NASAM Update as of the 21st Apr 2025
In This Edition
Summary of Contents
In this edition of the blog’s “Museum News“, we have an article by the Museum Manager, Gary, on the refurbishment and reopening of the Adair Walk. The walk has been out of commission for some considerable time, but is now open all the way down to the River Waveney.
From the Teams “Inside and Outside – The Museum“, we have a double update from Barry on the work of the painters over the last few weeks.
Under the “Events Information” banner, we have information on two flypasts by the RAF BBMF in May, details of the museum’s temporary closure in June while the IWM swaps over two aircraft, and finally, details of the temporary closure of the B1062 (see below).
Road Closure Affecting the Museum
From Tuesday, the 22nd of April, Visitors to the Museum and Volunteers should be aware that until Friday, the 2nd of May 2025, the museum is only accessible from the north (Bungay), due to road closure along the only road that passes the museum, the B1062. Full details are available on the blog @ Road Closure. This link is repeated at the end of the blog.
Pete S
Museum News
General news from the Museum
Official Reopening of the Adair Walk
It was a bright and sunny day at the museum on Tuesday, 8th April 2025. It had previously been decided that this would be the day that we “officially” reopened the now fully refurbished Adair Walk. I contacted Sir Roger Austin, who is our president, to ask him if he would like to preside over the informal reopening ceremony. He was delighted to be asked and promptly agreed.
I had already been in contact with the River Waveney Trust (RWT) volunteers to make them aware of the plans regarding this ceremony. They advised me that they would make every effort to get as many of their volunteers to attend as possible. Doug Stockdale, who is the lead of the RWT volunteers, asked if, after the ceremony, he could present a short speech. This speech concerned one of his volunteers, called Roger Moore. He had decided to finally retire from service with the RWT. Doug wanted to take this opportunity to present him with his card and leaving present.
I had asked everyone to “form up” at the start of the walk for 1100 in readiness for the ceremony. At 1100, I did a short speech to explain why we were there and to take the opportunity to personally thank the RWT volunteers for the sterling work that they put in to bring the walk back to life.
Doug Stockdale then did a short handover ceremony where he handed the Adair Walk back to the museum. Sir Roger Austin happily accepted. The new plaque was unveiled by both men to the sound of applause from the gathered throng.
After the ceremony, Doug gave a short presentation regarding Roger’s retirement, where he was presented with a Tankard and some other goodies.
Afterwards, everyone adjourned to the NAAFI for tea, coffee, and nibbles. Unfortunately, Sir Roger was not able to stay for long as he had another pressing engagement that required his attention.
My personal thanks go out to the following:
- Sir Roger Austin
- Doug Stockdale
- Debra Roy
- All the NASAM volunteers
Special thanks go out to the following:
- The Geoffrey Watling Charity – Some of the funding
- The River Waveney Trust – Some of the funding
- The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum – Some of the funding
- CC Betts – Supplying timber and other necessary materials
And lastly, I would like to wish Roger Moore a very quiet and peaceful retirement!
The main photographs below show Sir Roger Austin on the left of the plaque, taking back the walk from Doug Stockdale on the right of the plaque.
Other photographs show Doug Stockdale presenting Roger Moore with his leaving gift, and finally, photographs of the refurbished Adair Walk down to the River Waveney.
Gary
(Photos) Official Reopening of Adair Walk
Photographs by Ian H and Gary
Inside and Outside – The Museum
Information from the various teams
Paint Team Updates
08/04/25 – Dirty Double Ugly!
Conditions were again set fair for another day of pressure washing in the seemingly endless Spring sunshine. What to do?
Well, finish off the Pucara for starters. That well-known pressure washing double act (Mark and Ian W.) got their long wand out and set about finishing off the Pucara’s tail (see pic 10).
A few minutes were taken out at the start of the day by Barry to pressure wash and clean the paving slabs around the 446th’s memorial for Michael, given the party of friends/veterans due to visit on Friday (11th).
Back in the fold this week, Gwen spent the day giving the MiG a brush up (see pic 11).
With Cliff having a ‘duvet day’ it was left to Barry to tackle the Phantom single-handedly. At the start of play the ‘double ugly’ was looking particularly ugly down the port side (see pic 12), which seems to collect all the green clag from the adjacent willow tree. The upper surfaces of the port wing were particularly bad (see pic 13). This was evidently a job for our ‘beefy’ Karcher K7.
By mid-morning the ‘A’ team double act had moved on to the Bloodhound and the rest of the day was spent giving the missile and control truck a good blasting (see pic 14).
On into the afternoon and by around 2pm Barry had finished the port side (see pic 15), save for the tailfin, for which the long wand will be required.
The last hour of the day was spent cleaning the Phantom’s starboard wing, which proved to be not so bad (see pic 16), as it is that bit further away from the willow tree and faces into the sun for most of the day.
(Photos) Paint Team Update 08/04/25
15/04/25 – Phenomenon!
Having navigated the road closure, the team arrived to a very unusual weather phenomenon (see pic 17). Wet stuff was falling out of the sky! I believe that this is called ‘rain’ (my golf club has had no recordable rain since 27th Feb). And boy did it rain for a while. Consequently, the team looked around for inside jobs and were soon pointed in the direction of the left-hand side of the back wall in Room 3.
First job of the day was to remove all the exhibits from said wall (see pic 18) so that Gwen could patch up the wall and then repaint it.
By elevenses, the rain had packed up and the hybrid A/B pressure washing team (Ian W. and Barry) set up shop next to the Phantom, ready to finish off the remaining unwashed back third. Ian W. strapped on the long wand and gave the very grubby port side of the tail a good seeing too (see pic 19).
Just before lunch, Mark joined the party, having dealt with his domestic commitments and fiddled his way around the road closures.
After luncheon, the boys moved up the central paddock and turned their attention towards the exhibits to the left of the Main Hangar. Mark and Ian W. cleaned up the trailers, then the Canberra Mk 2 and lower reaches of the Bomber Command hut (see pic 20).
Next door, Barry gave the Canberra B8 a soapy hand wash, so as not to remove any further paint (see pic 21).
By close of play, all the external exhibits had been washed, which just leaves some of the buildings and skylights to do next week. After that, it should be back to sanding and painting.
Barry
(Photos) Paint Team Update 15/04/25
Event Information
What next at the Museum
Flypasts For May
We currently have two flypasts booked for May 2025. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has so far scheduled us for two visits in May. The first visit being by a Hurricane on the 10th of May (which is a day when we will have some Scouts present on the site, and a second visit on the 24th of May 2025, when both a Hurricane and a Spitfire are scheduled to appear. As previously advised, all flights are subject to both weather and operational commitments on the day.
We have also requested flypasts in June at the various events that we have booked. The RAF BBMF have already agreed to one of those dates. Stay “tuned” as they say, for more information on June events. You can register for an email notice of the blog being published. To do so, click to Register Here
Pete S
Advance Notice – Museum Closed For 3 Days
We have received confirmation from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford that they propose to carry out a swap of aircraft between the 2nd of June 2025 and the 10th of June 2025.
The aircraft in question are the BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 – ZA175, which is returning to Duxford, and the Jaguar GR.1B – XX108, which will come to Flixton.
As a result of this, the Trustees have agreed to close our museum to the public on the following days:
- Wednesday 4th of June 2025
- Saturday 7th of June 2025
- Sunday 8th of June 2025
It is hoped that the aircraft movements will be fully completed by Friday 6th June 2025. However, Duxford have requested and been granted two “buffer” days in case they cannot complete by this date. This is why the museum will remain shut until the completion of this project. It is hoped that the Museum will reopen as normal on Wednesday, the 11th of June 2025.
Keep up to date by following us here on the NASAM BLOG. Register for email updates @ eMail Notifications
Road Closure Affecting the Museum
Visitors to the Museum should be aware that until Friday, the 2nd of May 2025, the museum is only accessible from the north, due to road closure along the only road that passes the museum, the B1062. Full details are available on the blog @ Road Closure
Pete S
The Repeat Info
Here we are, the start of a new year, and despite the fact that we will now raise some monies through our admission charges, 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 some grants and 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 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.
Go to the form forEMAIL NOTIFICATIONS
Pete S
