FAAM - Invitation to Tender - Aircraft Carrier Experience

[SLXOwft]

Last Friday the National Museum of the Royal Navy issued an invitation to tender for a £650k project to overhaul the Aircraft Carrier experience at the FAAM Yeovilton.

The prime audience is 8-14 year olds (see below). However, I started wondering what sights, sounds, smells, and stories a less innocent and more robust audience might receive if it was the unvarnished truth put together by PPRuNers (irrespective of uniform colour or Navy).

I will start with a bland suggestion: the black hole of Calcutta come IT History Museum storeroom that was the ops room of Lusty in her final years. Or perhaps the chippies in action during her Norwegian (mis)adventure.


1. Creative Response for ITT ‘Carrier Experience’
We want the upgraded experience to amaze and inspire our visitors. We must provide an
extraordinary and enriching day out, leaving our visitors in awe of what they have experienced
and eager to return.

We need to surprise, amaze and awe inspire our visitors and provide a new offering that is
extremely marketable that brings the story of the Royal Navy to life, is attractive to a local
audience as well as visitors from further afield, and in particular appeals to children and young
people aged 8- 14 years old.

The new experience will immerse our visitors in the excitement and thrill of carrier flight and will
be a fun and engaging way to learn about the complexity of carrier operations. However, it should
not provide a detailed chronology or technical understanding; nor should it focus solely on Ark
Royal (as per the current design). Instead, the upgrade will refresh the arrival and the audio-visual
flight deck experience, to make the most of its scale = and our incredible aircraft. Visitors will then
find out about carrier operations and the vital work of the Royal Navy (FAA) through interactive
displays, ending in the experience chamber, bringing the story to its conclusion and teasing
visitors with a vision of the future.

This will create a compelling narrative showcasing the Fleet Air Arm’s ‘Air Power from the Sea’ in
past, present and future. It will connect the heyday of jet aviation to the operations and
deployment of the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers and F35 aircraft which will be the heart of the
Royal Navy from [2021] onwards. It will provide a fun, and unforgettable visitor experience,
inspiring for all, but especially targeted towards the enjoyment of children and young people.

If you really want to read the details they are here:
Tender Notice (https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/7130f570-12b0-4658-a0fe-a0033f17b4c5)

[NutLoose]

Remove aircraft insert Tea Room and bring it up To RAF Museum Hendon spec.
Remove aircraft insert Hospitality Area and bring it up To RAF Museum Cosford spec.

[sycamore]

A really good motion sim. for cat and traps and bolters....

[911slf]

On motion simulators, I recall an amusement arcade ride where you simulated a combat mission from an aircraft carrier. Expensive at £3 a go but it had 360 degree motion in pitch and roll and was really quite involving. You got strapped in tight. Was fine as long as you kept focus on the screen in front of you but a bit sick making if you looked out to the side.

I only ever saw it in Bournemouth and this was in 1994. Presumably it didn't pay, but someone somewhere must have patent details for it.

The great thing was you not only had unlimited ammunition but you also had unlimited lives so in that respect superior to the real thing. :)

[switch_on_lofty]

There should be a treasure hunt for the kids. You get a sheet of paper with a list of things you need. Say some chain lashings, dipclear, getting an aircraft moved with less than 2 days' notice, getting some food in the aircrew feeder, some AOG spares from the deep stores, flares from the weapon engineers and some way to defuel.

The kids are told that a number of interactive virtual people around the ship have what they need and when they get it all they can fly in a real helicopter. They rush around, each person giving them a different excuse (not my department, not in the afternoon, incorrect form, will have to check with a supervisor, that defuel point is U/S, there's no such thing as flares for aircraft, you can't have that spare part etc). When they get back to the original person they asked, they shrug and give it to them.

When/if they fill their sheet they climb into the aircraft on deck which goes tits on start. The end. Invoice in the post!

[Old-Duffer]

I much enjoyed the several visits I made to: 'Carrier - Carrier' at Yeovilton, starting with the 'Wessex' flight aboard and the 'wind' across the flight deck on arriving.

Good Luck with this project - I hope I'm still around when it opens!!!!

Old Duffer

[NutLoose]

With the budget you are talking re a simulator you are probably looking at

Welcome (http://www.stuffwelove.co.uk/superflightdeck.htm)


A VR flightdeck with wind blown over it and aicraft taxying and taking off etc would be the way forward, warm air blown at you as you pass the rear of a jet etc.

[NutLoose]

If the visitor is being obnoxious, send them to the stores simulator for a long weight...erm wait. ;)

[mmitch]

The other version was 'A long stand'.....
mmitch.

[Davef68]

I loved this comment in the market research doc

Ensure radars spin the right way

[Davef68]

Remove aircraft insert Tea Room and bring it up To RAF Museum Hendon spec.
Remove aircraft insert Hospitality Area and bring it up To RAF Museum Cosford spec.

Sounds likely. I was told 'The RAF Museum is not about the aircraft'

[John Eacott]

Have a real ACRB complete with authentic wall art :cool:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1342/jge_in_ark_acrb_small_60fc36a81657ced53bd52ae92958f03b29d330 d0.jpg

[Widger]

As you fly into the carrier , you open the door to find yourself half a mile from the ship because the Freddie has done your CCA/SCA (Carrier Controlled Approach/Ship Controlled Approach)
As you step onto the deck, genuine audio being broadcast every 30 seconds such as "RO Tate - Radar office", "Writer Letter - UPO" (Unit Personnel Office- the HR department)
As you enter the ship and take your lifejacket and helmet off you get swamped by an overwhelming stench of sweaty safety equipment
Above you there is a constant banging and rattling as the chain gang try to wake up the Fishheads, Stovies and Wobbleheads on defence watches.
You walk down to see the galley with a tray of half raw/half burnt roast potatoes.
You pass the gym with a muscle bound lad pinned to the floor as he is trying to do bench presses in a storm.
Into the hangar to see mannequins hosting a cocktail party with name tags such as Mike Oxlong.
You spy half a dozen aircraft with a strange sign saying "Queen" written on them
Back into the ship you spy two people making out in the chapel and then pass a boat bay filled with 100 sailors all tabbing away furiously.
Next you have a door titled Naval Stores with a "Closed for stocktaking" sign hanging off it.
You clear the smoke to go to the Ops Room and find an office adjacent with a fridge full of chocolate bars.
You then go to the gift shop and get yourself a nice pair of shoes and a suit made by an oriental looking chap who seems to be living like Harry Potter in a broom cupboard.
On your way out you find all your clothes including your underpants have been starched like cardboard and have strange writing indelibly marked on every item.

[Haraka]

Yet another funfair then.,,,,,,,,..

[sandiego89]

The male visitors could use the stateroom sinks as urinals...or did gentlemen not do that?.....

[NutLoose]

Hot and cold running toilets.

[SLXOwft]

Widger and JE - BZ for answering the question. :ok:

JE : It would undoubtedly have a notice along the lines of: "This compartment reflects the attitudes of the male only aircrew of the time; they do not reflect the culture and policies of the RN, NMRN, or FAAM. Please do not enter if you may be offended."

[Widger]

Just outside the museum they could have toilet block with another mannequin, motorised in Repair Shop style, with a burning newspaper stuck between his arse cheeks.

[MENELAUS]

The male visitors could use the stateroom sinks as urinals...or did gentlemen not do that?.....


What you mean the waist high foldable officers’ urinal ? Heaven forfend it would ever get used for that. You were far better off with a long trudge through the wardroom flat in the middle of the night to the heads.
Best was to top it up with limers and stick your oppos toothbrush / shaving kit in it. And standby.

[John Eacott]

The male visitors could use the stateroom sinks as urinals...or did gentlemen not do that?.....

Stateroom? Cabins, dear chap; cabins 🙊



What you mean the waist high foldable officers’ urinal ? Heaven forfend it would ever get used for that. You were far better off with a long trudge through the wardroom flat in the middle of the night to the heads.
Best was to top it up with limers and stick your oppos toothbrush / shaving kit in it. And standby.

What’s with ‘foldable’ stuff? Eagle’s 6W6 was a desirable waterline residence hidden from prowling two-&-a-halves complete with phone, ship’s entertainment speaker, enough storage space for a 1970s stereo plus a proper sink/slasher. Slightly downgraded as I shared with a Looker, but Roger was relatively housebroken 😇🤪

[MENELAUS]

Stateroom? Cabins, dear chap; cabins 🙊





What’s with ‘foldable’ stuff? Eagle’s 6W6 was a desirable waterline residence hidden from prowling two-&-a-halves complete with phone, ship’s entertainment speaker, enough storage space for a 1970s stereo plus a proper sink/slasher. Slightly downgraded as I shared with a Looker, but Roger was relatively housebroken 😇🤪

Luxury. Sheer luxury. We chopper pukes had to endure far less salubrious surroundings. Although we did have a phantom crapper on the Happy H: worth a separate post in its own right. He did wonders for junior officers morale as he only targeted the wash basins of senior officers, Cdr and above. And then had the balls to make a pipe about it. As senior officers morale plummeted sentries were posted on every main broadcast point (numerous even on Hermes ) and he still kept doing it ! Leading us to assume he was perhaps a greenie and could splice in to the main broadcast system from relative safety.
Thankfully he was never caught.

[John Eacott]

Luxury. Sheer luxury. We chopper pukes had to endure far less salubrious surroundings. Although we did have a phantom crapper on the Happy H: worth a separate post in its own right. He did wonders for junior officers morale as he only targeted the wash basins of senior officers, Cdr and above. And then had the balls to make a pipe about it. As senior officers morale plummeted sentries were posted on every main broadcast point (numerous even on Hermes ) and he still kept doing it ! Leading us to assume he was perhaps a greenie and could splice in to the main broadcast system from relative safety.
Thankfully he was never caught.

Um…. I was a chopper puke, and a Subbie at that 🤔 🚁

Later on 824 off Ark we spent a miserable time aboard H, early after refit, with a Commander who disliked aircrew. Wardroom meals were the worst I’ve ever encountered, meagre rations and apparently shortage of funds meant no way to get anything better 😢


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x475/050_hermes_flight_deck_fb1351ab35df29528e1fab93f82ccac935934 d2b.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x461/hermes_flight_deck_b820045a0acff9777b3056bf0b6db224b7368669. jpg

[MENELAUS]

Um…. I was a chopper puke, and a Subbie at that 🤔 🚁

Later on 824 off Ark we spent a miserable time aboard H, early after refit, with a Commander who disliked aircrew. Wardroom meals were the worst I’ve ever encountered, meagre rations and apparently shortage of funds meant no way to get anything better 😢

My apologies for the insult. I assumed (prior to doing any research ) that you were a Stovie. So suitable grovelling apologies. My time on H was a bit happier….appalling conditions but a happy ship’s company.