NASAM Update as of the 26th Sep 2025

In This Edition

Summary of Contents

In this edition of the Blogs “Museum News“, we start with a list of the days we are open for the remainder of the year, and the re-opening date in 2026. We also have a few photos taken by Joe of the Battle of Britain Day 2025 at the museum.

There is an interview by the hospital radio in Norwich with our Chair, Steve, and a report of a visit to Halesworth College by John S and Roger B.

From the Teams “Inside and Outside – The Museum“, we have Barry’s updates on the work being carried out by the Paint Team.

There is nothing to report on future events at the Museum under the “Events Information” section, although we do have an outline plan for 2026, and we will publish this in a few weeks time.

Pete S

Museum News

General News from or about the Museum

Open Dates for the remainder of 2025

+ Reopening Date in 2026

Battle of Britain Day

The annual Battle of Britain Day at the Museum this year was held on Sunday, the 14th of September 2025. A number of classic and military vehicles, as well as motorbikes arrived during the day. Station 366 provided the entertainment in the main hangar. The photos below were taken by Joe.

(Photos) Battle of Britain Day 2025

Hospital Radio Norwich

Steve, the Chair, was asked by Jules, one of the Hospital Radio Norwich volunteers at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital if he would like to be interviewed as part of their ongoing radio broadcasts to the hospital patients. The radio creates radio programmes and plays music for the patients, with the aim of providing companionship and reducing the stress of a hospital stay.

Jules wondered if anyone in the Museum team would be willing to be interviewed about the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum ?? Jules went on to say “I’m sure that many of our patients will be interested to hear about the history and current activities of the museum. Some will likely have personal or family connection to the aircraft and artefacts in your collection”.

Click on the hospital radio banner below to be taken to the podcast. This will open in a new window, and then you will need to click on the play button in that window.

Halesworth College Freshers Day

Tuesday 16th September

John & I, Roger, went to Halesworth College for what we thought would be Freshers Day. The idea would be to introduce the students to the possibility of coming to the museum and volunteering. Well, it was a delightful day, but only a few (5 actually) conversations took place. One lad knew a bit about aircraft and showed real interest. He may, in time, turn up.

Another, well, his first question was, what’s aeronautics? He did, however, stick around to talk about job possibilities. The other three we may see at the museum. let’s hope so. We did manage to catch a few words with some of the girls, some of whom have been to the Museum with their parents, but the main hope is that the teachers will talk to the students to encourage them to volunteer and maybe take an interest in aviation as a career.

The head teacher did say that she is looking for places to take the students for trips out. John & I said they would be more than welcome. So look out, Halesworth will be showing up anytime soon.

We did feel, though, that 10 minutes in each classroom, talking to the students in a controlled environment, would have been more productive.

We were looked after though. Dinner was provided with the apple crumble for dessert, a firm favourite with both of us.

To summarise, it was not what we were led to expect, but it was not a waste of time either. For a bunch of kids with no idea of museums or aircraft, there’s hope.

John S & Roger B

Inside and Outside At The Museum

News from the Various Team

Paint Team Update

16/09/25 – A game of two halves!

A bit of a mixed bag this week. With a keen wind blowing upon arrival, levels of enthusiasm for outside work were initially on the low side. Therefore, the boys headed to Bomber Command to re-hang the Mozzie model with thinner gauge (less visible) fishing line. Mark then demonstrated his full array of fishing knots (one) and the supporting lines were adjusted a few times to achieve the optimum angle of bank. Unfortunately, during this process, the Mozzie met with some minor damage (let’s call it flak damage) as the model was manoeuvred into position just below the roofline of BC. Mid-air repairs were soon effected, and by the end of the morning it was job done (see pic).

Over luncheon, there was much debate about the next job. With 4-6 weeks of outside working still possible, the team looked around for a relatively small job. Eventually they settled on Steve P’s Canberra nose (aka Nosey) that is looking pretty tired (see pic).

After lunch, the sanders were broken out and Mark, Ian and Barry set about prepping Nosey. Barry concentrated on Nosey’s peeling (fibreglass) nose, while Ian made his way down the starboard side of the front fuselage (see pic) and Mark went to port (see pic).

By close of play, about half of Steve’s Canberra had been prepped. Subject to the weather, the plan is to get some paint on the front half next week, so as not to leave the bare metal areas exposed for longer than a week. After that, we’ll continue with the prep of the back half and the trailer.

(Photos) Paint Team 16/09/25

23/09/25 – My Canberra’s got a nose. How does it smell?

Answer: Terrible! Pourquoi, I hear you ask?

Yes folks, Farmer Giles had been up to his usual tricks on a Tuesday, muck spreading in the adjacent field. I’m sure he times his run for our arrival each week. Just as Cliff and I pulled in (after a quick deviation into Norfolk to drop a car off for service) the tractor was pulling out onto the main road, having dropped its load (so to speak).

Anyways, down to business. The boys were soon back on Steve P’s Canberra nose, picking up where they left off last week. After a quick wipe down to remove overnight condensation, the boys got back on with prepping the surfaces for priming. At least wearing the dust masks took the ‘edge’ off the pong coming from the field next door!

The black nose cone was pretty much ready to go from last week and only needed a quick bit of re-feathering in by Mark (see pic). As the temperature came up the paint tins were opened and Mark and Barry primed the nose cone, assisted by Ian W. who continued the priming back towards the cockpit by one panel’s worth (see pic).

The reason for doing this was so that we could trial the new ‘Aluminium’ paint from Dacrylate later in the day.

Elsewhere, our top titivator (Gwen) turned her attention, and tickling stick, towards the Meteor. By early afternoon she had given the Meteor a good tickle with Witham’s Bright Aluminium (see pic). This was very timely as not only did the Meteor get a good tidy up, but we could also compare the colour and finish of the Dacrylate against the fresh Witham’s paint.

After luncheon, Mark and Ian W. gave the nose cone a coat of Dacrylate Black, while the Skipper (Cliff) continued to prep the ‘canoes’ towards the bottom of the fuselage. As we moved towards close of business, the weather stopped playing nicely and several light showers blew quickly through. In between the showers, there was just enough time though to ‘test’ the Dacrylate Aluminium. The end result can be seen here (see pic). The general consensus was that the Dacrylate was a bit less ‘shiny’ than the Witham’s; which is possibly no bad thing; but needs careful application with a roller in order to get a consistent streak free finish. The manufacturer has also recommended protecting the aluminium finish with a clear lacquer. A job for next week.

To be continued…

Barry

(Photos) Paint Team 23/09/25

Event information

What’s next at the Museum

Events – Nothing To Report

Although there is nothing to report insofar as special days in September and October, when we are open to the public, it is worth noting the days and times that we are open for the remainder of the year, as shown in the first article of this blog.

As can be seen from the poster at the top of this blog, we intend to open for two days during the Christmas period. What are we going to display this time around ?? Last year, it was some of the Museum’s artwork which is not normally on show. Will it be the same this year ?? ….

Gary, the Museum Manager, has produced the draft outline of plans for events in 2026. We will give an insight into this in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned to the blog, and we will provide an update closer to the time on the Christmas opening and 2026 events.

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

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