#boscombe down

[j-r-macready]

XE601/"Team Viper" by Neil Bates Via Flickr: Wearing the raspberry ripple scheme worn by the A&AEE at Boscombe Down,Wiltshire. Taken during the display at RAF Leuchars airshow 2010

[ricsur]

Sherlock Holmes, from viewpoint of Chief Inspector G Lestrade 

From the journal of Chief Inspector G Lestrade upon his retirement from Scotland Yard 

It in no small part that I owe my rise in Scotland Yard to my friend and ally Sherlock Holmes of 221b Baker street London. 

I had some other business in a case of fraud as I recall before my colleague Gregson summoned Sherlock Holmes to Launceston gardens and the strange death of Mr E Drebber. 

I found one…

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[bdacatoldsarum]

Three Retired Test Pilots Renew Old Acquaintances at BDAC

Three retired test pilots renewed old acquaintances last night at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Museum at Old Sarum in Wiltshire.

The occasion was a talk on Air Display Supervision at International Air Shows givenby Gp Capt Roger Beazley, including a behind the scenes look the shows safety and management and how challenges are faced by those involved.

The photograph shows W/Cdr Clive Rustin (far left) and W/Cdr Tim Mason (centre)with Roger Beazley.

Photography by Gerry Smyth.

[bdacatoldsarum]

The New Hangar Installation Commemorating Aviation in WW1

BDAC marked the centenary of the start of the First World War on the 4th August 1914 by unveiling an art installation in their hangar this Sunday, the 3rd August at 4 pm. BDAC received a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £3,700 in April this year, to mount an exhibition to commemorate the conflict and install the art work in the hangar. 

On Sunday 3rd August Boscombe Down Aviation Collection revealed the First World War Centenary Commemoration  to WW1. The installation in Hangar 1, by artist Jennifer Stokes, is inspired by the replica First World War bi-plane which BDAC has in its collection. The 5.3m x 2.3m art installation is made of fabric, wood and wire, which reflects the materials of early aircraft and has upon it images representing the view that the BE2B pilot might have had of the ground. It will be suspended from the rafters in the hangar in remembrance of the pilots of the Royal Flying Corps and all those, men and women, military and civilian, who supported them. 

The full scale replica bi-plane, the Royal Aircraft Factory BE2B, was made by BDAC members to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Boscombe Down in 2007. The BE2B was the first aircraft to land on Boscombe Down airfield in November 1917. 

Old Sarum airfield, where the collection is now housed, also opened in 1917 when the War Office requisitioned farmland near Ford village as a training base for the Royal Flying Corps for basic flying and fighter training. The first units arrived in August 1914. During that year, four hangars with the Belfast type of roof truss, were constructed on the site. The hangars, one of which now contains the BDAC exhibits, still remain at Old Sarum and are some of the very few WWI hangars of this type remaining in the country. 

Visitors to the collection can attend the unveiling at BDAC on Sunday and will be able to view the art work during the museum’s normal opening hours until the end of the year. The work is to be sold and the purchase price donated to BDAC and the Royal British Legion.

[bdacatoldsarum]

Nearly 23 years ago during the first Gulf War in 1991 a unique event happened. We chat to BDAC guide Sandy Beattie about the Paveway ii laser guided bomb.

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The BDAC Coffee Morning - Raising over £150 for the Museum

A big thanks to everyone who came along to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Coffee Morning at the United Reformed Church on Fisherton Street. In particular Steph and Pauline who organised and helped the team raise over £150 for the museum. A great morning with lots of amazing cakes!

[bdacatoldsarum]

On Saturday 5th October Boscombe Down Aviation Collection welcomed the Big Draw, an event to inspire creative drawing, with a theme of flight and planes. The museum and it's rich aviation history was the perfect location. The event kicked off our contribution to the Salisbury Arts Trail 2013 which sees the collection host a set of artists which include a wide range of artistic mediums from textiles to photography. The work that you can see at the museum are from textiles artists Kim Fulton, Jennifer Stokes and Angela Ambrose, and photographic work from Tim Sherwood and Grace Silver. We are number 38 in the arts trail so just follow the signs and come and see some wonderful work in a fascinating setting. You can pick up the full listings for the Salisbury Art Trail all around Salisbury which will give you full listings for the venues and artists taking part. For more information on opening times, click below http://www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk/Index_files/Page2438.htm