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Event

Title:: Trailblazers
When:: 01.10.2008 - 31.12.2008
Where:: RAF Museum London - Hendon
Category:: Exhibitions

Description

Many people identify the Golden Age of aviation as the period between the two World Wars, a time when young men and women sought thrills, danger and, ultimately, international recognition through trailblazing aviation exploits that set the world alight.

This small group of pioneers were the first to conquer oceans and seas or just the physical and mental demands of long distance flying, without the comfort of the modern technologies that we take for granted today, making their achievements, for many, even more wondrous.

In this the Centenary Year of British Powered Flight, the Royal Air Force Museum has decided to honour this band of intrepid aviators with a free six month exhibition. ‘Trailblazers’ focuses on four individuals whose courage, grit and determination captured the world’s imagination during the 1920s and 30s.

•Alex Henshaw, Spitfire Test Pilot and British Air Racer who flew in 1939 from London to Cape Town covering all 6,377 miles in just over 39 hours, a few short months before the outbreak of World War II.

•Amy Johnson who, in 1930, became the first woman successfully to complete a long distance solo flight to Australia – in a second-hand De Havilland Gipsy Moth.

•Francis Chichester, a superb navigator who, in 1931, was the first to make a solo east-west crossing of the Tasman Sea in his Gipsy Moth.

•Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to cross the Atlantic single-handed in 1927, with just a compass and the stars to navigate his way.

On 31st May ‘Trailblazers’ will re-introduce these pioneers, their achievements and aircraft associated with them to a new generation of young explorers in the appropriately named Milestones of Flight Hall at the Museum’s London site.

For further information, please call 0208 205 2266

Venue

Venue:: RAF Museum London - Website
Street:: Grahame Park Way
Postcode:: NW9 5LL
City:: Hendon
Area/Borough:: London

Description

The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain's only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation.

The Museum is situated on the site of the original London Aerodrome, used for the great Hendon Air Shows between the two World Wars. Five mammoth buildings contain over a hundred aircraft, artefacts, aviation memorabilia, fine art and photographs covering the history of aviation from early balloon flights to the latest jet fighters.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight, the Royal Air Force Museum expanded the site by a third and opened two new exhibition halls.

Admission to all areas of the Museum is FREE of charge.

Opening Times

Milestones of Flight     10.00-18.00
Historic Hangars    10.00-18.00
Bomber Hall        10.00-18.00
Grahame White Factory    10.00-12.00
Battle of Britain Hall    12.00-18.00

Aeronauts Interactive Centre
- Weekends & School Holidays     10.00-18.00
- Weekdays     10.30-16.30
Aeronauts will be closed to the public on Wednesday 3rd December for a school visit.
We would like to apologise for any disappointment that this may cause.

Last admission to the Museum is 17.30
The Museum will be closed for Annual Maintenance from 5 - 9 January 2009 inclusive.

Contact

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020 8205 2266 (General Information)

Directions

Bus: Route 303 passes the entrance to the Museum.

Tube: The Museum is 7 minutes walk from Colindale Underground station on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line. Alight at Colindale, not Hendon Central. Colindale is in Zone 4.

Rail: Mill Hill Broadway is the nearest rail station and is a 15 minute walk away. The station is on the Luton/Kings Cross/Thameslink line.

Map

Accessibility

Good facilities for disabled visitors with wide aisles to accommodate wheel-chairs. Staff members are happy to assist visitors to access all areas of the Museum.

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