Aviation Photography - Royal Air Force Museum Cosford

RAF Museum - Hendon Imperial War Museum - Duxford

Royal Air Force Museum
RAF Cosford
February and June 2007

The National Cold War Exhibition

Housed in a unique and architecturally ground braking building, the new National Cold War Exhibition was opened to the public on February 8, 2007. The purpose built building both tall and dazzling, its design of flowing contours is difficult to describe. It cost £12.4m with 4.9m coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The humidity inside is controlled and there is no doubt that the twenty or so aircraft and aircraft noses exhibited, are well looked after. The housed aircraft are billed to represent those involved during the 'Cold War', a period of tension between the two superpowers from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990's. As a key member of NATO the United Kingdom played a major part in the stand-off, which lasted almost 50 years. However some of the aircraft exhibited are an odd choice to represent the 'Cold War'. The collection has not been gathered together from scratch, so those in charge have had their hands tied with regard the selection of aircraft to put on display. It is more an assembly of aircraft that did not have a roof over them and so needed protection from the elements. It's good the see all three V-Bombers, the ex Hendon Valiant, Victor and Vulcan in one place. However the Belfast, Twin Pioneer and Jetstream, don't to my mind represent aircraft that took part directly in the 'Cold War'. To show that it was not just the RAF involved in the 'Cold War' an ex Polish Air Force Chinese built Lim-2, a copy of a Soviet MiG-15bis, is displayed with a ex Hungarian Air Force MiG-21PF. The sole representative from the United States Air Force is a recently restored F-111F painted in the colours of 48^th Tactical Fighter Wing when based at RAF Lakenheath. This aircraft returned to the UK from storage at Davis Monthan, Arizona in a C-5 Galaxy in 2005. Aircraft from the famous Berlin Airlift which started in 1948 when the Russians closed the road border to Berlin, are quite rightly well represented, notably the Avro York, a Dakota and a Hastings which entered service during the three years of the airlift.

Image 071_4661w5 The building is another bone of contention for me, its good that our aviation heritage is preserved for all to see, but why design something that patently does not fit in with the period buildings that surround it. To me its 'warped' design is an eye sore that should have been built as a modern representation of a proper aircraft hangar. The reason for this is apparently down to the HLF insisting on a 'landmark' design before funding is awarded. Well it is here to stay as are its inmates, indeed it apparently would cost £3,000 to take down enough side panels to allow an aircraft to be swapped.
Seven aircraft are suspended from the roof, some at incredible angles. The Lightning for example hangs from its nose as to depict a vertical climb of which it was famous when in service with the RAF. The pose is dramatic and different.
Decent photography within the new building, due to the obvious need to pack the aircraft in tightly, is very difficult, you find yourself often walking under a very large V-Bomber.
Walking around the other original three hangars which have housed the collection of many unique aircraft is still as enjoyable as it ever was. Many of this countries prototypes and development aircraft from the jet age it started can be found at Cosford. They range from the first jet aircraft, the Gloster F.9/40, to the first operational jet the Gloster Meteor and up through many of the RAF's operational jets to the Tornado and the first jet powered airliner, the De Havilland Comet. Second World War aircraft are very well represented and include; a Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito, Mustang, Messerschmitt Me410 and Japanese Ki 46 'Dinah'.

Photography in these older hangars is quite good providing you use a tri-pod and wide angle lens. The barriers which surround the aircraft are just a few inches high and so don't intrude too much in the images.

Left to right:
Vickers Valiant BK.1 (XD818) was developed in the 1950's but following a series of crashes and cracks found in the wing spars they were withdrawn from service in 1964.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bs 'Fagot' Lim-2 (01120 ex Polish Air Force).

Hawker Hunter T.7A (XL568). Based on the Hawker Sea Hawk, the first production Hunter F.1 flew in 1951, following flight testing of the P.1052 and P.1081 test aircraft. Neville Duke broke the world speed record in a Hunter F.3 in 1953 when flying at 727.63 mph. Eventually 1,972 Hunters were built serving with 19 air forces to 1994. In 2007 two of a large number of privately operated Hunters were contracted to fly once again for the RAF. The T.7 variant was a two-seat trainer.

Left to right:
Douglas DC-3 Dakota C.4 (KN645).
Avro 685 York C.1 (TS798) development of the Avro 685 started in 1941, the first civilian version going to BOAC in 1944. Eventually 50 civilian and 208 military versions were delivered. Most of the aircraft delivered to the RAF were later converted for civilian use. This particular aircraft saw most of its service with BOAC as G-AGNV and was originally put on display at the old 'Skyfame' museum at Staverton.

Hangar 2 - Research and Development

Left to right:
Avro 707C (WZ744). The Avro 707 was designed for research purposes with the intention of eventually using them as jet trainers, to provide pilots with experience of handling a delta-winged aircraft using fly-by-wire technology in advance of the introduction of the Avro Vulcan. The one-third scale design was the first British built delta-winged aircraft. Vital data was gathered during testing for the Avro Vulcan project. The first Avro 707A (VX784) first flew on September 4, 1949 from Boscombe Down, however tragically 26 days later while testing its slow speed handling characteristics, Eric Esler lost control and crashed he was tragically killed. The Avro 707B (VX790) with an extended nose section flew for the first time on September 5, 1950. It flew until 1956 when it was damaged beyond economical repair in a landing accident, ending its days on the dump at RAE Bedford. Another prototype (WD280) was transported to Australia for testing in 1954 with a modified wing. It was eventually struck off charge in 1967 and is now in the RAAF Museum at Point Cook passing from a private owner in 1999. In 1951 three additional Avro 707's were ordered as two-seat (side-by-side) trainers and were designated Avro 707C's. Only two were built (WZ736 and WZ744) as the first Vulcan's were found to be easy to fly and these trainers were deemed unnecessary. Both aircraft survived WZ736 is on display at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry and WZ744 is here at Cosford. WZ744 first flew on July 1, 1953 from RAF Waddington eventually totalling 200 hours testing fly-by-wire electrically signalled hydraulic flying controls, it was retired in 1967.

Gloster Meteor F.8 (Prone) (WK935). This was the last of the 430 Meteor F.8's manufactured by Armstrong Whitworth at Bagington, Coventry. Following modifications to allow the pilot to flying the aircraft lying down in the prone position it took to the air for the first time in February 1954. The object of the exercise was to test the reduced effects of high G forces on the pilot when in the prone position. 14 flights were made from Bitteswell before it was transferred to the Institute of Medicine at Farnborough in August of that year. After a further 55 flights testing was completed by July 1955 and it was decided that the advantages of reduced effects of 'G' were out weighed by the difficulties of flying the aircraft lying down. The test aircraft was put into storage after its final flight in 1959. It arrived at Duxford from RAF Colerne in 1977.

Left to right:
Bristol 188 (XF926). Mostly built of stainless steel this research aircraft was designed to test the effect of heat build-up when flown at very high speeds. It first flew in April 1962 and eventually achieved a speed of Mach 1.88. Failing to reach the planned Mach 2 the project was abandoned in 1964 with only two aircraft built. Following storage at Filton and some years at the Proof and Experimental Establishment at Shoeburyness, XF926 eluded destruction to be moved to Cosford in 1974 for display.

British Aircraft Corporation TSR 2 (XR220 and 7933M). This controversial aircraft was designed from 1957 as a very high-speed low-level strike aircraft. The first prototype (XR219) first flew in September 1964. Testing continued with impressive results for six months attaining a speed of Mach 1.2. The project however was cancelled in April 1965 in favour of the General Dynamics F-111 which was later cancelled as well. The aircraft on display never actually flew and is one of only two that survive, the other XR222 is at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Left to right:
English Electric P.1A (WG760). Leading to the design of the Lightning the English Electric P.1 was built to an Air Ministry specification from 1947. The main purpose was to test low-speed handling characteristics of the revolutionary swept wing. The P.1A's maiden flight was in August 1954 from Boscombe Down. Handling was good with the aircraft achieved Mach 1 seven days later. A second P.1A prototype (WG763) joined the program a year later. WG760 was later fitted with an afterburner and achieved a speed of Mach 1.53 in January 1956. The testing of the swept wing design continued with the Short SB.5 (WG768).

Hunting H.126 (XN714). This was an experimental aircraft designed to test the concept of 'jet flaps' or 'blown flaps' where 60% of the jet engine's exhaust was channelled to the trailing edge of the wing to provide higher lift. Only one of the two prototypes proposed flew, its maiden flight was in March 1963. Test flights continued until 1967. In 1969 it was shipped to NASA for further evaluation before being returned in 1970 for storage.

Fairey Delta 2 or FD.2 (WG777). This is the second of the only two aircraft built. It was designed as an advanced supersonic all weather interceptor and uniquely at the time had a nose which could droop to improve visibility during landing. It first flew in 1954 and eventually broke the world speed record on March 10, 1956 with a speed of 1,132 mph (1,811 km/h) some 300 mph faster than the existing holder from the year before, a F-100 Super Sabre. Flight testing continued until 1966 when it was retired to RAE Bedford for storage, eventually arriving at Cosford in 1973. The first prototype (WG774) was later modified to become the BAC221 by the British Aircraft Corporation, who took over Fairey in 1960, for flight testing as part of the Concorde development program.

Hangar 3 - The Second World War

Left to right:
Supermarine Spitfire IA, (K9942 SD-D/8383M).The first Spitfire Mk.1's entered service in August 1938 with 19 Squadron and by the outbreak of war nine squadrons were equipped with them. The Spitfire was the only aircraft that could match the German Messerschmitt Bf-109E in aerial combat during the Battle of Britain. This very early Spitfire (155^th built) was constructed at Southampton and flown from Eastleigh in April 1939. It flew operationally throughout the war before being earmarked for preservation in 1944. Following periods of storage and occasional exhibitions around the country it ended up at Hendon in 1971. After restoration in 1998 at RAF Bicester it moved back to Hendon and later on to Cosford in 2002.

Hawker Hurricane IIc (LF738 'UH-A'). The Hurricane was designed in 1934 and entered service in 1937 and was the fastest fighter in service by 100 mph at that time. By 1939 500 were in service with eventually 32 squadrons being equipped with them. Hurricanes shot down more enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain than all the other air and ground defences combined. They later were used in North Africa and in the Far East against Japan. This example was built in 1944 and used for pilot training until it was utilised for ground instruction at the end of the war. Following gate guard duties at Biggin Hill from 1954 it was restored by the Royal Aeronautical Society and finally moved to Cosford in 1995.

Avro 694 Lincoln B.II (RF398/8376M). Designed as a long-range bomber to supersede the Lancaster, the first Lincoln flew in 1944, but production did not get underway until the war had ended. 583 were built but with the introduction of jet-fighters their effectiveness was lost and they were withdrawn from frontline service in 1955. The example on show was used for Radar development trials until 1963. It was moved to Cosford in 1968 for storage and later on to the museum.

Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina (L-866 ex Royal Danish Air Force). This very successful flying boat took to the air for the first time in March 1935. It was designed as a patrol bomber and had a very long range. Over 4,000 Catalinas were built, the later models were fitted with retractable tricycle undercarriage. Excelling in the maritime reconnaissance role they continued in service for many decades. The example on display was transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force in 1957 and remained in service until the 1970's. It arrived at Cosford in 1975.

Left to right:
North American P-51D Mustang ('44-73415' composite painted as '44-13573' coded 'B6-V' 'Isabel III' also N6526D). Perhaps the best fighter of World War II, the P-51 Mustang was built from 1940 by North American Aviation to a British specification. By 1941 the first Mustang was delivered to the RAF for testing. In 1942 a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was fitted to the P-51B giving the aircraft at 30,000 feet an extra 100 mph to 440 mph over the Allison engine. In June 1944 the first of 8,000 P-51D's with the British designed bubble canopy were produced. It had now become a vital long-range fighter escort, equipped with drop tanks, which could be jettisoned when empty of fuel, to improve the aircraft's performance. Over 2,600 Mustangs were supplied to the RAF flying with 31 squadrons during the war. They were all withdrawn from RAF service by November 1946. This example completed a rebuild in 1989 using parts from 44-73415 which had recently crashed as N6526D and using an ex Indonesian AF fuselage. It moved to Cosford in 2003.

Mitsubishi Ki-46-III 'Dinah'. Designed as a fighter and for ground attack it later excelled as a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, its first flight was in 1939. This rare example was captured and passed to the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit in South East Asia at Tebrau along with a number of Japanese aircraft, four of which were selected for shipment to the UK. This aircraft was never to fly again, eventually leaving storage in 1989 to go to Cosford. Here it was extensively restored (1992-1994) with help from Mitsubishi of Japan and put on display.

Left to right:
Messerschmitt Me410A-1/U2 Hornisse "Hornet" (420430 '3U+CC' and AM.72). Based on the flawed Me210, the Me410 entered service in 1943 as a night-bomber. With the introduction of two 20mm MG 151/20 cannon, as with the 'U2' variant on display, they were used to effectively attack unescorted formations of Allied bombers. The aircraft on show was built in 1943 and captured at Vaerlose in Denmark in 1945 and ferried back to RAE Farnborough for evaluation. After thirty years in storage, half of which was at Cosford, it was put on display at Hendon in 1975. Following a move to St.Athan it was transferred back to Cosford in 1989.

Fieseler Fi156C-7 Storch "Stork" (475081/VP546/7362M/AM.101). Designed in 1935 the Storch was able to fulfil a variety of roles due to its incredible Short-Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities. 2,549 examples were built in Germany, Czechoslovakia and France. This particular example was built by Mraz in Czechoslovakia and was captured in 1945. Shipped back to Farnborough it was test flown until 1955 before being shipped to Halton. It emerged from storage at various locations to be put on display at St Athan in 1973, before it was moved to Cosford in 1989.

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet (191614) The only rocket propelled aircraft to enter service. Flying the very fast but volatile Me163, Luftwaffe pilots of Jagdgeschwader (JG) 400 managed to shoot down nine allied aircraft from August 1944. This Me163 was found at Husum airfield on May 8, 1945 and transported back to Farnborough. By July 1945 it was in store at Brize Norton eventually finding its way to Cosford in 1975.

Hangar 1 - Between the Wars

Left to right:
Hawker Hind (Royal Afghan Air Force). Designed as a day bomber the Hind entered service with the RAF in 1935. By 1937 452 Hind were in operation but were soon to be replaced by Battles, Blenheims and Hampdens at the start of the Second World War. This particular aircraft was sold to the Royal Afghan Air Force in the 1930's and was given to the RAF Museum in 1968.

Henri Mignet HM-14 Pou du Ciel 'Flying Flea' (G-AEEH). The 'Flying Flea', designed in 1934 by Henri Mignet was probably the first home-built to be offered to the public for home construction. Following a number of fatal accidents and the discovery of aerodynamic design errors the French authorities banned it from flying in 1936, the British authorities following suit in 1937. The example on display was built between 1935 and 1936 and flew from Whichurch airfield over the next two years. For almost thirty years it remained in the owners garage before being loaned to the RAF Colerne Museum in 1966. In 1976 it was moved to St Athan and on to Cosford in 1994 to be restored and put on display.

Hawker Cygnet (G-EBMB). The Royal Aero Club in 1924 organised a light aircraft competition. The famous aircraft designer Sydney Camm designed the Cygnet, only two were built coming third and fourth in the competition held at Lympne. Two years later in another competition they came first and second. In 1929 this example was put into store and was rebuilt in 1948 for a number of exhibitions. In 1961 it was again put in store before moving from Dunsfold to the RAF Museum for display in 1972.

Hangar 1 - Transport

Left to right:

De Havilland 106 Comet 1XB (G-APAS). The Comet was the first commercial jet airliner, its first flight was in July 1949. BOAC commenced operations in 1952. However following a series of tragic crashes due to metal fatigue, the Comet 1 was withdrawn from service and redesigned. The Comet 4 was the result four years later but the impetus was lost and the Boeing 707 subsequently dominated the early jet airliner market. The example on display, painted in original BOAC colours, was delivered to Air France and is the only remaining Comet 1 in existence.

Bristol 175 Britannia 312F (G-AOVF was once painted as 'XM497'). The Britannia was designed as a medium to long-range airliner. Powered by four turbo-prop engines it was nicknamed the 'whispering giant'. The aircraft first flew in July 1956. With the advent of jet powered airliners the Britannia failed to compete and by 1960, when production ended, only 85 had been built. The RAF bought 23 Britannia C.1/C.2's which they operated until 1975. The Britannia continued to fly until the 1990's. The example on display was ordered by BOAC and later flew with British Eagle, Donaldson, IAS and Invicta.

Westland Dragonfly HR.3 (WP495 painted as 'G-AJOV'). The Dragonfly was built from 1948 by Westland under license from Sikorsky (S-51) for the Royal Navy who had 72 and the RAF who had 15. British European Airways operated the Dragonfly for a few years in the early 1950's.