New exhibit arrives at Newark Air Museum – Westland Lynx HC.28
December 2018
Earlier this year the Newark Air Museum was approached about taking a Lynx helicopter on loan by its owner Andy Rawden. Discussions proceed with this planned arrangement but now in a generous and unanticipated gesture, Andy has decided to donate the airframe to the museum, which is located in eastern Nottinghamshire, close to the county border with Lincolnshire.
The helicopter in question is Westland Lynx HC.28 QP-31, which has been in store at Fleetlands, Hants for a number of years, where it has been used as a training aid. Built back in 1978 with the code number WA033, this Lynx helicopter initially flew in the UK as a trails unit using the registration G-17-21; before being purchased by the Qatar Ministry of Interior Ministry of Defence (MoD) and delivered to the Qartari Police with the serial QP-31.
Hutchinson Engineering Services of Weston, Notts, completed the helicopter’s long-move north from its previous south coast location on Tuesday 18th December, 2018, with the offloading being completed in fading wintery light. This latest helicopter arrival at Newark completes the museum’s ‘hat-trick’ of helicopters in 2018; a feat they last achieved in 1980 with the arrival of the Whirlwind HAS.7, XM685; Sycamore 3, WT933 and Skeeter AOP.12, XL764. On that occasion the acquisitions were completed in just over a month.
“We are extremely grateful to Andy Rawden for his generosity in donating this Lynx helicopter to the museum.” commented Dave Hibbert, Museum Trustee & Acquisitions Officer. He continued, “We are pleased to have secured such a unique helicopter for the collection. We appreciate that it will be a long-term rebuild project to complete its restoration and initially it will be stored on site.”
He concluded, “However this is a challenge that we relish and we are already trying to source missing items. At Andy’s request we will aim to display it in its original Qatari Police Force markings.”
Montreal Aviation Museum – The Canadian Starfighter Association reunion
The museum continues to gain exposure by hosting events for both business and aviation organizations. One such event was the recent reunion of the Canadian Starfighter Association who gathered from across the country to meet old colleagues and reminisce about the role the CF-104 Starfighter played in Europe during the Cold War.
One highlight was the unveiling of a model of CF-104 Serial 12704 which will complement the magnificent painting by Don Connelly which hangs in our gallery.
There were several honoured guests in attendance; Lt-Gen (Retd.) Al DeQuetteville, previous head of the RCAF and Gregory Kelley, the newly elected MNA for the Jacques-Cartier riding, which includes our museum. The event was covered by CTV and was given national exposure.
Download PDF report of the Event
Planetalk-September2018-3pages
Cessna 310 Repaint Completed
Recent good weather has enabled the restoration and repainting work on Newark Air Museum’s Cessna 310 to be completed.
The Cessna 310, G-APNJ aircraft has been repainted into a representative USAF colour scheme that the type wore operationally as a U-3 ‘Blue Canoe’ utility communications aircraft.
As previously reported, the selected colour scheme is similar to the last civilian colour scheme worn by G-APNJ and it is hoped that the change of markings will stimulate additional interest in this particular aircraft.
Recent information released via the museum indicates that this aircraft will be one of several to feature in a Night Photo Shoot to be hosted by the museum in spring 2019.
Cockpit-Fest 2018
Cockpit-Fest 2018 proved to be another great event at the Newark Air Museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. For the second year running the museum arranged for the Cockpit-Fest and Aeroboot display areas to be located alongside each other on the Southfield Site. With a better defined layout this year the event ran smoothly and seemed to draw many positive comments.
The museum trustees were particularly thankful to a host of people: all of the Cockpiteers and Exhibitors, their friends and families; the Aeroboot stall holders; the museum staff, aircraft openers and volunteers who helped during the build-up, during and after the event.
Support for this year’s event came from the following people and organisations:
Ken Ellis (‘Wrecks & Relics – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest’ Awards)
The Museum Shop
Once again there was a diverse range of cockpits and supporting displays on show and everyone who displayed at the event was a winner and a credit to this wonderfully diverse hobby. Below are this year’s official results:
Grand Champion (Visitors Award) – Jet Provost T.4, XS176, Morayvia
Visitors Award Non-Cockpit – jointly awarded to Mainly Military Models and the Control grips, yokes & panels display by Martyn Steele & Ian Hodgkiss
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – jointly awarded to Vampire T.11, XE921, Steve Austin and Hunter FGA.9, XE597, Robert Dunn/ Worcestershire Aviation Society
Cockpiteers Award Non-Cockpit – Women At War, Karen Wilson
Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Starduster, G-BNNA, South Yorkshire Air Museum
Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Lancaster S for Sugar project
Newark Air Museum Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Shackleton AEW.2, WL756 ‘Mr Rusty’, Gérard Prudon
We would like to add a special thank you to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for their excellent Spitfire flypasts on both days and to 301 (Bury St Edmunds) Squadron ATC Squadron for their car parking duties.
Cockpit-Fest will be back with a 2019 event, date to be confirmed.
Saab Viggen Paint Refreshment Completed
Newark Air Museum – 11 June 2018
Work on the upper surfaces of the Saab Viggen maritime reconnaissance / strike fighter that is displayed in Hangar 2 at the Newark Air Museum has now been completed. The current indications from the museum suggest that the under surfaces will be cleaned and degreased, but on this occasion they will not be repainted.
The ‘Viggen Valet’ work platforms have recently been removed from around the aircraft and they will now be used on other restoration projects at the museum including some possible major refurbishment work on the Vulcan.
Some discussions have been held about the possibility of moving the Viggen outside on a short term basis, to allow for some improved photo opportunities. However the technicalities of such a move still have to be resolved and so far no firm decision has been made by the museum trustees.
This particular Saab Viggen was famously flown into RAF Cranwell on 7th February 2006, where it was dismantled by the museum volunteers before being transported by road down the A17 to the museum site on part of the former World War II base, RAF Winthorpe.
As previously advised, the End-User certificate for the Viggen aircraft stipulates that it must retain its ex- Royal Swedish Air Force colour scheme and markings. The ‘Viggen Valet’ project, as it has become known has drawn plaudits from Sweden and northern Europe for the accuracy of the new paintwork that has been applied during the last six months. Credit goes out to the volunteers who have undertaken this work in Hangar 2 at Newark Air Museum.
Chinook arrives at Newark Air Museum
February 2018
In a timeframe of a little over ten (10) days, the Newark Air Museum has purchased and moved the fuselage of BV Chinook HC.1 helicopter, ZA717 from RAF Cranwell Lincs to the museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. In doing so the museum has become the first independent aviation museum in the UK to acquire and display a Royal Air Force (RAF) registered Chinook helicopter.
The helicopter was transported by local contractor Hutchinson Engineering Services of Weston, Notts, the short distance from RAF Cranwell, Lincs; where, like the recently acquired Puma helicopter it had been used to train Loadmasters in slinging techniques and load securing methods.
Today’s arrivals was witnessed by around seventy (70) school children from two Lincolnshire Schools, who were visiting the museum as part of an Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire arts based education project, entitled ‘Fly Away Day’. This was a particularly apt welcome for Chinook ZA717, as eventually the museum plans to use it as an interactive education space / resource for visiting groups of school children, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers.
ZA717’s arrival was also particularly poignant for the museum’s groundsman Nigel Bean. Not only is Nigel a huge helicopter enthusiast but, as a serving RAF Police Officer he also witnessed the non-fatal incident on 25th July 1989 that saw ZA717 ‘written-off’ at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands.
The activity today at the museum site saw Puma XW208 slightly repositioned alongside Display Hangar 1 on the museum’s Northfield Site, to create the space for ZA717 to be manoeuvred into position alongside the other former RAF Cranwell training aid helicopter.
“We are honoured and extremely proud to have secured such a unique helicopter for the collection,” commented Dave Hibbert, Museum Trustee & Acquisitions Officer. He continued, “We are especially grateful for the assistance provide by the RAF and personnel at RAF Cranwell who safely moved ZA717 out of its confined location, thereby enabling Hutchinson Engineering Services to undertake, what in the end turned out to be a relatively straight forward loading exercise.”
He concluded, “As with the Puma, we are already actively following up leads across the UK to locate the missing parts, and look forward to turning ZA717 into an important educational resource at the museum.”