A few shots from my recent visit to the FAA Museum at Yeovilton. It’s a wonderful museum which does much to engage the visitor. The RAF Museum at Hendon could learn a lot from this place, especially “The Carrier”.
It costs £11 to get in, and if you are a UK Tax payer and agree to Gift Aid your entrance fee, they turn it into a years membership allowing you to visit at any time (apart from certain special events).
The lighting can be a bit difficult in the hangar but it’s by no means as bad as Hendon or the Science Museum but its worth while taking a tripod. Having used mine I can understand why they can be seen as a trip hazard but with a bit of common sense its not really an issue using one.
On with the pictures, starting with the Concorde Hall
Wyvern TF.1
It’s a shame none of the Mark 2s survive.
Sea Harrier from an unflattering angle
Onto the new 100 years of Naval Aviation Hall. Starting with the later FA.2 Sea Jet
Less than 100 years earlier they were flying around in the Shorts 184
In honour of The Beatles, (I am a) Walrus
Pup
Firefly
Into the main hall, starting with the Fulmar. I would have loved to see this fly.
Next up the Albacore. It always surprises me that the Swordfish isn’t given more prominence. Instead it appears hidden away above the Fulmar and not easy to get to.
The famous Corsair in all its unrestored preserved glory
(could do with a coat of paint if you ask me)
The Hellcat and the Avenger, because of their folding wings aren’t the easiest to get good photos of. It would be nice to see these moved around a bit to give them a good airing. I assume the Hellcat is next up for preservation after the Martlet (see later). What you do get is a sense of the size of these aircraft.
Seafire
The Firefly Mk1.
Old foes together. I am always surprised at how small the Mig is.
Onto The Carrier. It is quite simply a superb exhibit! One is “flown” onto the deck using a couple of Wessii (if you go you’ll understand) and then left to wander about the deck. A Tannoy announces when aircraft are landing and taking off, its really well thought out and put together. The light level is dark but changes to highlight what is happening next. You can also use your flash to “paint” the aircraft.
Buccaneer S1
Bucc S2, the landing demo also uses this aircraft.
Bucc with a bucket of sunshine in front of it
A time lapse of the landing demo film. It actually works quite well.
Supermarine Attacker
Sea Hawk
Sea Vixen
Gannet
Scimitar
At the other end of the deck, there is a Phantom set up for launch. Clever use of lighting and mannequins gives the visitor quite a good feel for what its like on the deck during a launch. The one thing you do notice is the noise.
Time lapse from different angles
Finally, in the workshops the Martlet is going through the same process as the Corsair (shot through glass)
All in all a great day out.
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