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On The Radar

Aircraft of the Week


17 October 2025

Lancaster fuselage section W4964 WS-J

On display in the north-eastern corner of Hangar One, amid an array of World War II aircraft parts and models in Lancaster Corner, is the fuselage section of IX(B) Squadron Lancaster W4964 WS-J, which was donated to the museum in 1974. Built at Woodford, Lancaster W4964 was soon delivered to IX(B) Squadron, part of 5 Group RAF at RAF Bardney. By Jan McGeachie

10 October 2025

One question visitors often ask is which of the cockpits are open? A question Simon Ham, a regular cockpit opener would reply, the Wessex, which he opens most Saturdays; and he selected it as his Aircraft of the Week. By Jan McGeachie

03 October 2025

The Cessna 310 arrived at the museum in March 2004. More recently, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers in the summer’s heat, G-APNJ is once again freshly repainted to represent a USAF U3-A ‘Blue Canoe’, the U-3A being a military variant of the civilian Cessna Model 310. By Jan McGeachie

26 September 2025

G-AHRI arrived at the museum in 1989 and more recently had some paintwork retouched during the summer heatwave, thanks to the museum’s volunteer’s valiant efforts – a true labour of love for such an excellent sight for visitors as they first enter the site. By Jan McGeachie


Aircraft of the Week Archive...

19 September 2025

Having seen the Humber Bridge flypast of black Dominies from RAF Cranwell in January 2011 (before their final flypast over RAF Coningsby and Lincoln Cathedral), I understood why Mike Smith chose it as his Aircraft of the Week. Mike and his late wife Kathy originally purchased XS726, and when Kathy passed away he kindly donated it to the museum. XS726 is one of only three Hawker Siddeley Dominie T1s displayed in the UK. By Jan McGeachie


05 September 2025

The North American F-100 Super Sabre 54-2223, arrived at the museum in May 1978, and it is hoped that any future repaint of the aircraft will see it retain Vietnam era colours, however it could wear different unit markings. By Jan McGeachie


29 August 2025

This elegant aircraft was acquired by Colin Savill and placed on loan at the museum in early May 2017. XL605 is the choice of museum cockpit opener Paul Grant as his Aircraft of the Week with its striking 92 Squadron Blue Diamond Display Team colour scheme. By Jan McGeachie 


24 August 2025

XS417 arrived at the museum in September 1988 and thanks to the hard-working museum volunteers painting through the recent heat wave, has now been given part of a magnificent silver allure (Massey Ferguson Silver Mist). This is different to the rather first black Lightning colour scheme that museum cockpit opener, Dave Codd remember seeing flying at an airshow, when he was just twelve years old. Sporting a tee-shirt proclaiming Lightning 1954 -1988 it was easy to know why XS417 is his choice for Aircraft of the Week. By Jan McGeachie 


15 August 2025

Built in Sweden as a photographic reconnaissance fighter, SAAB Draken AR-107 arrived at the museum in June 1994. During my many visits I always associate AR-107 with the former museum grounds man Nigel Bean thanks to its subtle reminders, so I was pleased when approached, that he naturally opted for AR-107 to be included as his Aircraft of the Week.  By Jan McGeachie


08 August 2025

In service Shackletons were nicknamed the Growler, and for a small donation visitors are sometimes able to go inside Avro Shackleton WR977 and speak to the cockpit opener about its service. It was also the choice of Sqn Ldr Brian Withers MBE AFC RAF (Retd), an Open Cockpit team member often seen in WR977 on Sundays, sharing his Shackleton and Nimrod pilot experiences. You could quiz the openers about the names of AEW2 Shackletons that were based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Waddington; who famously carried the names of characters from the BBC’s Magic Roundabout and The Herbs cartoons! By Jan McGeachie