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-   -   Aviation nerd in London, England. What to see? (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/650356-aviation-nerd-london-england-what-see.html)

DHfan 18th Dec 2022 21:09

He's coming for a week, including Christmas, not a month.

effortless 18th Dec 2022 23:28

Is the collection just north of Gatwick still there? Fabulous visit if it is.

Sue Vêtements 19th Dec 2022 00:01

I was also going to mention the Cabinet War Rooms. Also, before you go, take a look at www.bombsite.org - It's a website showing locations of bomb damage from WWII (though it looks like it's not working at the moment)

When you walk up Exhibition Row to see the Science Museum, look at the stone walls of the buildings around you and how there are big chunks missing from the stone in places ... then go and look up that location on bombsite.org

jolihokistix 19th Dec 2022 01:29

Many are recommending Hendon but the OP has been there, done that, he says.

India Four Two 19th Dec 2022 01:50


Originally Posted by Brutha (Post 11350256)
Yes, to second other recommendations, the Science museum is worth a look. It's not the Smithsonian, but they have at least one really historic aircraft, the Vickers Vimy that Alcock and Brown crossed the Atlantic in

Make that two - the Supermarine S.6B that won the Schneider Trophy in 1931. Also on display is the trophy itself - without doubt the ugliest trophy I've ever seen!


The Schneider Trophy is a sculpture of silver and bronze set on a marble base. It depicts a zephyr skimming the waves, and a nude winged figure is seen kissing a zephyr recumbent on a breaking wave. The heads of two other zephyrs and of Neptune, the god of the Sea, can be seen surrounded by octopus and crabs. The symbolism represents speed conquering the elements of sea and air.
The description doesn't do it justice - you have to see it to appreciate it.

pmills575 19th Dec 2022 06:08

Gatwick Aviation Museum is still there and thriving, sadly it's closed from 19 Dec to Jan 5.

Davef68 19th Dec 2022 08:20

The Science Museum has so many historic aircraft - the S6B, the Vimy, the Spitfire/Hurricane pair, the P1127, the Gloster Whittle., the sole surviving Fokker monoplane The only downside is the presentation - so much packed into a relatively small area, and the ceiling/walls painted a really dark blue.

DHfan 19th Dec 2022 08:38

Amy Johnson's DH60 "Jason" too, showing that Amelia Earhart wasn't the only daring aviatrix in the '30s.

ZFT 19th Dec 2022 09:06

Apollo 10 is still there I believe

toratoratora 19th Dec 2022 11:09

Has to be Duxford!
Both the amazing American museum and the British ‘superhangar’ are worth going for just by themselves. Also, as mentioned, the Land Warfare museum is excellent, as is the Airborne Forces museum.

Best way is from Liverpool St to Cambridge-probably quickest to get off at Whittlesford and pre-arrange a taxi.
You will need a whole day…..

You will not be disappointed!

Brutha 19th Dec 2022 12:14


Originally Posted by meleagertoo (Post 11350416)
They would be no better informed if they believed that Alcock and Brown were the first either...

I always thought they did the first non-stop one; did I miss something?

DaveReidUK 19th Dec 2022 15:37


Originally Posted by Brutha (Post 11350863)
I always thought they did the first non-stop one; did I miss something?

They did. You didn't.

DHfan 19th Dec 2022 15:39

An RAF airship (L.34?) beat them by a few months, but they were the first non-stop in an aeroplane.

The US Navy beat them too but it took them three and a bit weeks, lots of stops and lots of aircraft.

I think I read once that far from being the first, as many Americans believe, Lindbergh was actually the 127th to cross the Atlantic by air.
It's a strange number to pull out of thin air so it could be right...

DHfan 19th Dec 2022 15:42

All these recommendations for Duxford, Old Warden etc. assume that the trains are going to be running to get there, and even more importantly, get back again.
I wouldn't even consider anywhere reliant on mainline trains.

DaveReidUK 19th Dec 2022 17:17


Originally Posted by DHfan (Post 11351001)
An RAF airship (L.34?) beat them by a few months, but they were the first non-stop in an aeroplane.

No, Alcock and Brown were the first non-stop, period.

They landed in Galway on 15th June 1919; L34's crossing (from east to west) took place on 2-6 July 1919.

The airship did, however make a return flight to the UK a few days after arriving in New York, so can claim to have made the first transatlantic return flight.

Tartiflette Fan 19th Dec 2022 17:58


Originally Posted by DHfan (Post 11351002)
All these recommendations for Duxford, Old Warden etc. assume that the trains are going to be running to get there, and even more importantly, get back again.
I wouldn't even consider anywhere reliant on mainline trains.


They don't assume that, they all recommend to verify .

meleagertoo 19th Dec 2022 19:05


Originally Posted by DHfan (Post 11350411)
This would be a good idea as many of the OP's countrymen believe that Lindbergh was the first to cross the Atlantic by air.


Originally Posted by Brutha (Post 11350863)
I always thought they did the first non-stop one; did I miss something?

So they were, but there's a critical difference between that and the post you were responding to which was re 'the first to cross by air'. No mention there of solo...

c52 19th Dec 2022 19:45

Closed until Jan 7th, but maybe other interested people are reading:

https://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/

punkalouver 20th Dec 2022 03:52

What if it turns out to be a nice warm sunny day and you like general aviation. You could go to White Waltham. I flew a Slingsby and a PA-28 out of there with an instructor several times. Or you could just watch(and see if you can peek at the interesting aircraft in the hangars) and grab a snack at the flying club or...........

.....spend some real money on a Spitfire ride at Biggen Hill(or just take the very good tour of their facilities and watch other people paying for Spitfire rides).

DHfan 20th Dec 2022 08:23


Originally Posted by DaveReidUK (Post 11351065)
No, Alcock and Brown were the first non-stop, period.

They landed in Galway on 15th June 1919; L34's crossing (from east to west) took place on 2-6 July 1919.

The airship did, however make a return flight to the UK a few days after arriving in New York, so can claim to have made the first transatlantic return flight.

That will teach me to rely on memory - and I only looked it up a a couple of days ago...


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