Going to England this weekend.
Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:09 pm
I'm gonna have about twenty hours off at Mildenhall AB in England on Saturday. Which should I go to? The Imperial War Museum in London? Or out to Duxford?
I'll probably only have time to do one or the other and I've done both before. Which should I choose? Any other suggestions?
I'll probably only have time to do one or the other and I've done both before. Which should I choose? Any other suggestions?
Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:20 pm
Assuming you have access to a car, Duxford's I guess half an hour or less away and ever changing.
IWM Lambeth, with public transport being the only practical way of getting there's got to be at least an hour and a half. Even if you drive which would take nearly as long the parking meters are some ludicrous price.
No contest.
IWM Lambeth, with public transport being the only practical way of getting there's got to be at least an hour and a half. Even if you drive which would take nearly as long the parking meters are some ludicrous price.
No contest.
Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:25 pm
Duxford without a doubt, much more aviation related and more.
Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:33 pm
Duxford, It is a great place
Re: Going to England this weekend.
Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:36 pm
Brad wrote:I'm gonna have about twenty hours off at Mildenhall AB in England on Saturday. Which should I go to? The Imperial War Museum in London? Or out to Duxford?
I'll probably only have time to do one or the other and I've done both before. Which should I choose? Any other suggestions?
think you could find space for me in the back of the C-17?
Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:13 pm
For sheer variety and size I'd say Duxford. For rarity, character and atmosphere I'd say Old Warden. With 20 hours to play with (if they're during the day) then you could conceivably do both and possibly bump into some forum members doing a spot of cleaning at Old Warden on Saturday.
Have a look at the Shuttleworth Collection website for an idea of what's there http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth/index.htm and there are a few Shuttleworth Collection photos in my photobucket album at http://photobucket.com/albums/v734/Aeroplanepix/
Cheers,
Rob
Have a look at the Shuttleworth Collection website for an idea of what's there http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth/index.htm and there are a few Shuttleworth Collection photos in my photobucket album at http://photobucket.com/albums/v734/Aeroplanepix/
Cheers,
Rob
Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:58 pm
IWM Duxford is simply amazing with a wide variety of aircraft to view both static and flyable. Lots of cool hangars to wander through with great stuff in every corner. The American Air Museum had lots of US warbirds (crowded very close together). The B-24 looks awesome. It's all a must see.
My second choice would be the RAF Museum Hendon. I visited there last year and almost had goose-bumps in the presence of some very rare British and German warbirds that we don't see much of on this side of the pond: Ju-87, Ju-88, Me-110, Defiant, Tempest, Typhoon, etc, etc.
As stated, the Imperial War Museum Lambeth is in a wonderful old building but takes time & patience to get to in London congestion and has only a few aircraft: Fw-190, Mustang, Spitfire and sections of several others.
On my next visit to the UK, I plan to visit the great Shuttleworth Collection and Yeovilton!
Dennis
My second choice would be the RAF Museum Hendon. I visited there last year and almost had goose-bumps in the presence of some very rare British and German warbirds that we don't see much of on this side of the pond: Ju-87, Ju-88, Me-110, Defiant, Tempest, Typhoon, etc, etc.
As stated, the Imperial War Museum Lambeth is in a wonderful old building but takes time & patience to get to in London congestion and has only a few aircraft: Fw-190, Mustang, Spitfire and sections of several others.
On my next visit to the UK, I plan to visit the great Shuttleworth Collection and Yeovilton!
Dennis
Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:33 am
I forgot all about the RAF museum. I haven't been there in several years. I've been to Duxford several times, but I've never been in the American Air Museum. It was closed the last couple of times I was there.
I'd love to see the Shuttleworth Collection. I've never had that opportunity.
All of this depends on what time we acutally make it to Mildenhall. I'm sure rest of the crew will want to go into London as usual. If I go with them, then I'll definately do the RAF Museum.
I've also got some friends from the BAES that I'd like to try to visit with.
Too many choices, not enough time......the story of my life.
Scott, if you can get to Quantico Marine Base in Virginia on Thursday night, I'll hide you somewhere!
Thanks for yalls help!
I'd love to see the Shuttleworth Collection. I've never had that opportunity.
All of this depends on what time we acutally make it to Mildenhall. I'm sure rest of the crew will want to go into London as usual. If I go with them, then I'll definately do the RAF Museum.
I've also got some friends from the BAES that I'd like to try to visit with.
Too many choices, not enough time......the story of my life.
Scott, if you can get to Quantico Marine Base in Virginia on Thursday night, I'll hide you somewhere!
Thanks for yalls help!
Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:33 am
Brad,
If you go to Hendon, I could probably meet you there. Just let me know roughly what time you'll be there - when you know. We can either arrange to meet somewhere at the museum, or I can PM you my mobile number. BTW we are talking about this Saturday (19th)?
Geoff.
If you go to Hendon, I could probably meet you there. Just let me know roughly what time you'll be there - when you know. We can either arrange to meet somewhere at the museum, or I can PM you my mobile number. BTW we are talking about this Saturday (19th)?
Geoff.
Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:51 pm
Yes, it will be this saturday. PM me your phone number and I'll try and call you when any plans are finalized. Hopefully I can give you enough lead time to be convienient.
Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:13 pm
Brad,
I've PM'd you via the FlyPast forum. Probably be best if we stick to using your thread on there, otherwise we'll all be posting everything twice.
Will you be sampling any 'Spitfire' Ale whilst you're here? I could bring a couple of 'Spitfire' stubbies along to Hendon if you like
Geoff.
I've PM'd you via the FlyPast forum. Probably be best if we stick to using your thread on there, otherwise we'll all be posting everything twice.
Will you be sampling any 'Spitfire' Ale whilst you're here? I could bring a couple of 'Spitfire' stubbies along to Hendon if you like
Geoff.
Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:27 pm
Well it looks like my plans have been screwed up. We are now landing late on Saturday and leaving early on Sunday. Sorry but it looks like the fun ends before it starts. Maybe next time!
taxpayer relief
Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:16 pm
Brad, as a concerned taxpayer I wish you well while you do your globetrotting, don't you have some toilet seats or condoms that need delivering to antarctica
love gw
love gw
Sun Feb 20, 2005 4:41 pm
Oh Gary. I've wasted your money in far more creative ways than this trip!!
Well my trip to England came and went. No involvement with airplanes at all. Except for my five year old C-17 and a pretty important helicopter I dropped off over in Europe. We landed at Mildenhall around 1600 on Saturday, were firmly planted at the "Bird in Hand" right outside the gate around 1700. Played darts and drank until......exactly 12 hours before take off time..... Some Air Force security police were kind enough to give me a ride back to the barracks. My young loadmaster got a ride back on base a little later with some other nice folks. They actually dropped him off a few hundred yards from the barracks because he got sick and left quite a bit of "Strongbow" and "Speckeled Hen" in their childs car seat. You would think they would be happy that he didn't throw up on their Volvo's leather seats! Anyhow; we left as soon as quite hours ended this morning and 9.2hrs later, I'm sitting back in South Carolina.
Maybe the next trip will allow more time so I can get out to see the old planes.
Well my trip to England came and went. No involvement with airplanes at all. Except for my five year old C-17 and a pretty important helicopter I dropped off over in Europe. We landed at Mildenhall around 1600 on Saturday, were firmly planted at the "Bird in Hand" right outside the gate around 1700. Played darts and drank until......exactly 12 hours before take off time..... Some Air Force security police were kind enough to give me a ride back to the barracks. My young loadmaster got a ride back on base a little later with some other nice folks. They actually dropped him off a few hundred yards from the barracks because he got sick and left quite a bit of "Strongbow" and "Speckeled Hen" in their childs car seat. You would think they would be happy that he didn't throw up on their Volvo's leather seats! Anyhow; we left as soon as quite hours ended this morning and 9.2hrs later, I'm sitting back in South Carolina.
Maybe the next trip will allow more time so I can get out to see the old planes.
Sun Feb 20, 2005 5:57 pm
It's a shame you didn't get to see any museums this trip Brad, but I trust there'll be other opportunities. Give us a shout next time you're over if you fancy visiting Old Warden.
Rob
Rob