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What do you think of our Museums

E

Ex-Bay

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With a bunch of spaceys in tow at Cosford, I took the opportunity to have a look at the Cold War Museum while they went flying. It was fascinating, confusing and bewildering at the same time. As some Goaters may remember, I have an interest in the Buckets of Sunshine, so I was interested to see the Valiant and a Yellow Sun body (why the flat front?).

Frankly, I was rather disappointed. Coy isn't the word. There was nothing I could see (I have to admit to a shortage of time) that said anything about Yellow Sun and it's works. It's not as if it's still secret; there's some information and pictures on the Internet about it. By the same token, the Polaris missile was almost un-regarded in a corner. GB's stand-off bomb (Blue Steel?) sits in similar mode, gathering dust. There's one of these at Manchester, and at least they'd put perspex round the bit where the banger fits and given a few more clues about it. Any other weapons, such as the thing that the Canberra BI 6 carried in the mid 1960s were ignored, as far as I could see.

They had lots of interesting pictures on the walls about the Cold War and who said what (I got quite angry at the 'Ban the Bomb' merchants' display), and the whole thing was very cleverly done. It reminded me of a lads room with aircraft hanging from the ceiling.

MJF may like to know (if he hasn't seen it) that there's a nicely polished Bloodhound (with 1001 painted on the body) on it's stand.

Comments and suggestions for improvement invited.

:pDT_Xtremez_28:
 
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G

gemarriott

Guest
What do I think of our museums?

They are full of old stuff!
 
M

MAINJAFAD

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Ex-Bay said:
MJF may like to know (if he hasn't seen it) that there's a nicely polished Bloodhound (with 1001 painted on the body) on it's stand.
Click to expand...

It was a very nicely polished Bloodhound when I helped the riggers take the panels off it in 1987, seeing that it was a gutted hulk used for display and launcher loading training purposes. Its also the first production Bloodhound Mk 2, which was used for early trials work and didn't have a number of modifications done to it which were done post the type's firing trials at Woomera in 1963-65.
 
P

Penguins Suck

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Right yous sexbay and maidjaff listen in yous is a rite pear of borings gits you shud go to the bop insted of museums
 
Rigga

Rigga

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I once had the pleasure of taking three Airline Apprentices around Cosford (I'm not a trainer but was 'asked' to do it) just before the new display was filled - and stunned myself by quite enjoying it!

As we went in I had a word with a couple of the staff to ask if we could get closer if I could talk about anything in detail - they were most helpful and said to just attract the attention of any staff and ask again - in general it worked a treat.

Apart from being able to say I'd worked on a great deal of the stuff in there (?!) I also found it quite enjoyable to show these new guys how things like undercarriages and brakes had developed over the years; how real flight testing was done with little strings attached to the fuselage; how CofG was shown in the seating positions of biplanes (why the pilot always sat in the back); how jet engines developed and such-like as the appo's never saw in their colleges or schools.

I would say that, as museums go, Cosford filled its purpose quite well - but museums can't be all things to everyone. I too am surprised that 'Buckets of Sunshine' don't make it to the fore - but what do "The Public" want to see? I would suggest they want to see a bunch of old planes and relics of the Air Power we used to have.

(Can't someone get the f(S)ucking Penguin off this site?)
 
S

Shugster

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Bleeding Museums!

Bleeding Museums!

I think we should send them all back! Coming here wanting everything on a plate and enforcing their beliefs on us!...

He said what? I'll get me coat. :pDT_Xtremez_31:

Hendon is pretty good, but I think Cosford has more A/C... I could be wrong, it's been a few years.
 
E

Ex-Bay

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Rigga said:
I would say that, as museums go, Cosford filled its purpose quite well - but museums can't be all things to everyone. I too am surprised that 'Buckets of Sunshine' don't make it to the fore - but what do "The Public" want to see? I would suggest they want to see a bunch of old planes and relics of the Air Power we used to have.

(Can't someone get the f(S)ucking Penguin off this site?)
Click to expand...

Oh, I agree, it does - and very well, by & large. But as a place about the Cold War, when we had the threat of those big bangs hanging over our heads, I'd have thought a little more detail would not have gone amiss. I'd help write it myself (although I'd need some help for some bits of it!)


Right yous sexbay and maidjaff listen in yous is a rite pear of borings gits you shud go to the bop insted of museums [Quote PS]

Oy PS, I went to a bop after. It wasn't Diamond White, but it was a good Scotch. So wind it in; I do my boppin' sometimes.

:pDT_Xtremez_28:
 
M

Mug?

Flight Sergeant
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cosford

cosford

It was all cosfords fault that i wanted to join up!
Damm those school trips.
I had a walk around not so long ago I thought the new hanger was a bit messy to be honest once i got inside. I loved the experimental stuff and even liked the big commercial stuff(a lot of which seems have gone?). I still think they should have got a Concorde.

Was an aerospace museum not a military museum...leave that to Hendon/IWM.

Shocking that the camp is going to the ARMY........
 
M

MAINJAFAD

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Ex-Bay said:
Oh, I agree, it does - and very well, by & large. But as a place about the Cold War, when we had the threat of those big bangs hanging over our heads, I'd have thought a little more detail would not have gone amiss. I'd help write it myself (although I'd need some help for some bits of it!)


Right yous sexbay and maidjaff listen in yous is a rite pear of borings gits you shud go to the bop insted of museums [Quote PS]

Oy PS, I went to a bop after. It wasn't Diamond White, but it was a good Scotch. So wind it in; I do my boppin' sometimes.

:pDT_Xtremez_28:
Click to expand...

Depends on the Spams, as the Yellow Sun Mk 2 was based on the US B-28 design and a lot of the Nukes used on the Canberra force were also US weapons, like those fitted to the Thor Missiles we had.

As for the Civil Airliners that were at Cosford, they were owned by BA, and were on loan to the Aerospace museum as it then was, with BA paying for the upkeep. BA then pulled the plug on funding, so the RAFM canned them (though a couple went to other museums either whole, or as cockpit sections).

Real pity was that they never got a complete Phantom, as the one on my unit at the time that the cold war musuem was being planned got scrapped.
 
S

Sospan

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Mug? said:
It was all cosfords fault that i wanted to join up!
Damm those school trips.
I had a walk around not so long ago I thought the new hanger was a bit messy to be honest once i got inside. I loved the experimental stuff and even liked the big commercial stuff(a lot of which seems have gone?). I still think they should have got a Concorde.

Was an aerospace museum not a military museum...leave that to Hendon/IWM.

Shocking that the camp is going to the ARMY........
Click to expand...

Large aircraft kept outside take many hours of care and attention not to mention expense and Cosfords volunteers are not getting any younger! Concord would have been epic at Cosford, but it was not to be! At least we have 3 V bombers in the same building..... It must be worth every effort.
 
S

Sospan

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MAINJAFAD said:
to other museums either whole, or as cockpit sections).

Real pity was that they never got a complete Phantom, as the one on my unit at the time that the cold war musuem was being planned got scrapped.
Click to expand...

Tomb disposal is tightly controlled, shame it was scrapped. Luckily there are still a few kicking about in good nick.
 
M

Mug?

Flight Sergeant
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I know

I know

Sospan said:
Large aircraft kept outside take many hours of care and attention not to mention expense and Cosfords volunteers are not getting any younger! Concord would have been epic at Cosford, but it was not to be! At least we have 3 V bombers in the same building..... It must be worth every effort.
Click to expand...

I understand the issues and amount of upkeep after doing my bit foar a few years, and BA pulling the plug explains it i suppose. a real shame. I loved seeing the 2 V bombers outside sat on damp tarmac glistening away but again I know they are inside for the right reasons and is right that they are together.

I am sure there are a couple more hangers coming available soon?
 
G

grumpyoldb

Guest
At least Cosford has one of the only two of these left...........
P197.jpg


It's a couple of years since I was there, and I thought it good value for money......ie FREE!

Seriously, it was well worth the visit, and was the last call on a round robin trip which took in Finningley, Hemswell, Binbrook, B&B in Lincoln, Cranwell, Scampton, B&B in Lincoln, Swinderby, then down to Cosford.

Thanks Cosford.
 
E

Ex-Bay

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grumpyoldb said:
At least Cosford has one of the only two of these left...........

TSR2

It's a couple of years since I was there, and I thought it good value for money......ie FREE!

Seriously, it was well worth the visit, and was the last call on a round robin trip which took in Finningley, Hemswell, Binbrook, B&B in Lincoln, Cranwell, Scampton, B&B in Lincoln, Swinderby, then down to Cosford.

Thanks Cosford.
Click to expand...

Oh very Yes.
I look at that magnificent plane and curse the evil government for listening to Duncan Sandys, his pro-missile lobby, and his heirs & assigns (Plus 'Arold & Dennis).

:pDT_Xtremez_41:
 
M

Mug?

Flight Sergeant
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also

also

Nose of a Fairy Delta 2 (if I remember my old airfix days)
and a
couple of meteors I think. used for seat trials and other interesting trials. My favourite hanger. especially when you came out the frie door and saw the V bombers
 
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