I already completed two posts in 2017 taking a look at the history of the Kestrel powered Hawker biplanes as well as detailed history of the airworthy examples in the UK. Alongside the wonderful original quintet of airworthy machines there are also a pair of original Harts in the RAF Museum collection alongside a Hind … Continue reading Hawker Biplane Family Part 3 – Hart Survivors
At home in the Milestones hangar at Hendon is B.35 TJ138, the aircraft is displayed in a unique tail up position and wears 98 squadron markings. The aircraft was built at Hatfield and delivered as part of a batch of aircraft between July and November 1945. The aircraft flew with 98 Squadron in West Germany … Continue reading UK Mosquitos Part 6 – B.35 TJ138 RAF Museum Hendon
Over the Christmas break I took a trip up to the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon to get an up to date look at some of the recent changes. As you will know from past posts on this site the Museum is undergoing some significant changes. The hall previously dedicated to the Battle of … Continue reading RAF Museum Hendon Update December 2017
As part of the ongoing work to complete the commemorative displays in relation to the RAF's 100th Birthday in 2018, there has been a significant re-shuffle in the RAF Museum's collections. https://www.flickr.com/photos/127965535@N04/39136131572/in/dateposted-public/ This website has already provided regular updates while the Battle of Britain collection was dismantled and re-located at Hendon and I have watched … Continue reading Royal Air Force Museum Cosford – December 2017 update
The Royal Air Force Museum has a Mosquito on display at both its London and Cosford sites. The airframe featured today is the Cosford example; TT.35 TA639. This aircraft was built at Hatfield in 1945 and was immediately sent into storage at Shawbury. This is where the aircraft remained until 1952 when it was transferred … Continue reading UK Mosquitos Part 4 – TT.35 TA639
In September last year I attended the excellent "Their Finest Hour" event at RAF Museum Hendon. This saw unprecedented access to all of the Battle Of Britain collection aircraft. This group of aircraft is unique in the world in telling such a clear story of an important period of the second world war. As you can … Continue reading RAF Museum Hendon Battle Of Britain Hall September 2016
I can’t think of many more apt ways to spend the eve of Battle of Britain day and one of the biggest aerial commemoration of the Battle than unhindered access to arguably the most significant collection of complete aircraft of the era. Following on from building success of the Open Cockpit evenings at both sites … Continue reading RAF Museum Hendon – “Our Finest Hour” 14th September 2015
This week may be a little thin on the ground in terms of the usual Warbird Tails content, so I thought it would be a good time for another short "ramblings" type post. The airshow season is nearly upon us yet again! March is always an exciting time in the world of warbirds and airshows, … Continue reading Off Season Wind Down…
Last week I posted my thoughts on the new First World War exhibition at the RAF Museum's Hendon site, this post looks at the history of the aircraft included in the display. Bleriot XXVII - "433": This aircrafts history until around 1965 is not known, though it is highly likley that the aircraft was built … Continue reading First World War In the Air – RAF Museum – Exhibit Histories
I can’t have been the only one to have visited Hendon a number of times over the last few years and only manage to get into the elusive Grahame-White factory once. Up until recently this wonderful 1915 building only opened once or twice a week and only for short periods of time. I always felt … Continue reading First World War In The Air – RAF Museum London
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