Newark Air Museum

[Ralf Roggeveen]

That's Newark, Notts, UK, not Newark, NJ, USA. It was a stopoff point on last year's Aviva Rally which we took part in with the Ghia and I managed to quickly grab a few pictures for you lot. Promise to go back later this year and produce a better selection, but here are a few to be going on with...

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2993/airmuseum.jpg

Imaginative config! Didn't see the label - is it a Mortimer & Vaughan?

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5250/mandv.jpg

Didn't catch on, whatever it is. One of those Flying Fleas that must have put a lot of people off being AIR-MINDED back in the day (it was a flea because it was a parasitical nuisance, but the 'flying' bit wasn't really true):

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4119/flea.jpg

Nice Tiger Moth they've got there:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1079/tigermoth.jpg

Ralf's Trip Down Trainer Memory Lane, starting with the Link:

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2858/linkwe.jpg

We had one at my school in the '70s. A few years ago I got in touch with them and tried to find it, but it was long gone (all the 'wings', 'canopy' & 'tail' had long since broken off, but it still worked). Chippie in the red & white colours we cadets had at places like Abingdon and Little Rissington circa 1977:

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3820/chippie.jpg

(For realistic simulation, sit in a draught & turn volume up to max). Then, if you were lucky & skilful, you graduated to a Bulldog:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2986/bulldog.jpg

(Only on full-size the simulator at Rissington for me). After that it would be the Jet Provost:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5109/20189441.jpg

(One of the cadets managed to damage one on the ground in an unfortunate incident involving fire extinguishers). Talking of Provosts, here's the earlier Percival P:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3585/percivalprovost.jpg

And I thought I'd better take a picture of this Westland for you helicopter affecionados:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9973/westland.jpg

Sorry about the different sizes; please comment/correct as these were taken in a bit of a hurry. A few more to come later.

[Moses03]

Nice pics Ralf. Would like to see some shots of the Gannet & (Vampire?) in the background there.

[Ralf Roggeveen]

Hi Mo', unfortunately don't think I got either of them properly that time, but certainly will on return trip later this year. Had to save camera space for cars that day!

A few others, including outdoors. RAF Transport Command is very well represented at Newark. Here's their HP Hastings:

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/5152/hphastings.jpg

And a Shackleton (stupid!):

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9185/hphalton.jpg

And a Heron:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5382/heron.jpg

Vickers Varsity:

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7947/vickersvarsity.jpg

The Canberra:

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1323/canberra.jpg

And a Vulcan which is useful for local farmers to shelter their cows under:

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9228/vulcank.jpg

A few classic '50s - '70s fighters are there. Interesting Mystere IV:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2906/mystereiv.jpg

English Electric Lightning:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7351/lightningm.jpg

An F-100:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4523/f100d.jpg

And the rarest, shabbiest thing there (once posted as a Mystery, though it didn't last very long):

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/165/rareq.jpg

I think they have a MiG-21 (ex Polish) too, but no picture yet. Promise to go back with a few rolls of film soon, it's not far for me. What a chore!

[Ralf Roggeveen]

Almost forgot, a couple of other interesting things grabbed in the hangar... a Rolls Royce Derwent engine:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/9328/derwent.jpg

Made and tested at nearby Derby and Hucknall. And a real Bouncing Bomb:


http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7648/bouncingbomb.jpg

Of course these appear inaccurately round, like a ball, in the movie The Dambusters, because they were still classified when it was made!

[lefty]

Ralf, these are great - Newark is one I have yet to visit.... is it not just down the road from you ?? Am due a trip down the A1 later in the spring so will definitely arrange for a car malfunction in Newark. (I can hear the Boss now - 'not another aeroplane museum'.......)

By the way, your 'Halton' looks a wee bit more like something else to me - maybe Moses can help out with an ID ? :jump:

[Willy]

I was thinking the same thing about the "Halton". It appears rather "Shackeltonish" to me.

[Ferry_vO]

Don't think there are any Haltons left, at least not in one piece. IIRC there are only two Halifax' left, one in Canada and one in the UK. The Halton was the passenger/freighter version of the Halibag.

Should really see if any airline makes a Schiphol <-> Nottingham trip..

As for the identity of the Shackleton, it an MR.3 Phase 3 with reg WR977.

[Ralf Roggeveen]

Oh yes, of course it's a Shackleton, very well i/d'ed by F v O there, thanks! I think Hurricane has been to Newark as it's about halfway between me in Nottingham & him in Doncaster. Anyone remember what the Mystery was?

[Ferry_vO]

Anyone remember what the Mystery was?

Yes, of course! ;)

Hint: http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/aircraft_list.html

The 'ring wing' is the Lee Richards Annular Biplane btw.