircraft by the Scouts!

But in the end, enough space was cleared and the cutter was put in position. Now we just need to make some more space for the computer to drive it – anyone got a spare Tardis lying around?

Mark

(Photos) Paint Team Update

MMU Update

Following on from last months report, very little has been done on the Valetta and Hudson this month, mainly due to holidays and other family gatherings. After 8 coats of white paint, I have managed to start applying aluminium paint to the underside and wings of the Valetta. The Neptune was delivered back to the museum on 10th September and promptly positioned in its allocated display spot in Room 2.

As most volunteers know there is also a display cabinet in Room 2 which up to last Tuesday had well in excess of a hundred models in it, tracing aircraft from pre World War One up to the start of World War Two. I have been tasked to create a new display depicting the Advancement of Aviation During World War One, 1914 to 1918. At present I am at an early stage of putting ideas together for the new display but the first task was to remove most of the 1/72 WW1 models from the cabinet and bring home for sorting. Even though I removed over 50 models, the display cabinet still looked full!. The remaining aircraft will moved to the Model Store once the museum has closed for the winter.

There appears to be a good selection of subjects taken out of the display. It is obvious, largely because the advances made through this period, that most of the models are of aircraft that served during the later part of the war, 1917/1918. One absentee is a BE-2c, a very successful aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps from the early stages of the war. You may recall I did build an example for display at the beginning of this year and have been lucky to acquire a similar kit from the same source. So a BE-2C joins my production line. On top of that I have also obtained two 1/720 WW1 Zeppelin kits which also need putting together. With the deadline of mid February to complete the new display I should be busy over the next few months.

Tuesday 24th September saw the departure of 377 surplus models from the Model Store to a collector in Bournemouth, he mainly sells them on through model shows and other contacts. This release gave the museum a further cash injection for the kitty. This was the 4th batch to be collected , 1327 models in total so far and at least one more batch is expected to be ready by the middle of next year. By that time the Model Store may even start to look reasonably tidy??

Malcolm

(Photos) MMU Update

Event Information

What next at the Museum

October Events

The current list of October events at the Museum is shown below. For more details of the event taking place, click on the appropriate poster below.

Pete S

The Repeat Info

Here we are in 2024 and 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:

Click to see how to becomeMUSEUM MEMBER Click to see how to becomeMUSEUM VOLUNTEER Click to make aDONATION

Keep Up To Date

To keep up to date with further information, please keep an eye on our Social Media (see the Social Media buttons at the foot of this blog) or click on the button below to be notified by email of any upcoming changes by seeing the latest blog.