RAF museum latest loan aircraft available

[NutLoose]

Includes the Argosy, I can’t imagine many places being able to house that indoors. Surprised to see the prone meatbox and 188 listed too.

https://warbirdsnews.com/aviation-museum-news/raf-museum-seeks-loan-partners-for-aircraft-in-its-permanent-collection.html

A full listing of the RAF Museum aircraft available for loan is detailed below:

Gloster Meteor F.8 (mod) WK935 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/gloster-meteor-f8-prone-position/)
Panavia Tornado Prototype XX946 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1994-1458-A-Tornado-PO2-XX946.pdf)
Lockheed Ventura Mk.II AJ469 (http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv1venturaregistry/pv1ventura-aj469.html)
Percival Pembroke C.1 WV746 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hunting-percival-pembroke-c1/)
British Aerospace Jetstream T.1 XX496 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/scottish-aviation-jetstream-t-mk1/)
Vickers Varsity Mk.I WL679 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/vickers-varsity-t-mk-i/)
Boulton Paul Sea Balliol T.21 WL732 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/boulton-paul-sea-balliol/)
Bristol Type 188 XF926 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/83-A-1112-BRISTOL-188-XF926.pdf)
Cody Kite (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/online_exhibitions/rfc/cody_kite.pdf)
Comper C.L.A.7 Swift G-ACGL (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/comper-cla-7-swift/)
Consolidated PBY–6A Catalina BuNo.63993 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/consolidated-pby-6a-catalina/)
de Havilland Venom FB.4/50 J-1704 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/84-A-954-DH-Venom-FB4-J-1704.pdf)
Hawker–Siddeley Argosy C.1 XP411 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1988-0098-A-AW-Argosy-C1-XP411.pdf)
Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.XVIe RW393 (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/supermarine-spitfire-mk-xvi/)
Vickers Valetta C.3 VX573

[Ken Scott]

It’s always a sobering moment when you spot an aircraft you’ve flown (the Jetstream) in a list of museum aircraft...!

[Krystal n chips]

This from the link above

" The RAF Museum’s purpose is to share the story of the Royal Air Force – its past, present, and future – using the narratives of its people and collections to engage, inspire and encourage learning. The RAF Museum is pleased to announce that a selection of our aircraft will now be available to borrow for display.The aim is to make aircraft from our national collection more publicly accessible, to enable greater exploration of their stories, and to build stronger partnerships between international, national, and regional organizations to support knowledge exchange. Potential borrowers will be able to loan aircraft or request a selection from the list, to be displayed in any appropriate form. The program is open to Expressions of Interest from any accredited international, national or regional museum (or organizations working towards accreditation). Successful borrowers will share information about the RAF Museum alongside the displayed airframe(s), while the RAF Museum will reciprocate by promoting the loanee’s activities too."

Given the aircraft are already publicly accessible, this doesn't really make sense. So you have to ask the question as to why, and what lies behind the rationale of putting the types listed on the open market as it were .

Be an "interesting" exercise moving the Argosy, if it happens, from its location at Cosford.

[Ninthace]

It’s always a sobering moment when you spot an aircraft you’ve flown (the Jetstream) in a list of museum aircraft...!
I felt that way years ago when I was posted the Cosford and found experimental aircraft in the museum that were contemporary with me at RAE.
I had similar feelings about the retirement of the Tornado. I remember it when it was a shiny little model in our wind tunnel at the ARA. Likewise Concorde, I remember that as a wind tunnel model too.

[Davef68]

A big change from the 'we want one of every type the RAF flew' collection policy they had in the 80s and 90s. - the Ventura was acquired in the 80s and has lain in storage ever since. The Valetta has equally been stored for a long time

[Jhieminga]

Isn’t that the only complete Valetta that’s left? I was hoping for that one to end up in a hangar at Cosford at some point.

[unmanned_droid]

I wonder if the idea for the 188 is for it to go to the museum at Filton considering it flew from that airfield? It would seem a shame to lose it from Cosford though.

[Davef68]

Isn’t that the only complete Valetta that’s left? I was hoping for that one to end up in a hangar at Cosford at some point.

Yup, and only complete original Balliol/Sea Balliol - I'd like to see that at Yeovilton, but it would probably just go into storage. It's noticeable that of the 'restored' ones, it's many of the experimental and training airframes that are up for disposal

[Davef68]

Thank Christmas the list doesn't include the Stranraer.

This just seems to be the Cosford list - perhaps more to come/go from Hendon......

[NutLoose]

IWM Duxford disposals as opposed to loans

https://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/public-document/dispersals_disposals.pdf

[Mogwi]

The “Climax generator” sounds interesting! Shades of Space Odyssey. 😳

Mog

[topgas]

https://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default..._disposals.pdf (https://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/public-document/dispersals_disposals.pdf)

Well, if they don’t know the difference between a Centurion ARV and AVRE, perhaps they should get rid of it

[NutLoose]

This just seems to be the Cosford list - perhaps more to come/go from Hendon......

Damn :(
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/app/uploads/2021/12/RAFM-aircraft-transfer-list-December-2021.pdf

The aircraft proposed for transfer are detailed below:
RAFM accession number
Object name Reason for transfer
1989/0305/A Auster C.4 Relevance
85/A/8 Avro 707C Duplication
84/A/1168 Bristol Sycamore HR.14 Duplication
1996/0171/A De Havilland D.H.60M Gipsy Moth Relevance
79/A/1729 Fairchild Cornell Mk.II Completeness
1986/0038/A Gloster Meteor T.7mod Duplication
T110386 Hang Glider (disassembled,civilian) Relevance
82/A/995 Lockheed SP-2H Neptune Relevance/Condition

84/A/888 North American B-25J Mitchell Relevance
1990/0692/A North American P-51D Mustang Completeness
1990/1040/A Slingsby Type 21B Sedbergh TX.1 Relevance/Duplication
84/A/1170 Supermarine Type 517 Relevance
78/A/612 C.A.S.A 352L Relevance
69/A/218 De Havilland Dominie Mk. II Completeness/Condition
1998/0219/A De Havilland Vampire FB.5 Completeness/Condition
1987/0025/A Folland Gnat F.1 Relevance
1998/0220/A Hawker P.1121 Completeness/Condition/Relevance
71/A/933 Lakes Waterbird Completeness/Condition/Relevance
70/A/352 Morane-Saulnier BB Relevance/Condition/Completeness
83/A/246 Slingsby Type 30 Prefect Relevance/Duplication

So get your bids in now.. :(

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/acquisitions-and-disposals/



Free gift/transfer to another museum
Exchange of objects between museums
Free gift/transfer to another institution/organisation within the public domain
Return to donor
Sale (only in extraordinary circumstances once the options above have been explored and following consultation with donors, stakeholders and the museum community)
Destruction (only when an object is deteriorated beyond any future use or needs to be disposed of for reasons of Health & Safety)

[common toad]

It’s about time that those running he museum decide whether they want a credible museum telling the history of the RAF or a bouncy castle theme park.

[ZH875]

The 707C cannot be a duplicate as only one was built.
Their other airframe is a 707A

[Haraka]

In the early 70's the move was towards it being the core of a UK National Aviation Museum. Hence such as the Do 24.

[Herod]

Not the only remaining Valetta. As far as I am aware, the Flixton museum still has VX 580. I've not been for several years, and it's stored outside, so no idea of condition. However, the Cosford one isn't in great shape either,

[stevef]

There was a Valetta (WD159) in the RAF Colerne Museum up until 1976 when the collection was dispersed due to the station being chopped in the latest round of defence cuts. I think it ended up being given to the SAS hooligans for training purposes. We also had the prone-position Meteor and ex-Danish air force Catalina (mentioned above).

[Bing]

Yup, and only complete original Balliol/Sea Balliol - I'd like to see that at Yeovilton, but it would probably just go into storage. It's noticeable that of the 'restored' ones, it's many of the experimental and training airframes that are up for disposal

There's also a Sea Balliol in the Sri Lankan Air Force Museum. Although to be fair it's a bit of trek to see it.

[Jhieminga]

Not the only remaining Valetta. As far as I am aware, the Flixton museum still has VX 580. I've not been for several years, and it's stored outside, so no idea of condition. However, the Cosford one isn't in great shape either,
Thanks, I wasn't aware of that one. Somehow I thought that it was only a cockpit section.

[Jackonicko]

It’s about time that those running he museum decide whether they want a credible museum telling the history of the RAF or a bouncy castle theme park.

I think they reached their decision on that some years ago.....

[Shackeng]

This from the link above

" The RAF Museum’s purpose is to share the story of the Royal Air Force – its past, present, and future – using the narratives of its people and collections to engage, inspire and encourage learning. The RAF Museum is pleased to announce that a selection of our aircraft will now be available to borrow for display.The aim is to make aircraft from our national collection more publicly accessible, to enable greater exploration of their stories, and to build stronger partnerships between international, national, and regional organizations to support knowledge exchange. Potential borrowers will be able to loan aircraft or request a selection from the list, to be displayed in any appropriate form. The program is open to Expressions of Interest from any accredited international, national or regional museum (or organizations working towards accreditation). Successful borrowers will share information about the RAF Museum alongside the displayed airframe(s), while the RAF Museum will reciprocate by promoting the loanee’s activities too."

Given the aircraft are already publicly accessible, this doesn't really make sense. So you have to ask the question as to why, and what lies behind the rationale of putting the types listed on the open market as it were .

Be an "interesting" exercise moving the Argosy, if it happens, from its location at Cosford.

What a pity that an organisation such as this cannot proof read their own publications:
…borrowers will be able to ‘loan’ !!!

[cliver029]

That Prone meatbox brings back memories, it was at Colerne in the 1960's, if my fading memory is right sharing a hanger with Bannerdown Gliding club.
we tried lying in it and the overwhelming impression was very uncomfortable, but glad to see it has survived..

[Herod]

The pilot who did most of the flying of the prone Meteor was Bill Else. I had the pleasure of flying with him when he trained me on the F-27 with Air Anglia/AirUK. A lovely quote in the book "Test Pilots". Asked what it was like, Bill replied. There is only one thing a pilot can do in that position, and it has nothing to do with aeroplanes"

[Haraka]

The principal Flying Aviation Doc. from the IAM involved with the Prone Meteor was Sqn Ldr Ronnie Wambeck (who years later gave me a PPL medical renewal at his practice off Sloane Square)

[Steve Bond]

The Sri Lankan one is a Balliol, not a Sea Balliol.

[Charlotte Bailey]

I'll borrow the Vampire for a book launch....