Read the forum code of contact
By: - 28th June 2006 at 04:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
WOW!.. I had no idea... not sure which got me drooling more... the Kestrel or the Vulcan U/C...
I HAVE to start planning my next UK visit soon.
JJ
By: - 28th June 2006 at 04:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
JJ--
Yep, the Science Museum has a very nice aviation gallery. Interestingly they began collecting aviation items before World War I! Also in that collection are very early examples of both Spitfire and Hurricane, and one of the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6B floatplane racers. Very much worth a visit...
S.
By: - 28th June 2006 at 06:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
London Science Museum - Aviationgloster meteor
One small point - the image above which you caption as being of a Gloster Meteor is in fact the Gloster E28/39, the first British jet powered aircraft to fly.
By: - 28th June 2006 at 06:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
As a side note the Wrights loaned the Flyer to the Science Museum prior to WW2...it spent the war in the Underground tunnels and it was only returned to the USA once the Smithsonian had acknowledged the Wrights as being the first to fly...
The original was returned to hte US in return for the 'authorised' replica/ recreation that is there today...
By: - 28th June 2006 at 07:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
WOW!.. I had no idea... not sure which got me drooling more... the Kestrel or the Vulcan U/C...
JJ
It's actually from an A340 (in the entrance to the museum, I think)
(Edit. Ahh, just seen the caption. Skim-reading at work again)
By: - 28th June 2006 at 08:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The thing I always remember, from childhood, about the aviation gallery was the man in the ejector seat that was hung from the ceiling as if in mid escape! is he still there?
Steve
By: - 28th June 2006 at 08:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
over the meteor, u can see an arch. It is a section of a 747!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW, entrance is FREE :)
By: - 28th June 2006 at 08:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great place to visit, but terrible to photograph! (No disrespect to the photographer.)
By: - 28th June 2006 at 08:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I must admit I've always loved this gallery, probably one of the most balanced aeronautical collections on show anywhere, comprehensively showing the developementof aviation. Many genuinely historic aircraft, Amy Johnsons Jason, Allcock and Browns Vimy, The E28/39, Schnieder Trophy winning S6B etc. All set in an enviroment where you can still find surprises even after many years of visiting (ie. the section of jumbo jet fuselage).
And yet it's so often overlooked.
Steve
By: - 28th June 2006 at 08:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
can't say I'm much of a photgrapher, but evrything is packed up, you have corridors elevated that don't help also, and sunligth enters from the windows.
By: - 28th June 2006 at 09:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Plus, of course, a genuine Battle of Britain veteran Hurricane - L1592 (?), damaged in a forced landing at Croydon on 18 August 1940.
Oh, and a Pterodactyl! Now that really is a rare beast!
By the way, mate, you may not be much of a photographer, but that hasn't ever stopped anyone else here. One of the most exciting things I ever saw here was a piccie of K5054 snapped by someone's dad with their Box Brownie on its first public outing... A fascinating piece of history, and a terrible photo to boot.
Adrian
By: - 28th June 2006 at 09:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No mention of the Spitfire Exhibition?
TT
By: - 28th June 2006 at 16:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's actually from an A340 (in the entrance to the museum, I think)(Edit. Ahh, just seen the caption. Skim-reading at work again)
OOPs... my bad - must... learn... read... words
By: - 28th June 2006 at 19:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
As a side note the Wrights loaned the Flyer to the Science Museum prior to WW2...it spent the war in the Underground tunnels and it was only returned to the USA once the Smithsonian had acknowledged the Wrights as being the first to fly...The original was returned to hte US in return for the 'authorised' replica/ recreation that is there today...
Yes, the replica is in fact the de Havilland Wright Flyer!
By: - 28th June 2006 at 20:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The engine in the Roe 1 triplane isn't the original either. As strange as it may seem the original is in the Replica airframe in Manchester
By: - 28th June 2006 at 22:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
WOW!.. I had no idea... not sure which got me drooling more... the Kestrel
JJ
That's not a ''Kestrel' but the prototype Hawker P.1127. The Kestrel was a development without nose probe, different wing shape and larger tailplanes, of which six were used by the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron in 1964.
By: - 29th June 2006 at 10:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
And it's damned hot up there!
Not only is the gallery crowded, dimly lit, and full of walkways etc, it also gets bl00dy hot up there, A combination of sun beating down on the roof immediately above, and hot air rising up from the many floors and people) down below.
It's well worth a visit though if only to see Amy Johnson's Moth "Jason", and Alcock and Brown's TransAtlantic Vimy.
There's also a V2 rocket, a Sopwith Biplane ( a 1 1/2 Strutter if my memory is correct), plus a used Apollo Space capsule, down stairs alongside the Lockheed L10A shown in the first post.
And of course, entry is free :) .
Everytime I go there I can't help but worry about the risk of fire destroying the "unique" airframes displayed there, unlike a hangar on an airfield there is absolutely no chance of dragging any of them out of trouble if the worst did happen :( . No doubt they have a fire detection and sprinkler system installed, but I'm not sure a severe dousing in water would be any less disastrous than a total loss :confused: .
Paul F
By: - 29th June 2006 at 10:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It's few years since I've been there, but I've always wondered how they get them in there, similarly with their large railway locomotives, though I believe that Caerphilly Castle and Deltic have since moved on.
My only complaint about the Science Museum was when they refused to give back the special valve gear and cylinders of 71000, Duke of Gloucester, a few years ago when the loco was being restored.
However this worked in the 'Dukes' favour when new cylinders were being constructed, as they found a serious design flaw in the original system which was soon rectified and considerably assisted it's steaming capabilities.
Sorry to go on about trains again.
By: - 29th June 2006 at 11:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Good point Paul F, superb collection and a very 'atmospheric' gallery, but I'd never actually thought about getting the exhibits out in a dire emergency.
Steve.
Posts: 44
By: tapclassic - 27th June 2006 at 23:22
London Science Museum - Aviation
STOVL
kestrel
gloster meteor
me 163 komet
A330/a340 main lading gear
