16 FLYPAST August 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Yorkshire Air Museum Avro makes historic trip to Paris
Avro 504K reproduction ‘9828’
(formerly ‘H1968’) was recently
transported from its home at
Elvington, Yorkshire to Paris, France,
where it was the subject of an open air
exhibition celebrating over 100 years
of co-operation between the French Air
Force and the RAF.
The Yorkshire Air Museum’s biplane,which was originally built to fl ying
standard by apprentices at RAF Halton
in 1968, was loaded onto a truck
operated by Hull-based Middlegate
Europe on Monday the 21st and arrived
at its destination on the Thursday.
From then until Monday, May 28, it was
on show outside the French capital’s
Hôtel national des Invalides, a famous
17th century hospital, courtyard and
cathedral built by Louis XIV.
The Avro was showcased alongsidea French SPAD VII fi ghter on loan
from the Conservatoire de l’air et de
l’espace d’Aquitaine in Bordeaux. It’s
believed to be the fi rst time aircraft
have ever been displayed at this
location, and the event provided an
opportunity for a joint declaration by
ACM Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the
Air Staff, and his French counterpart
Général André Lanata, reinforcing the
ongoing cooperation between the two
air arms.
During his address, ACM Hillier said:
“Of all the visits I am making this year
to mark the centenary of the RAF,
the one with the greatest historical
signifi cance is my visit to France.”
The opening of the exhibition was
completed by a fl ypast from a French
Dassault Rafale jet.
Yorkshire Air Museum director Ian
Reed described it as an unprecedented
occasion. “It’s the fi rst time anymuseum has undertaken a display
of this kind in perhaps the most
prestigious location in France, where
many occasions of State take place,”
he said. “We are very privileged to
have been asked by the RAF to assist
in this unique celebration of over 100years of co-operation. The ties which
bind our two countries remain strong,
even as ‘Brexit’ looms, and will remain
so into the future.”
http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.orgAvro 504K ‘9828’ at the Hôtel national des
Invalides with Union Jack and French fl ag.The Avro (left) and SPAD VII on
display in Paris.Dignitaries, including ACM Sir Stephen Hillier (left) and Général André Lanata (second right) in
front of the Avro.The Yorkshire Air Museum’s Avro 504K is
loaded for transportation at Elvington on May
- ALL NEILL WATSON-YAM