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Newark Air Museum,
The Showground, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts, NG24 2NY We are still planning to organise some Photo Days and details will be published when known. Cockpit-Fest 2008 scheduled for Saturday June 14th and Sunday June 15th, 2008.
This page is regularly updated so to ensure that you are kept up to speed with everything that is happening at the museum we suggest you always visit here to check what is going on.
Special Internet Offer (valid until December 31st 2008) Surf your way to discounted museum admission with our VIRTUAL VOUCHER. Print this page or quote Ref: 2008 V V when you visit the museum to obtain a discount of 50 pence off each normal admission fee. (This offer is not valid for family tickets or in Association with any other voucher offers. ALL external vouchers are not valid on special event days at the museum, like Cockpit-Fest or Enthusiast Days).
Special Admission Rates for Car Enthusiast Groups – please email for details. This can include photo opportunities with the aircraft!
Happy New Year from everyone at the Newark Air Museum.
Fighter Cockpit Days May 24 & 25, 2008 Newark Air Museum is home for an impressive collection of Jet Fighters, ranging from the best of British, through NATO and into the Warsaw Pact. During this weekend we plan to allow a rare viewing experience of a number of these historic Jet Fighters. Normally these cockpits remain in-accessible, some have fully fitted interiors, others are partially complete and some totally empty.
From a safety perspective we are unable to offer people the opportunity to climb into these aircraft, but for this weekend only viewing of the cockpits will be available. Some through a closed canopy and others through opened canopies. As nobody wishes to view a black hole, only those cockpits with medium to high content will be included within the weekends viewing schedule. Those aircraft that we expect to be included within this event include:
Meteor NF12, Meteor FR9, Sea Harrier, Sea Hawk, Viggen, Draken, Super Sabre, MiG and the Swift and Phantom cockpit sections.
Some of these aircraft cockpits are occasionally accessible during special events or special visits, but none are available for day to day viewing, so this is indeed a rare opportunity to view the crew areas of some classic fighter aircraft.
Films about some classic fighter types will also be showing throughout the day. So visitors will have an opportunity to relax with a drink and a snack visit the museums NAFFI to eat, drink and be entertained. A film schedule board will be available highlighting what will be showing and when.
It is intended that other large aircraft and unconnected to the fighter theme of this event, will also be opened for visitors to get into throughout the weekend. [A small additional charge will be made for accessing these aircraft.] Viewing times of all open aircraft may be staggered throughout each day depending on the availability of volunteer aircraft openers.
During the daytime we plan to set up a special area for photographers. This will allow elevated vantage points for some of these iconic fighters. [09.04.08]
EasyFundraising Update 0905.08 Thanks to everyone out there that has used the scheme to help us raise our first one hundred pounds! We really appreciate your support.
So far through direct support and the referrals programme we have raised £ 126.91 as of May 9, 2008.
We are currently getting loads of views of the site but very few people actually registering to fund raise for the museum. Please remember that every penny helps make a difference please cut and paste the link below to register and start helping to raise funds for the museum.
You can also help raise additional funds by using a new FREE Internet search engine listed below; please cut and paste this into your web browser and use it each time that you search and we get further funds:
http://newarkairmuseum.easysearch.org.uk/
If you decide to register your organisation please do so by cutting and pasting the link below as this can also raise some additional funds for the museum:
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/referral/2331
2008 LOW FLYING LOG This new feature on the website aims to list most of the low flying military aircraft that over fly the museum.
30.01.08 [10.40] - 78 Squadron EHI-101 Merlin – ZK001 from RAF Benson; overflight & land [The Best Yet! Thanks!!]
22.04.08 [14.00] - Tucano heading S to N
24.04.08 [15.10] - Harrier GR9 heading S to N {directly over Buccaneer}
25.04.08 [14.19] - Tornado heading S to N
25.04.08 [14.19] - Chinook heading N to S
25.04.08 [15.43] - C130 heading S
29.04.08 [11.30] - Dominie heading N
29.04.08 [13.30] - VC10 climbing out of Waddington
29.04.08 [14.15] - Dominie heading N
29.04.08 [17.10] - 2 x F15 heading SW
01.05.08 [14.18] - 2 x Puma heading S to N
06.05.08 [10.05] - C130 heading low into Waddington
06.05.08 [14.45] - AWACS heading N to S
07.05.08 [10.20] - Tristar heading N to S
07.05.08 [16.07] - 4 Hawks heading W to E {Role Demo Waddington?}
Day-Night Photo Shoot - May 24, 2008 NOW SOLD OUT The first event has now been fully booked. After thus first event we will evaluate the format and may organise similar event at a later date.
We are still willing to send out details explaining the format and what will be happening; and we are also proposing to make up a reserve list whereby if anyone pulls out the reserve contacts will be contacted and offered a place. [04.03.08]
Previously published details.
The event will formally commence after the museum closes to the public at 5pm, but your ticket allows you access to the museum site all day.
- Photo opportunities featuring themed ground equipment; uniformed personnel; and illuminated aircraft.
- The aircraft being featured for this first event will include: Vulcan, Shackleton, Hastings and Buccaneer.
Admission costs £20 per person & places will be limited to 50 people.
To receive a booking forms please send a “booking form request” via the contact page of the website.
07 Update - Cockpit-Fest 2008 [04.05.08] We now have 19 cockpits / rigs / interiors confirmed as participating and we have added a couple more special visiting displays / book signings.
Stirling FN5 Gun Turret and Cockpit Layout
Boeing 737 Main Panel, with glass cockpit and associated panels
The Canberra PR.9 panel collection
Cockpits Rigs confirmed: Vampire FB.5**
Special Visiting Displays
The Ex-Military Land Rover Association
Book Signing - One of the Few by John Shipman new from Pen-and-Sword (Sat/Sun 10-4)
Book Signing - A Passion for Flying by Gp Cpt Tom Eeles, new from Pen-and-Sword (Sat 10-4 Sun 2-4)
Book Signing – RAF Harrier-Ground Attack Falklands by Sqd Ldr Jerry Pook, from Pen-and-Sword (Sat/Sun 10-4)
A display by the Thorpe Camp Radio Museum
Crusader 80 – British Army of the Rhine living history display
Owls from the Raptor Foundation
A display from the Newark Millgate Museum
Flying displays of jet powered scale aircraft
Display by the Lincolnshire Integrated Aviation Heritage Partnership [LIAHP]
A steady stream of advanced bookings is now coming in for the AEROBOOT aviation and avionics sales that runs alongside this event.
Regular updates relating to confirmed participants will continue to appear over the coming weeks.
Buccaneer Anniversary Markings On Thursday 13th March, 2008 a short ceremony will take place at the Newark Air Museum to unveil a new set of temporary Anniversary markings on Blackburn Buccaneer S1 XN964 maritime strike aircraft.
The markings have been carefully designed by Mick Coombes [leader of the team currently restoring XN964] to celebrate the Buccaneers 50th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of XN964 being delivered to the Newark Air Museum.
The markings will remain in place on the airframe for approximately three months, until the original 801 Naval Air Squadron markings are reapplied to XN964 later in the summer.
The museum is also undertaking a national exercise to find information about a famous mission that Buccaneer XN964 took part in 41 years ago in March 1967.
On 18th March 1967 the Torrey Canyon super tanker, which was destined for the Milford Haven oil terminal in South Wales struck Pollards Rock in the Seven Stone reef in the dangerous waters between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles. As the super tanker broke up aircraft from the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm were called in to drop various munitions on the stricken tanker.
At the time of the incident our Buccaneer XN964 was serving with 736 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Lossiemouth, Morayshire. We have references that show it took part in the missions to bomb the Torrey Canyon on March 28th 1967, when flying directly from RNAS Lossiemouth and also whilst temporarily based at RNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.
The museum is keen to locate any pictures of XN964 flying on these sorties against the Torrey Canyon so it can incorporate them into the growing historical record that is being built up about the aircraft and its operations. It is understood that approximately 62,000lbs of bombs were dropped; 5,200 gallons of petrol; assorted rockets and even napalm.
Any feedback from can be made via the museum website contact form.
[05.03.08]
Second hand magazines for sale Wide range of second hand aviation magazines [in good condition] has been donated to Newark Air Museum to help raise vital funds; available in year sets at a cost of just £5.00 per set [must be collected from the Museum Shop].
Aeroplane magazine – from the 1970s to the current day
Cross & Cockade
Aero [American Journal of the Early Aeroplane]
Full details available by telephoning 01636 707170 [10.30am to 4.30pm]
FLYING THE VULCAN A talk by Group Captain John Laycock
May 22nd, 2008
{STOP PRESS 06.05.08 - the talk will be illustrated by many photographs previously not seen before by the general public}
John flew for 47 years with the RAF, logging in excess of 5,000 hours, initially on Handley Page Victor B Mk1s and later Avro Vulcan B Mk2s. During his career he gained unrivalled experience of the Vulcan in its high and low level nuclear roles, as a conventional bomber and finally, as a tanker.
John’s talk will be wide ranging, covering the Cold War deployment of the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan and their weapons, including Skybolt, as well as the training of their crews. He will discuss the Cuban missile crisis before moving on to the Vulcan’s role within NATO, CENTO and SEATO.
John will discuss advanced training for the Vulcan crews such as TACEVAL and RED FLAG before looking at the impact of the Falklands War and the Vulcan’s final role as a tanker.
After a break for refreshments, John will host a question and answer session.
This is the first in a series of three Vulcan talks to be presented by The Newark Air Museum in 2008 and will be unmissable for all Vulcan enthusiasts.
Confirmed Venue 07.05.08:
Holy Trinity Community Centre
Boundary Road
Newark
NG24 4AU
Lecture starts 2000 hours
Ticket Prices £5.00 Available from the Museum Shop
Tel: 01636 707170
[07.05.08]
Enthusiast Tours - NEW 2008 Dates Released An additional set of dates for the middle part of 2008 have just been released for our popular Enthusiast Tours and these will be on the following Saturdays.
May 31, 2008
June 7, 2008
July 5, 2008
July 19, 2008
August 2, 2008
August 16, 2008
Pre-booked entrance fee £15 per person includes:
Welcome snack, Guide Book, aircraft admissions including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom cockpit and behind the scenes tour to see “missing airframes”.
Bookings now being taken but please remember there are only 12 spaces per day
Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis, depending on the date on which booking forms are received, email newarkair@onetel.com or telephone 01636 707170 for a Booking Form today.
N.B. During each Enthusiast Tour the museum is open as normal. [22.04.08]
Cockpit-Fest 2008 - ALL cockpits welcome Once again our two day Cockpit-Fest event is expected to draw aircraft cockpit owners from across the British Isles to our site on Saturday June 14 & Sunday June 15, 2008.
Previous participants should by now have received their 2008 information packs and we would like to confirm that ALL types of aircraft cockpits are welcome and will be on view to the public.
However the 2008 event will also have a special sub-section of cockpits - a special Hawker Hunter line-up. This will form part of a tribute to the 22 ship Hunter loop of 1958 and the line-up will feature Hunter cockpits going from F1 through to the high numbered export versions of this iconic British fighter. Hunter cockpits already promised are: at least one F1, F2, at least one F6, T7, FGA9 and GA11
As the confirmations of participation start to arrive we will provide the usual regular updates here.
In addition to the visiting cockpits a range of additional activities will be taking place including a two day Aeroboot aviation and avionics sale. As with the Cockpit-Fest event, application forms have already been sent out to previous participants.
If anyone would like to receive participation details for either Cockpit-Fest or Aeroboot please request them via the Contact Form on the website or why not pop in to the Museum Shop. [11.02.08]
New Books We have several NEW BOOKS that have just gone on the shelves:
Avro Lancaster Roll of Honour 1942 by Doug Cuthbertson @ 11.99
Avro Lancaster Roll of Honour January to April 1043 by Doug Cuthbertson @ £12.99
Ted The Lad – a schoolboy went to war by Ted Cachart @ £17.50
Dambusters in Focus by Mark Postlethwaite and Jim Shortland @ £19.95 published by Red Kite
British Military Aviation - 1960’s in Colour No. 1 by Martin Derry @ £9.95 published by Dalrymple and Verdun
The Nimrod – Mighty Hunter by Andy Evens @ £15.95 published by Dalrymple and Verdun
NEW but reduced:
The last of the Lightnings by Ian Black @ £12 published by Sutton
The last of the Phantoms By Ian Black @ £12 published by Sutton{both these books were £25 each}
No admission fee charged if you just wish to shop! [10.02.08]
Tiger Moth G-MAZY Reassembled Staff and volunteers have recently reassembled and re-rigged the missing wing set on de Havilland Tiger Moth G-MAZY.
The airframe G-MAZY was rebuilt in a ‘half-covered / half-exposed’ configuration by volunteers at CARG [Cotswold Aircraft Restoration Group] back in the early 1990s. G-MAZY is proving to be an idea teaching aid for the growing number of education visits that the museum is now hosting, as it allows pupils to see both the structural design and covered airframe in the one exhibit.
For the last few years G-MAZY has been displayed with only one set of wings fitted this was due to restricted display space in Hangar 1. This situation has now been rectified as the museum expands and continues to develop this area of Hangar 1.
The museum’s wide-ranging education programme has been prepared thanks to significant support from MLA East Midlands staff, local teachers and grant funding from MLA East Midlands, as part of their Learn With Museums programme. In the last three months the museum has hosted education visits from schools in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. Initially developed for Key Stages 1 and 2 the programme has recently been expanded to cater for BTEC students working at an equivalent of Key Stage 4. [25.02.08]
Monospar VH-UTH Progress being made The restoration of General Aircraft Monospar VH-UTH at the museum has recently received a significant boost from assistance provided by Ormonde Aircraft Limited [OAL]. Faced with the difficult task of forming an unusual shaped profile for the fuselage stringers, contact was made with Alan Purdy the owner of OAL who are based at the Nottingham Airport at Tollerton. Despite a full order book and an ongoing shortage of skilled workers, OAL were able to incorporate the forming of the Monospar stringers into their busy work schedule.
This has provided a major lift to the Monospar restoration at the museum’s Winthorpe Showground site by helping to solve a difficult problem for this major project. Since the Monospar returned to the museum in October 2007, volunteers under the supervision of the museum’s Restoration Manager have undertaken a significant evaluation of the project and the work needed to move it forward.
Having sorted out all the items that were returned from Innsworth work started in earnest at the end of February 2008 to realign the fuselage framework of the Monospar, which appears to have been damaged at some point during its flying career. A few weeks ago the Monospar was placed on trestles in Hangar 1 and this has allowed the pace of work to step up significantly. With the arrival of the stringers from OAL this impetus should now be maintained during the coming months.
Further progress reports will be issued later in the year, but the trustees of the Newark Air Museum are, “particularly grateful to Alan Purdy and everyone at Ormonde for assisting with the Monospar stringer profiles despite being very busy with their more traditional Spitfire and Warbird projects” [18.04.08]
MiG Makeover Despite a slight delay due to the recent poor weather work has recently started on repainting the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23M “Flogger” 024003607 “07”, a former Soviet Bloc jet fighter that is currently on loan with the Museum. A significant amount of surface preparation has already taken place and the first primer coat applied.
The work is being undertaken by a group of local aviation enthusiast who approached the museum via the website and the Air-Scene UK website. The enthusiasts are painters by trade, working for a company based in Nottingham. Whilst initially they are working on the MiG23 they eventually they hope to move on to the MiG27 that is also on loan at the museum.
The MiG23 will be painted in the markings of a Polish Air Force squadron to reflect the museum’s strong Second World War connections with Poland [The first operational squadrons at RAF Winthorpe in 1941 were 300 & 301 Polish Squadrons; Newark Cemetery has a large Polish war grave section; and the museum has Polish memorials displayed in its Exhibition Hall.]
The repainting team have liaised closely with the museum’s Restoration Manager to establish the framework for the project, which is working to similar standards as those employed by the regular volunteer workforce at the museum. Prior to commencement of work the airframe was surveyed and full details of the stencil markings were recorded. The museum trustees are known to be “…very appreciative of the offer that was made to undertake the work on the MiGs”. [18.04.08]
Watch out there's a thief about! The museum recently had a promotional banner stolen from the fence near its site, please do not trade with anyone who claims to be representing the museum at any external event or air show as we are not due to attend any. Please inform the museum if you see anyone trading with such a banner as a back drop. [24.10.07]
AEROBOOT 2008 The 2008 AEROBOOT Aviation & Avionics Sales will take place as part of COCKPIT-FEST 2008 on Saturday June 14 and Sunday June 15, 2008.
Advanced booking discounts available if booked before June 1, 2008.
N.B. ALL spaces are outside - there are no inside spaces this year
Car only single day advanced £7.50 – two day advanced £12.50
Car & trailer or van single day advanced £12.50 – two day advanced £17.50
Please Email via contact page for a booking form. [29.02.08]
Today’s our birthday Forty years ago today [April 23, 1968] our founding members signed on the line; and the Newark [Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire] Air Museum Limited was formally incorporated as a limited company.
In September 1968 it was also registered as a charity and we haven’t looked back since! [23.04.08]
