Warbird Information Exchange

Hey fellow wixer's! I was just wondering if anyone here had a good contact(s) for the National Air and Space Museum and/or the Imperial War Museum in Duxford? I am looking at doing an internship at the NASM in a couple years and I am also planning to study abroad to London to do some warbird-related studying. I would like to talk to some people involved with these museums so I can get an idea of what I'm getting into. Thanks so much guys! Keep 'em flying...

- Austin Hancock
Volunteer, 1941 Historical Aircraft Group

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford does not operate any active aircraft, but does operate the airfield. If you are interested in working with one of the active aircraft there, you'd need to arrange it with the organisation - there's a half dozen from ones operating a single machine to The Fighter Collection and others. There's also the more commercial organisations like Historic Flying and de Havilland Support Ltd based there. The IWM does, however undertake significant restorations of the museum's aircraft, and the Duxford Aviation Society is involved with that and the DAS Airliner collection.

Duxford's probably a bit far to commute from London (Cambridge would make sense) but there are other organisations in and around London.

Perhaps if you give us more of an idea of what you'd like to do? Present a bit of a pitch here - it's not impossible you'll get an offer as a result of that.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Thanks for the advice and input JDK! I knew that the IWM and NASM only restored to static but it could still be fun helping out there I'm sure Any one of those museums/groups would be great to work/learn with I think. Thanks for the tip on Cambridge too btw, I didn't even really think about the distance until know haha. As for what I'd like to do, I would really like to study abroad and do some WWII Aviation related studying while doing internships with some museums over in the UK. I am doing my flight training right now and I hope to one day have my own museum and fly in airshows as well (maybe just a traveling museum kind of.) I am going to apply for an internship with I NASM once I am done with flight school and transfer for a 4 year degree Basically, I'd like to learn more about aircraft restoration/ maintenance as well as museum operations (maybe fly some birds too!) I currently volunteer regularly at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group in Geneseo, NY, and I absolutely love doing that and will continue to. I just want to get out there and see how other places handle warbirds as well, kinda broaden my horizons a bit Thanks again, let me know if you have any more advice!

- Austin Hancock
Volunteer, 1941 Historical Aircraft Group