NASAM Update as of the 30th June 2025

In This Edition

Summary of Contents

In this edition of the Blogs “Museum News“, we have some sad news on our newest Ground Force Volunteer, Andrew, who has suffered serious injuries whilst on holiday in Austria.

Then we have a note from Gary on the visit of the East Anglian Practical Classics Club. Gary also providing the photos to go along with his report.

We covered the swap over of aircraft in the last special blog, but we have included a picture here, taken by Joe, of the corner of the NAAFI Café and our new Jaguar exhibit.

Also, whilst we are mentioning the aircraft swap, Graham sent in an email containing three photos of the Sea Harriers’ arrival at Flixton back in 2004.

From the Teams “Inside and Outside – The Museum“, we have a double update from Barry, and once again, the Valetta takes centre stage in the painter’s workload.

Under the “Events Information” section, we have posters for the next two events at the Museum.

Pete S

Museum News

General News from or about the Museum

Volunteer Injured While on Holiday

It is sad to report that we have been notified that Andrew, the newest Ground Force Volunteer, was seriously injured whilst on holiday in Austria a few weeks ago. Andrew was taken to hospital where he has undergone numerous operations to pin broken bones. We extend our sympathies to Andrew’s family and wish Andrew a speedy recovery and return to the UK.

East Anglian Practical Classics visit

On Wednesday, the 18th of June, 2025 we hosted a visit from the East Anglian Practical Classics (EAPC).

They attended the museum at 0900 together with their cars in readiness for our visitors. They had previously asked if they could arrive before the public. We set up the cars near to wreckology and in front of the Valetta.

The group brought along many old favourites from our past motoring heritage. On display but to name a few were a lovely old Morris Minor a superb Ford Sierra an MGF and even a Rover 100, who remembers them!

The group was led by Peter and Susan who looked after the group whilst they were at the museum.

The members of this group used our NAAFI heavily, helping to boost museum funds and on top of this we even took over a good amount in donations.

I understand that some of the group even ventured out to the Dove Inn for a spot of lunch.

My thanks go out to Peter and Susan for organising the visit. We very much hope to see them again in the future.

Gary

(Photos) East Anglian Practical Classics

The Jaguar Has Arrived

At last, after a long wait, the jaguar, which we bid for from the IWM Duxford, has finally arrived and graces the main hangar next to the NAAFI Café.

(Photo) Jaguar in the Main Hangar

Sea Harrier Arrival 2004

“Just a quickie as I’m in the museum today – I found these amongst a pile of pictures that have been left on my desk while I’ve been away. They show the arrival of the Harrier at the museum in 2004, then ‘flown’ in by crane as was its departure to the back of an IWM flat bed in 2025.”

Graham

(Photos) Sea Harrier Arrival 2004

Inside and Outside At The Museum

News from the Various Team

Paint Team Updates

17/06/25 – Return of the Mack!

Yes, all you Mark Morrison fans out there, this week saw the “Return of the Mack” (1996) or perhaps more accurately in our case, the “Return of the Mark”!

After a few weeks off supervising Mrs Morrison’s kitchen makeover, the Mark was back on the team and keen to get stuck into some painting. Conveniently, after 2 weeks of prep and re-prep, the starboard cheat line on the Valetta was ready to paint. Mark was soon back in his element, masking up and then helping to prime the tail section with Dacrylate grey high build primer (see pic).

By lunchtime, the Mark and Barry had primed the entire starboard side (see pic). With temps nudging 28 degrees, it was hoped that the primer would go off quite quickly, enabling a topcoat to be applied after luncheon.

Elsewhere, our top titivator (Gwen) made good all the flaky paint on the Javelin’s port wing (see pic). Top job! After that she made a start on re-covering the red detailing on the T33 (see pic).

Fully refreshed after lunch (that included a rather good-looking Fruit Cocktail pot), the Mark broke out the Dacrylate Traffic Red topcoat. This appeared to be quite ‘loose’ possibly due to the high temps, so every precaution was taken to avoid any ‘spatter’ down the silver grey fuselage below the cheat line. By close of play, the boys had just managed to get a coat of Traffic Red onto the starboard cheat line (see pic). With a few primer ‘shadows’ evident the boys concluded that a second coat of red would be required next week. To be continued…

(Photos) Painters 17/06/25

Update 24/06/25 – Let’s go round again!

As the Average White Band once said in 1980, “let’s go round again, one more time”.

The ‘round again’ in question being yet another lap of Red on the starboard cheat line of the Valetta.

Due to a damp start, a few minutes were taken out to offer up the 3D test print of the Mozzie model’s cockpit canopy in the BP Hangar (courtesy of HJ Plastics Ltd.). All good. The next step will be to paint the window frames on the 3D print, prior to fitting. The replacement nose blister requires a bit more refinement, so that will be going back to HJ for another pass.

By 09:30 the Valetta was dry enough to at least start sanding and prepping the port side. At 10:15 this work had to stop due to arrival of a batch of schoolchildren inside the (reverberating) Valetta cabin.

Never mind. With the temperature now rapidly improving, the boys set about masking up the starboard cheat line (see pic), in readiness to receive a second application of Traffic Red topcoat.

Down towards the front gate, our top titivator (Gwen) finished off her refresh of the T33’s red bits (see pic) before moving on to the F100’s red bits.

By lunchtime the boys had pretty much re-coated the starboard cheat line on the Valetta (see pic).

In the afternoon, the masking tape was then removed, together with the odd bit of upper fuselage white and lower fuselage grey. Some ‘touching in’ will be required!

Before close of play the boys erected some (kind of) scaff’ on port side, ready for further sanding and prepping next week (before the school arrives!).

Gwen also had time to make a start on repainting the base of the ‘Tin man’ sculpture for Dave D.

Barry

(Photos) Painters 24/06/25

Event information

What’s next at the Museum

Next Events at the Museum

Below are posters for the next two events at the Museum.

Pete S

The Repeat Information

Funding

Here we are in 2025, and although we now charge for admission to the Museum, we still appreciate any additional help we can get from the general public, readers of the blog and visitors to the Museum. So the repeated information below is still here, just in case you would like to help.

We are a charitable organisation, relying now on admission charges, grants and donations from the people that visit. Any and all help is greatly appreciated 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”.

Would you like to help??

One of the ways we save money is by having a dedicated group of Volunteers that keep the Museum and the exhibits both manned and maintained. We hope, therefore, that a few people would consider helping in the three ways below:

Help by becoming a Museum Member, also Volunteering to help at the Museum, or by making a Donation to help with 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

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