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Museum Coronavirus Update
Restoration Plans

Updated 23.10.20

Now that the lockdown has ended we are slowly restarting the restoration work  here at our Gateway Aviation Site.

We are working within Covid-Secure and social distancing guidelines on a range of projects, which allows for good separation of our volunteer workforce around our 16 acre site.

An initial requirement saw a sustained cleaning programme to return many exhibits back to display condition. This will be followed by a programme of work on the following aircraft/projects:

Completion of the MiG-27 de-corrosion &repaint 

Completion of the T-33 repaint 

Completion of the F-100 repaint 

Markings application to the Heron

Meteor NF.14 & T.7 repaints to complete

Dove markings to complete

Ashton top fuselage repaint to complete

Continuation of the in-depth work on the Puma and Chinook helicopters

Continuation of work on the Monospar project

Work on the Vulcan underside will resume, with the completion of any repairs; plus, the continuation of the underside painting. If this work continues well, we can start on the rear ECM pod and the base of the tail fin. Given the likely re-start of this work we do not anticipate that we will be installing any scaffolding to start the repainting work of the upper surfaces this year.

Fresh repainting projects that may start include the Canberra T.19 and Hunter T.7

We hope that this update provides both our working members and potential visitors with a good overview of the exciting times that lay ahead. As ever there is one final caveat; this work may be subject to change in response to any government directives that may be included in any lessening of the terms of the lockdown and our being able to open to the public again.

Also as a volunteer managed registered charity we rely on public admission fees, shop sales etc. to fund our operation and we will be ever reliant on the generosity of our visitors, volunteers and staff in these unprecedented and challenging times.

We will rely heavily on continued support both now and in the future

The main funding route that you can use to help us with this vital restoration work is via: THIS JUST GIVING PAGE

Stay safe and healthy everyone, why not visit the museum to see the work as it progresses!

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