Fly Past

102 FLYPAST May 2018

MUSEUMS BROOKLANDS

The project initially aimed
to restore the Bellman hangar
in-situ and improve the layout
and presentation of its exhibits,
a grant for which was offered by
the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
in 2001. But after further thought
it was decided to amend the idea,
and the concept of the Aircraft
Factory display was born.
Quite simply, Brooklands was
attempting to do what hadn’t been
done before. Instead of creating
another static exhibit hall, the aim
was to play on its heritage and
dedicate the new exhibition to the
manufacturing process. It was a
first – certainly for UK museums

• and, even better, would utilise a
  structure where aircraft had been
  built.
  Given the fitting aims of the
  scheme, a second application was
  made to the HLF – which proved
  fruitful, supplying £4.7m of the
  £8.4m needed to realise the
  project. Since November last year,
  the Brooklands Aircraft Factory
  and its associated Flight Shed have
  proved enormously popular as well
  as being unique in the world of
  aviation heritage.

All in pieces

On entering the hangar, the scene

is set as visitors are invited to use

a punch clock system in the same

way Vickers employees would

have done when signing in for

work. It’s a subtle reminder that

while this is now a museum, it

was once a workplace where you

were monitored frequently – and

would, for many, have represented

employment for life.

Moving into the hangar, two

things immediately strike the casual

observer. The first is the background

noise of an aircraft factory,

projected through hidden speakers

to convey the right atmosphere.

Machinery can be heard, as can the

‘clink’ of tools, metal against metal,

and general works hubbub. In the

cavernous surroundings of the

Bellman hangar, it’s a surprisingly

effective piece of showmanship, and

does much to enhance the ambience

of the exhibition.

The second object to draw you

in is Vickers Wellington IA N2980,

familiarly known as ‘R for Robert’

after its code letter. Its survival is

nothing short of miraculous. Having

crashed into Loch Ness, Scotland,

on December 31, 1940 on a training

flight, it was recovered in September

1985 and largely restored during the

following decade.

Early on, the decision was taken

not to fully renovate the bomber, and

much of the geodetic construction,

conceived by Vickers-based designer

Sir Barnes Wallis, is on show. This

innovative structural framework

proved light but incredibly strong,

meaning the Wellington could

absorb much punishment in service.

During its sojourn in the

workshops, N2980 occupied the

same hangar that now houses

the Aircraft Factory, before it

transferred to the new location. As

part of the move, the ‘Wimpey’ was

partially dismantled and moved out

of its former home for display in a

temporary location – the first time

it had travelled any distance on its

undercarriage since 1940.

Once the Bellman hangar was

relocated, the Wellington moved

back inside on July 25, 2017, and has

remained there ever since as the

centrepiece of the exhibition.

There’s a quiet dignity about

‘R for Robert’ that many find

moving, and it’s worth taking

a few moments to walk around

the aircraft and consider what

it represents – the early days of

Bomber Command during the war.

The original racetrack’s Members’ Banking

as it appears today.

A June 1945 view from nearly the same location. Note the wartime non-standard hangar

beyond the Members’ Bridge. This was the sister hangar to the relocated Bellman hangar

now housing the Aircraft Factory exhibition. KEY COLLECTION

Fashioning nacelles for Wellingtons at Brooklands in December 1939. The photographer seems to
have drawn an interested crowd to the rear of the workshop. KEY COLLECTION

The Wellington production line at Brooklands in December 1939. The geodetic design is readily

apparent in this view. KEY COLLECTION

Record-breaking Supermarine Swift F.4 WK198 on display at Brooklands.