Museum volunteers
 

I wonder if I could ask some advice from those of you who are currently active with UK aviation museums?

I've been considering doing some weekend volunteer work at an aviation museum within the local area (ie within an hours drive of home), but haven't yet decided exactly what and where.

I do not come from an engineering background, but do have some limited experience in the last few years of working on a restoration to airworthiness, although the aircraft in question is still many years away from flight.

I have made a couple of enquiries recently, one of which was with a flying organisation who seemed to view my approach as something of an em******ance, and which didn't really inspire me.

Just as a rough guide, I'd like to know whether this is the norm? I want to do something constructive with my spare time, but really do want to make sure that I'm volunteering to help an organisation which appreciates the effort its volunteers put in.

Volunteers
 

Hi Beauman,

Weather was cruddy this weekend for your Maggie trip - we will do it soon!

The Shuttleworth Collection would, I am sure welcome you with open arms.

PM Airbedane (active on the 'Shuttleworth Feedback' thread) for the definitive position.

Whilst I do fly from there, Ab is the man!

VBR

HP

Many thanks HP, I shall drop Airbedane a PM this afternoon. (followed swiftly by a few moments kneeling on the good weather prayer mat :ok: )

BeauMan

Some places like volunteers, others won't use them.

The problem is that often volunteers will only do the job they want to do, not what neccesarily needs doing. Often they will not annotate or record exactly what they are doing, which can lead to "oops I can't put it back together" moments, especially on obscure a/c.

At Duxford, every volunteer MUST be supervised by one member of staff.

Enthusiasm is great, but sometimes it is cheaper to get the professionals in.