Fly Past

September 2018 FLYPAST 51

It must have meant a lot to have a
member of the Royal Family ‘cut
the ribbon’ at the official opening.
What did Prince Edward think of
the exhibits?
“His Royal Highness Prince Edward
had visited the museum with his
family a couple of years ago, so he
fully understood the transformation
the team has achieved. Our guests
will remember his visit for a long
time: he was very knowledgeable
and informed in conversations with
the RAF and its partners, as well as
showing real interest in
our staff, volunteers and
community partners.”

We understand there was a high
degree of sustainability practised
throughout the project. How did
this manifest itself?
“One of our principles throughout
the project was to re-use wherever
we could. That started with high-
level design decisions, such as not
building new structures. Instead we
chose to improve the current estate
through better plant, low-energy
lighting and bringing back our semi-
derelict 1931 supplies building into
use. We also avoided taking topsoil
and dismantled building materials
offsite, using them elsewhere
around the museum.“

During FlyPast’s visit, we were

especially taken with the emotive

story of the WAAF Noor Inayat

Khan GC, the radio operator who

became a Special Operations

Executive agent but was captured

by the Germans and executed.

What particularly stands out for

you among the new exhibits?

“We’re delighted to have brought

over 500 additional objects out

of our stores, many of which had

never been seen by the public

before. We’ve also taken new

objects into the collection and

borrowed a number of others, so

naming any one is impossible... but

I shall give you a few examples.

Firstly, I must expand on your

Noor Khan comment. We wanted

to include Noor because she is

such an inspirational RAF woman

with an incredible story; she was

a pacifist Muslim who joined the

RAF to fight Hitler’s tyranny and

was captured and shot by the Nazis

with the word ‘Liberty’ on her lips.

I think when we shared her history

with you we had a great story but

no real object to represent her.

That isn’t particularly a problem,

but as a museum we’re all about

the actual object so you can

imagine my excitement when one

of my curatorial colleagues burst

into my office bearing the logbook

of ‘Bunny’ Rymills, the RAF pilot

who flew Noor into occupied

France in his Lysander in 1944.

We now have the logbook opened

in the gallery at the page where

Noor’s flight is recorded.

My other choice would be

the Predator on loan from the

National Museum of the United

States Air Force (NMUSAF). It’s

a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)

• a drone – and represents the
  present, the future and many of the
  current debates around air power,
  including the vital role of the human
  being in decision-making and the
  importance of the RAF’s
  international partnerships. It’s also
  a great reminder that if museums
  are to fulfil our place as the
  holders of our national memory
  through material culture, we need
  to be collecting now to ensure
  that continuity – and to use our
  collections thoughtfully to pose
  questions about today
  and tomorrow.”

How has the public reacted to the

new-look museum so far?

“We have had wonderful feedback

from visitors. It was such a joy to

welcome the public in on our first

day and to hear their responses to

our transformation. Three quarters

of our visitors aren’t people who

are knowledgeable about either

the RAF or aircraft – they are

visiting a free-to-enter national

museum as a family day out. So

seeing them enjoying our new

exhibitions together and relaxing in

the sunshine in our beautiful green

landscape among the reminders

of our site’s aviation heritage is

very special.”

In your opinion, what will be

the legacy of this ambitious

transformation?

“We have worked closely with

the RAF and with our sister RAF

charities (the RAF Benevolent

Fund, RAF Association and RAF

Charitable Trust) to help deliver

the three key RAF100 purposes – to

commemorate, celebrate and to

inspire. I do hope that inspiration

will be a lasting outcome and legacy

of the Museum’s RAF Centenary

transformation. Inspiration from the

incredible achievements of the RAF

men and women featured in our

storytelling; inspiration from the

science, technology, engineering

and maths (STEM) engagement

embedded in our displays for all our

visitors; inspiration from engaging

with our terrific learning team at

both our Cosford and London sites;

and inspiration from just spending

time with friends and family in our

transformed spaces.

“Perhaps some of our younger

visitors will join the next generation

of engineers, inventors and pilots

• and be the next generation of
  FlyPast readers of course...”

Don’t miss it!

For more information on all the

exhibits at the RAF Museum London,

and its sister facility at Cosford

(which also has fresh displays to mark

RAF100), and forthcoming activities,

visit: http://www./rafmuseum.org

Clockwise from above left

While full-size legends, such as the Spitfi re

loom large, there are smaller features aimed

at attracting younger eyes... an important part

of the RAF Museum’s ethos.

The museum houses the 202 Squadron Sea

King helicopter fl own by HRH Prince William,

during his time as a search-and-rescue pilot at

RAF Valley, Anglesey.

Besides the full-size aircraft, interactive exhibits

will please younger visitors in particular.

Cold War classics, such as the SEPECAT Jaguar

and Tornado, keep company with the ultra-

modern Predator drone, to form new displays.

There’s also a pleasing range of airfi eld

vehicles to add variety.