Royal Air Force Museum London
Opened in 1972 by Her Majesty The Queen and situated on the historic site of London Aerodrome at Hendon, our North London Museum is the only free 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: 2 December 2008
Discover 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
Important Notice Aeronauts Interactive Gallery: Wednesday 3rd December
Aeronauts Interactive Gallery will be closed to members of the public all day on Wednesday 3rd December for a series of educational workshops for schools local to the area.
We would like to apologise for any dissapointment that this might cause young families visiting the Museum on this date.
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Learn more about our Aeronauts Interactive Gallery
December's Podcast
This December we have a very special present for our loyal podcast listeners, to thank you all for your support and comments over the last 12 months.
To ensure that we have it exactly right, we’re taking just a little bit longer in producing it, but we promise it will be well worth the wait.
We’ve managed to secure an Oscar nominated actor to read this month’s podcast; an individual who is particularly famous for their portrayal of a highly decorated Royal Air Force Officer and whose distinctive tones have entertained generations of British theatre and cinema goers. We can’t tell you more at this stage, as it would not only reveal our narrator’s identity but also give you a clue to December’s podcast.
So, if we have whetted your curiosity and you wish to find out who it is and the subject that they are narrating visit our Podcast page on 15th December when all will be revealed.
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Listen to one of this year's podcasts
December's Navigator Highlights
This month Navigator, the Museum's online collection, offers one new set of highlights: Avro Aircraft Photographs.
Founded in 1910 by Alliott Verdon Roe, the A.V. Roe Company, based in Manchester, produced the successful Avro 504 during the First World War.
In the 1930s the company became a subsidiary of Hawker Siddeley and produced trainer aircraft such as the Tutor and Anson. With the onset of war attention was turned to the manufacture of combat aircraft including the famous Lancaster.
Although later designs such as the Avro Tudor were less successful during the post-war period, both the Tudor and the York did play an important role during the Berlin Airlift.
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Visit Navigator Online Collection
High Flying Gifts For A Cracking Christmas
If you’re searching for that elusive gift which will make their spirits soar once they have ripped open the wrapping paper on Christmas Day morning, why not visit the Royal Air Force Museum’s online shop – www.rafmuseumshop.com?
Here you will find a range of affordable, yet charming, gifts suitable for any member of the family at a price that won’t send your Christmas Budget into a tailspin. Best of all, by purchasing any of the items located on the Museum’s website you will be helping the Museum maintain its unique collection.
Don't forget Royal Mail last posting dates:- For Australia, New Zealand South America 5th December; Japan, USA, Eastern Europe 10th December; Western Europe 12th December; UK 1st Class 20th December.
U.K Residents, to receive your order in time for Christmas please place it with us no later than Monday 15th December.
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Visit The Museum's Online Shop
Supporting Our Service Personnel At Christmas
Public support means a great deal to those who are serving, and particularly to those on operations. Support from home is an essential part of the morale of our Armed Forces deployed overseas amid the stresses and strains of the operational environment but well intention parcels sent by the public can delay those sent by families and friends.
There are many ways in which members of the Public can support our Servicemen and women. The link below highlights some of the best ways to provide support, whether for troops deployed on operations, for personnel who have been wounded or for ex-service personnel.
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Learn how to support our Service Personnel in the run up to Christmas
Lest We Forget - 30th October To 19th December
2008 marks the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. In this, the Royal Air Force’s 90th anniversary year it is fitting that we remember those whose sacrifice throughout the Service’s history have defended our ideals and way of life; as well as those they left behind.
‘Lest We Forget’ is a poignant and unflinching exhibition that highlights the sacrifices made during human conflict. It invites us to reflect on the loss of the individual and the impact that their departure has on their families and loved ones; whilst exploring the invaluable work of the agencies and support networks that have emerged during the last 90 years to bring practical aid and comfort to those RAF families who have suffered bereavement.
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View our online exhibitions
Teachers Programme Announced: National Science And Engineering Week 2009
9th - 13th March 2009
Next year the museum is celebrating National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) with a fun packed educational extravaganza.
NSEW, now in its 14th year, aims to engage and inspire people of all ages with science and technology. 2009's theme is change and the RAF museum, with its widely diverse collection of aircraft from the past 100 years, can demonstrate how science and technology have helped us develop aircraft from the Wright Flyer to the supersonic Eurofighter Typhoon.
The Museum will be running themed days featuring workshops, scientific discovery trails and staff led interactive fun in our Aeronauts gallery.
Cost is £15 per class of up to 30 school children.
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Learn more about the various educational trips we are able to offer
Become A Fan Of The Museum With Facebook
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. To reward your loyalty we will hold regular competitions and run special offers which only members of our Facebook Fan Club will be able to take advantage of.
All that you need to do is to login to your Facebook account, search for us under Royal Air Force Museum and start interacting.
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Go to our Facebook Page
Don't Forget, When Visiting, Our Society Of Friends' Museum Tours
Don't forget that our Society of Friends offer informal tours of the Museum on a regular basis throughout the week which provide added insight into the aircraft in our collection.
To find out when these tours take place remember to examine the "What's On Today" boards located in the entrance areas of the Battle of Britain Hall and our Bomber Hall.
If the idea of working on one of our aircraft, marine craft or vehicles in your spare time appeals to you, our Society of Friends are looking for able bodied individuals to assist our curatorial team in their preservation and upkeep. No need for experience as training will be given - just the willingness to muck in and make new friends.
For further information click on the link below:
Fancy working on our aircraft in your spare time? Become a "Friend of the Museum".
Lindbergh's Aircraft Arrives At Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to announce the arrival of the MILES M.12 MOHAWK G-AEKW/HM503. The aircraft is now on display in the Milestones of Flight Gallery, as part of the ‘Trailblazers’ exhibition.
The aircraft arrived at the Museum on the 18th of August, by road, after a final re-paint at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, Cosford.
First flown by Charles Lindbergh in 1936 it was given its distinctive orange and black colour scheme, with the fuselage and undercarriage in black, with orange fuselage cheat line, orange wings and tail, by the famous American pilot as a high-visibility scheme.
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Learn more about the Miles Mohawk
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
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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