Royal Air Force Museum London
Opened in 1972 by Her Majesty Her Queen and situated on the historic site of London Aerodrome at Hendon, our North London Museum is the only London attraction to house over 100 aircraft from around the world including some very early aircraft designs through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft. With free admission plus free interactive and fun activities at weekends throughout the year - check our "What's On" section - our London museum offers entertaining and educative days out for all the family just 30 minutes from Central London.
Latest News: 25 July 2008
Set Course For A Trailblazing Exhibition
Saturday 31st May until Wednesday 31st December
Many people identify the Golden Age of aviation as the period between the two World Wars, a time when young men and women sought thrills, danger and, ultimately, international recognition through trailblazing aviation exploits that set the world alight.
This small group of pioneers were the first to conquer oceans and seas or just the physical and mental demands of long distance flying, without the comfort of the modern technologies that we take for granted today, making their achievements, for many, even more wondrous.
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Take a Virtual Tour of Milestones of Flight
Difficult Is Worth Doing! Test Your Parachuting Skills With Honda & The Royal Air Force Museum
29th July to 31st July
This week the team who put together the awe-inspiring Honda skydiving advert "Difficult is Worth Doing" are giving all Museum visitors aged 5 and above the opportunity to prove whether they have what it takes to skydive by using their simulator rig.
A cunning device, the simulator blasts a jet of air upwards which acts as a cushion, allowing members of the public to balance in mid-air as if free-falling. With full training for each person from the team plus specialist equipment provided, each session lasts 15 minutes with the Museum negotiating a special discount rate of £10 per session.
So if you've ever wondered what it would be like to sky dive, but haven't got a head for heights, now's your chance to find out what it's like to free fall to earth without any of the fear but all the exhilaration!
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Witch Week Is Almost Here!
28th July - 1st August
This summer all children aged 3+ are invited to visit the Museum and make their own witch and broomstick. Activity sessions will run from 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
There will also be each day at 3:30pm a story about an unlucky witch whose broom breaks casting her and her passengers, a faithful cat and polite and helpful dog, into the den of a fire-breathing dragon. How will they escape?
A small nominal charge of £1 will be levied for each child attending this activity. In return, they will receive a fun information booklet filled with activities and puzzles all about fantasy flight – including a dragon word search, “Find the Faeries” picture puzzle, plus the secret of how magic carpets fly, plus much more. In addition to this they will also receive all the materials that they need to make and create this week’s fantasy flyer. For further information, please telephone 020 8358 4896.
Learn what other "Fantasy Flying Events" are taking place this summer.
Here, There Be Dragons! 4th -8th August
As part of Fantasy Flying Summer we are giving all brave explorers 3+ from 4th until 8th August the opportunity to make their very own dragon and to listen to the story of a brave young dragon trying to find his way home.
A small nominal charge of £1 will be levied for each child attending this activity. In return, they will receive a fun information booklet filled with activities and puzzles all about fantasy flight – including a dragon word search, “Find the Faeries” picture puzzle, plus the secret of how magic carpets fly, plus much more. In addition to this they will also receive all the materials that they need to make and decorate this week’s fantasy flyer.
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Learn more about our other summer activities
Sign Up To Our Facebook Fan Page By 31st July For Your Chance To Win
We would love you to share with us your pictures and memories of our London Museum by joining our Fan page on Facebook; particularly if you have attended any recent events on site.
In return we promise to keep our page updated on a regular basis so that you are made aware of future events once they have been confirmed and to place regularly on the page exclusive images and videos of the people and events that bring the Museum to life.
All that you need to do is to login to your Facebook account, search for us under Royal Air Force Museum and start interacting. If you do so by 31st July we will place you into a Prize Draw to win 1 of 5 exclusive copies of "V Force : Ready for The Unthinkable", signed by various V Force veterans...and by signing up to our Cosford Fan Page you can double your chances of winning as we are offering our Cosford Fans the opportunity to win a further 5 signed copies of the book.
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Go to our Facebook Page
Wessex Café Refurbishment.
9th July to 28th July.
digby trout Restaurants are proud to work in partnership with the Royal Air Force Museum, London and are pleased to have secured a further four year contract providing fresh, tasty food for our visitors. As part of their commitment to the Museum they are embarking on a major refurbishment programme starting with the Wessex Café refit from the 9th of July 2008 for 3 weeks.
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Learn more about our catering facilities
Lest We Forget - Key Stage 1 And Key Stage 2 Activities For Schools
From the 3rd to the 11th November (excluding 8th and 9th), The Royal Air Force Museum will be running Remembrance activities for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 school groups.
At the end of each session children will be able to try on original Royal Air Force uniforms so, Teachers, don't forget to bring your camera!
As we expect these workshops to be particularly popular, we would recommend that you contact our Access and Learning Department at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. Outreach sessions for schools are also available - Please contact David Keen on 020 8358 4851 for details.
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Book Your Lest We Forget Workshop
July's Podcast Now Posted On Website - Bomber Ops : The Lancaster
More than fifty-five thousand aircrew from Bomber Command died serving on aircraft like the Avro Lancaster, which was the backbone of the RAF's Bomber Fleet. The Museum's Lancaster Mk. 1 R5868 "S-for-Sugar" is a rare survivor of over one hundred missions. This podcast tells the story of what it was like to be a Bomber Command crewman, also telling the remarkable life story of one of the Museum's most popular and impressive exhibits.
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Listen to Podcast
July's Navigator Highlights
This month we have posted three new online highlights on our Navigator site: Aircraft Equipment, Sopwith Aircraft Photos, Ground Crew Illustrated.
Aircraft Equipment:
In addition to entire airframes, the RAF Museum holds larges numbers of aircraft pieces. In this highlight you will find a small selection of these objects.
Sopwith Aircraft Photos:
The Sopwith Aircraft Company was a British company founded in Kingston upon Thames by Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith in June 1912. In this highlight you will discover original photography of the company's earliest aircraft.
Ground Crew Illustrated:
The aircraft, weapons and stations of the RAF all needed to be maintained. These duties were carried out by the ground crews, or "Erks" as they were often known during the Second World War. This highlight of fine art shows a variety of ground crew personnel at work.
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View Navigator Online Collection
Dambusters Anniversary Publication Uncovers Hidden History
A new book produced to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the legendary Dams Raid uncovers elements of hidden history crucial to the success of 617 Squadron’s attack on the German Dams in May 1943.
The book produced for the Royal Air Force Museum by Newsdesk Media Group is titled ‘BREACHING THE GERMAN DAMS – FLYING INTO HISTORY’ and has been written by Robert Owen, the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Aircrew Association, and Richard Morris, author of acclaimed biographies of Wing Commanders Guy Gibson VC and Leonard Cheshire VC. The foreword is by New Zealander, Les Munro, the sole remaining pilot to have taken part in the epic operation.
On the 65th anniversary of the presentation of the Victoria Cross to Guy Gibson we invite members of the public to view our inciteful online exhibition about 617 Squadron and the Dambusters.
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Visit Dambusters Exhibition / Purchase Book online
Museum Honours The R A F's Diverse Heritage
The 22nd of June commemorates the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in the East End, bringing with it the first of many groups of Afro-Caribbean immigrants who have so enriched the economic, social and cultural life of the United Kingdom since their arrival.
Amongst the passengers were ex-service personnel who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, many of whom decided to make the trip to rejoin the service in the U.K. On this anniversary, members of the Afro-Caribbean, Indian and other ethnic communities may wish to visit the Royal Air Force Museum, London where the Museum is currently honouring the contributions that their peers have made to the RAF with a permanent exhibition “Diversity in the Royal Air Force”.
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Take A Virtual Tour of Historic Hangars
Introducing Our Operation Aviation: Birthday Bonanza
Do you have a young aviation enthusiast in your household? Are you searching for that unique birthday experience that will have them smiling warmly, when they recollect it in years to come? Then the Royal Air Force Museum may have the gift that you are looking for.
Operation Aviation: Birthday Bonanza is a unique 1 hour birthday activity suitable for children aged 11+ that will have them planning and executing a rescue mission to the trapped survivors of a flooded London, using aviation training simulators.
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Learn More About our Operation Aviation Birthday Bonanza
A Massive Thank You To Everyone Who Bid For Our Top Flight Experience Day.
As part of Museums and Galleries Month we teamed up with online auction house Top Lots to offer an exclusive experience behind the scenes at the Museum’s Cosford site.
After a frantic week of bidding, one generous individual has pledged a total of £142.00 for our exclusive experience for 2. Accordingly, we would like to thank them and all our other bidders for entering the auction. Package details are given below.
A must for any aviation enthusiast this exclusive day will allow the successful bidder and a guest to witness the ground-breaking conservation and preservation work undertaken by the staff at our Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, enjoy a hearty lunch for 2, as well as enjoying a personal guided tour around the award winning and visually stunning National Cold War Exhibition Centre, before bring presented with a memento of their day as a thank you for their generous donation.
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Learn more about the National Cold War Exhibition, Cosford
Lancaster Is Uncovered For The Haynes Lancaster Owners’ Manual Launch
Thursday 22nd May 2008.
The Conservation team at the Royal Air Force Museum will help to launch the Haynes Lancaster Owners’ Manual on Thursday by removing panels for the Museum’s Lancaster to allow visitors to see the technical structure of the famous bomber.
The Haynes manuals are famous throughout the UK for their in-depth, under the skin analysis of classic and contemporary cars. In a unique collaboration with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Haynes team followed the restoration of the mighty Lancaster bomber as it underwent deep servicing. In addition to photographs and the familiar ‘how to’ instructions, the book looks at the Lancaster from the viewpoint of the owner, crew and engineers as well as delving into the history and operation of this iconic aircraft.
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Purchase Haynes Lancaster Owners' Manual
Operation Aviation - New Teachers Pack
A tidal surge, caused by a low pressure system, threatens to flood London. Thanks to a recent rise in sea-levels attributed to Global Warming London's flood defence systems will be tested to their limits. Accordingly, the government of the day has asked the Royal Air Force to develop a relief plan to bring aid to those trapped in the capital.
In this fun and informative pack teachers will be able to plan lessons before or after a visit to the Royal Air Force Museum's "Operation Aviation" activity.
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Record Breaking Legend Lands At The Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the arrival of the Percival Mew Gull Replica, generously donated by the Alex Henshaw Estate.
Alex Henshaw (1912 – 2007), was a British Air Racer during the 1930’s and a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong in the Second World War. As a result it is estimated that he flew 10% of Spitfires made during that time.
Image: Mr Alex Henshaw Jnr reviewing the replica's interior.
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Learn more about the Mew Gull replica.
Royal Air Force Museum Hosts 90th Anniversary Celebrations
On the evening of Tuesday 1st April the Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum held a VVIP banquet for the Royal Air Force at the London site.
At 1900hrs a BBMF Spitfire piloted by Squadron Leader Al Pinner did a flypast across the Museum site. This was closely followed by a formation of nine Eurofighter Typhoons.
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Our New Typhoon Cooks Up A Storm!
The Royal Air Force Museum has become the first museum in the UK to take delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The aircraft, a prototype DA2, was successfully delivered to the Museum on Monday 21st January and is now on display in the Milestones of Flight Exhibition,suspended from the ceiling in a dramatic pose.The previous replica aircraft, which has been on display since 2003, will be erected on a pole out of doors at the front of the Museum. Watch out on the web for further updates.
Plan a day out at Hendon, RAF Museum London...
RAF Museum London, is one of the two museums housing aircraft and exhibitions which bring the history of the Royal Air Force to life. In the West Midlands - near Wolverhampton, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford displays an equally large and important part of our collection.
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