RAF Museum, Hendon

General Discussion FSM Ready Room
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I’m having a short break from work, and went down to London for a few days, with my wife. The idea was to visit the RAF Museum at Hendon (ostensibly for both of us, but really for me), and the Natural History Museum in Kensington (ostensibly also for both of us, but really for the wife[:#]).

My clever camera tells me I took 63 photos at the Natural History Museum, and 575 at Hendon! There are far too many things to show here, but I thought I’d post a few pics for anyone who is interested.

As you can see from the stairs, it is possible to go inside the Sunderland. Did I? Like a shot! Although much space is taken up with military equipment, there’s still quite a bit of room inside - as the civilian airliners they were developed from, I imagine them being pretty luxurious.

I didn’t even notice when I took the picture but, behind the P-47, apparently emerging through the wall, is the gondola of an airship. Its number - R33 - is visible in the faded paintwork.

The Vulcan is vast - there are cars parked underneath this one! When the nearby Sunderland Air Museum had theirs delivered, back in nineteen-mumble-mumble, I was lucky enough to have a look around it and climb up into the cockpit. It made a deep and lasting impression on me - huge, and hugely powerful. I also remember seeing them being thrown around the sky like fighters!

The weird blue thing in the foreground is a WWII German “Fritz-X” guided bomb.

There is so much more here, I don’t think I even saw everything, and we were there for about 6 hours. So, I have an excuse to go back! To any UK members who haven’t been, or any who may be visiting the UK, I heartily recommend putting this museum on your schedule.

I’d heard that Hannants, suppliers of all things model-related, had a shop near the museum, so I asked the very helpful museum staff for directions, and we had a toddle along. Unfortunately, they were closed - never mind, there’s another reason to go back!

I’m hoping to attend this year’s IPMS Model World at Telford, in November. It’s not far from the RAF’s other main museum at Cosford. So, all being well, the camera will get another work-out!

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Very nice photo’s. My one and only visit was back in the 70’s, i must have been 8 or 9. I really must get back, i could spend a while just looking at the Stuka alone.

The Colindale shop is only open 4 days a week.

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I would love to see that 110 up close! Someday maybe.

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That Sunderland is a beast! Very cool!! Did you get pics of the interior?

Its one of the regrets of my life that I never saw a Vulcan fly

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Yes, I thought that might catch your eye! If you get the chance, it’s deffo worth the trip (next time I’ll make sure Hannants’ is open [:(]).

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I did get some pics inside - sadly, the cockpit & turrets were out of bounds (“off limits”?) - very frustrating.

We entered on the starboard side, just forward of the tail section. Looking left, the walkway to the rear turret -

Turning right, we move forward along the fuselage -

This might be the bomb-aimer’s position, maybe also the navigator’s? Contributions from Sunderland specialists are welcome!

Exterior view of the above -

Crew rest/sickbay area -

Errrrrrmmmm -

Galley (sink, shelves for dishes, etc., the black box is a stove) -

Another rest area (didn’t I say it was luxurious?) -

Starboard bomb bay -

And the exterior view -

My attempts to photograph the cockpit interior by holding the camera above my head were, alas, unsuccessful. Nevertheless, I hope these are of interest and/or use.

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WOW! What an awesome experience! Probably two or three days to truly see everything.

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WOW, thats a real impressive set up in there. Looks preferable to a Ryan Air flight thats for sure. If you ever build a Sunderland, you’ll have no excuse not to get the inside right.

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Yes, at least two. I’m pretty sure I missed a few things, and didn’t get as much time as I’d have liked with some (Meteor, Canberra, Phantom, B-17, B-25, Bf 109, He111) - yep, I really have to go back, probably next year.

And, yes, you’re right, it truly was awesome.

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Ha - nice one, I like it![:D]

I don’t have one of those on next year’s buying list (which is already getting out of control), but I think the Vulcan has elbowed its way a bit nearer to the top of the pile. Next year should also see the 1/24 Tiffy blinking in the sunlight - I got some pics of that, too.

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I hope so, too, mate. Meanwhile, here’s a few more pics, hope you like them.

Cheers, mate, thanks for looking.

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I got to see both Cosford and Hendon in 2016, and they were both excellent! Cosford has the British X-Planes like the TSR.2, Bristol T.188, and the BAC 221, to name just a few.

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Great pics Hutch! I was there in 88, stood under the wing of the Vulcan and had an OMG moment. Strewth but that thing is big! It dwarfed the Sunderland. Back then they had a walkthrough of a Ju52.

As an aside, I also went to Duxford and how good was that. Anyway I have always had this thing for the Fairey Battle, (yes I know, weird, but what can I say), and for several years was watching the restoration process through the pages of aviation magazines. Then I get to go to the UK and Duxford and I am beside myself with exitement cos I’m going to see the Battle! I had the camera ready and there it was, totally covered in a huge sheet of plactic as they had just finished painting it! All that could be seen was one prop blade sticking out of the plastic at the top. So I took the bloody photo anyway!

Thanks for the great pics mate.

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There is a Battle at Hendon, it’s one of the types I didn’t get much time with. Just one photo of that, mate - hopefully I’ll get more next year. I have to say, it’s an aircraft I always think of with some sadness, because of the huge losses they suffered in 1940. That said, I don’t know much more about them, hopefully they fared better overall.

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Thanks for the tip, Real G, I look forward to seeing those, especially the 188 - a very futuristic-looking machine.

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Thanks for the pic of the Battle Hutch! Yes they suffered terrible losses, and to keep going out knowing what was probably going to happen. Such brave, brave men. After France the Battle was relagated to target towing and training, etc.

The reason I love it so much is because it was obsolete by the time it went into production only nobody knew that. It is a fascinating period in aviation history.

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I’d recommend reading “Piece of Cake” by Derek Robinson, if a copy comes your way. It’s fiction, but it seems pretty soundly based on fact. (OK, I’m off topic, but it’s my thread and I can hijack it if I like[:D]). It follows a RAF fighter squadron through the early part of the war, and through the Battle of Britain. It is a Hurricane squadron, which goes to France during the “phoney war”, then gets violently engulfed in the fighting. Outdated tactics and aircraft are cruelly exposed, losses are suffered but the squadron learns, and matures into a serious and capable unit. The shortcomings and misuse of the Battles, Blenheims, and Defiants is explored - one of the squadron’s pilots “joyrides” with a Defiant squadron as a gunner. Obviously dramatised to fulfil its purpose, it is at times hilariously funny, at others heart-wrenchingly sad.

It was made into a TV mini-series (using Spitfires, since there aren’t that many Hurricanes knocking about), which was OK, but the book is miles better. Sorry for the ramble!

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Hutch,

Here are pics I took of the T.188 at Cosford. I apologize for the naff quality and lack of colour correction:

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Wow - goosebumps! I WANT ONE! A USAF General remarked of the (then new) Handley Page Victor that it “looks like it’s doing Mach 2 when it’s standing still”, a comment that applies equally here. Imagine what it would have looked like flying!

Thanks for the pics, Real G, they look perfectly fine to me[:)]

Cheers,

Hutch.

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Thanks for the heads up Hutch, but I’m way ahead of you there, read the book, seen the series. I agree that the book was much better, but the series was credable. Laughed myself sick when Catermole got caught in the portable dunny!! Goshawk Squadron was a good read too.