Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

[kitbasher]

My first visit to the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum (https://tangmere-museum.org.uk/) yesterday.  Really excellent museum, you need at least one full day there - lots to see, small but decent shop, good bunch of volunteer stewards and a great cafe.  A mix of external and internal exhibits, first the outside airframes:

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(you can never have too many Spey Phantoms!)
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The Sea Vixen (what a brute) is undergoing care and maintenance but there's still plenty to note, not least the prominance of the fairing above the observer's seat.
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Not sure about the authenticity of the Neptune and (I think) 'Foxbat' nose markings, meant (but forgot) to ask.

[kitbasher]

The museum hosts several very good replicas:
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The Lysander appeared in the Brad Pitt movie 'Allied' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_(film), in which the propeller was powered by a washing machine motor!

Lurking by 'K5054' is this mannequin of Reg Mitchell at work - made me jump when I first saw it!
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[McColm]

That looks the business, I was there about 10 years ago and it was looking a bit tired. I'm glad that you had a great time.

[kitbasher]

Cold War jets:

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[kitbasher]

And a couple of record breakers - Meteor F.4 EE549 and Hunter F.3 (originally the first prototype Hunter) WB188.

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The route(s) flown:
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To think, whoever owned my house (built 1932-ish) back then may have witnessed the record-breaking runs.

[Old Wombat]

I'm getting "Image not found" for all the photo's in that last post.

[kitbasher]

And finally the wreckage of Battle of Britain Hurricane I P3179, shot down 30 August 1940.  Its pilot, 20-year old Sgt Dennis Noble was killed either in the air or when his aircraft crashed near the junction of Portland and Woodhouse Roads in Hove.  On 9th November 1996 Noble's aircraft was being excavated when it was discovered that his remains were still in the cockpit.

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Lots of things to see on display there - frankly they need more room (the museum has the cash, it's a question of getting planning permission for an additional hangar).  Also there's plenty to occupy kids of all ages.

[PR19_Kit]

......Hunter F.3 (originally the first prototype Hunter) WB188.

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I've stood in exactly the same spot as you did when you took that pic Dave.....

......and at the same time I was chatting to Neville Duke himself, standing on my right! His comment 'She was a pretty good machine' could have been classed as the understatement of the century!

What an awesome place to live Dave, you'd have been under the FD2's record breaking flight path too!

[kitbasher]

I'm getting "Image not found" for all the photo's in that last post.

Any luck now, Womby?

[kitbasher]

What an awesome place to live Dave, you'd have been under the FD2's record breaking flight path too!

I'm not that old, Kit!!

However I have now seen three British world air speed record aircraft.

[PR19_Kit]

Lots of things to see on display there - frankly they need more room (the museum has the cash, it's a question of getting planning permission for an additional hangar). 

It's a bit much that a place like that should actually NEED planning permission for an extension!

[kitbasher]

Lots of things to see on display there - frankly they need more room (the museum has the cash, it's a question of getting planning permission for an additional hangar). 

It's a bit much that a place like that should actually NEED planning permission for an extension!

As far as I can tell they need to buy adjacent land, which could be part of their problem.

IIRC the de Havilland Museum could only build there new (well, recent) hangar as long as the museum's footprint didn't increase.

[Old Wombat]

I'm getting "Image not found" for all the photo's in that last post.

Any luck now, Womby?

Yep! All good, now! 

[Gondor]

Is the Dark Blue item behind the Hunters Starboard wing a LINK trainer?

Gondor

[scooter]

Is the Dark Blue item behind the Hunters Starboard wing a LINK trainer?

Gondor

Yes.  Could be a D4 Mk2 which, according to Wiki, was a D4 modded into a Jet Provost.