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Event

Title:: Alex Henshaw : A Life In Art
When:: 03.02.2009 - 31.03.2009
Where:: RAF Museum London - Hendon
Category:: Exhibitions

Description

Born in 1912, the son of a wealthy Lincolnshire businessman, Alex Henshaw took up flying at the age of 20, embarking on what was to become a twenty-eight year career in aviation. European touring and competing in air races in the United Kingdom with increasing success, provided the experience which led to his triumph in the 1938 King’s Cup Race. In the following year he undertook a solo flight from London to Cape Town in a world record time which established Henshaw as an aviation legend and a household name by the start of the Second World War.

With the outbreak of hostilities, Henshaw’s unique talents as a pilot together with his acknowledged organisational abilities secured him the job of Chief Production Test Pilot for the Vickers-Supermarine Company. Flying mainly at Castle Bromwich, he tested over 2,360 aircraft including every Mark of Spitfire as well as Lancasters, Sea Otters, Wellingtons and many other types.

The war concluded, he pursued a brief career as a commercial pilot until 1948 when Alex Henshaw retired from flying to concentrate on running the family business.

It was Henshaw’s publishers who, in 1979, first put Alex in touch with the artist Michael Turner, from whom they wished to commission the dust jacket for Henshaw’s auto-biographical “Flight of the Mew Gull”. This commission lead to a lifelong friendship and a unique collection of paintings detailing Henshaw’s aviation exploits from 1932 to 1948.

“Alex Henshaw – A Life In Art” vividly portrays these events, providing dramatic insights into the bravery, stamina and ingenuity of a true “Trailblazer” - one of this country’s greatest aviation pioneers of the Golden Age of Flight.

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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