Hi all,
After running out of family to see, I decided it was time for a much needed visit to the Royal Air Museum at Hendon. My last visit was in 2015 and I knew that there had been a fair bit of change since then, mostly due to the RAF 100th anniversary. I have also seen on various forums that some unique aircraft have been shuffled about or even moved out of the collection entirely, to the displeasure of some. The collection still looks good in my opinion despite all that and the only thing I missed was having all the appropriate types together in what was the Battle of Britain Hall.
That building is now called Hangar 1 and is the main entrance to the museum. It also has lots of kid engaging stuff and a gift shop but very few aircraft and will be a shock to those who remember how it used to be. The rest of the site is pretty much as I remember it, albeit with aircraft being moved about and a few new additions. The wife and I spent a good part of the day here and I made sure that I was first in and did a quick race around to get lots of people free photographs before going around again and spending much more time taking it all in. It opened at 10am and by 11am photography would still have been possible but you would spending ever more time waiting for people to move out of the way. Admission is free of charge although there are plenty of opportunities around to donate.
The many photographs can seen at;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72177720313697863
The site changes as I saw them were;
Milestones of Flight Hall which I thought was the old entrance is now called Hangar 6 and covers “The RAF in an age of uncertainty 1980 – today”
Bomber Hall (Hangar 5) is not called that now and is grouped with Hangars 3, 4 & 5 which all cover “War in the air 1918-1980”. Having said that most of the bombers are still in Hangar 5.
Grahame-White Factory is now called Hangar 2 and covers “The First World War in the air 1914-1918”
As mentioned above, the Battle of Britain Hall is now called Hangar 1 and covers “RAF Stories: The first 100 years 1918 – 2018 & RAF: First to the future”
The aircraft movement details below are my take on what the differences were between my log from 29th October 2015 and 27th December 2023.
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On display outside:
(BAPC.205)/P2725/TM-B, Hawker Hurricane IIc FSM, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
(BAPC.206)/TB288/HT-H, Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire IX FSM, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
Change notes: 853 Omani Hunter FR.10 was moved to Cosford in March 2017.
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Hangar 1: RAF Stories: The first 100 years 1918 – 2018 & RAF: First to the future
F1010, Airco DH.9A, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (WA8459AMA)
XR977, Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.1, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (FL574)
(BAPC.341), Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II FSM, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
ML824/NS-Z, Short Sunderland V, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
BL614/ZD-F, Vickers Supermarine Spitfire VB, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (CBAF/1646)
XZ585/A, Westland Sea King HAR.3, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (WA.851)
Hangar 1 change notes:
This building was formerly known as the Battle of Britain Hall.
Current inmates – F1010 Airco DH.9A was moved here from Hangars 3 & 4. XR977 Gnat T.1 is new to Hendon and moved here December 2017 from Cosford. BAPC.341 F-35A FSM moved from Milestones of Flight Hall during December 2017. BL614 Spitfire Vb moved from Milestones of Flight Hall by 2018. XZ585 Sea King HAR.3 is new to Hendon and moved here from HMS Sultan during December 2017
Past inmates – N1671 Defiant 1 moved to Cosford in 2016, 10001 Bolingbroke IVT moved to Cosford in November 2022, E.3B-521 Jungmann not seen and believed to now be at RAF Stafford, T6296 Tiger Moth moved to Cosford in 2016, MM5701 Fiat CR.42 moved to Hangar 3, BAPC.92 Fi 103 (V-1) moved off site in November 2016 and assumed to be at the RAF Museum at Stafford, K8042 Gladiator moved to Cosford in 2016, P2617 Hurricane I moved to Hangar 4, P3175 Hurricane I last noted July 2016 and assumed to be at the RAF Museum at Stafford, 701152 He 111-H20 moved to Hangar 5, 494083 Ju 87G-2 moved to Hangar 5, 360043 Ju 88R-1 moved to Cosford in February 2017, 4101 Bf 109E-3/B moved to Hangar 5, 730301 Bf 110G-4/R6 moved to Hangar 5, A2-4 Seagull V moved to the RAF Museum at Stafford during 2017, X4590 Spitfire I moved to Hangar 5 & R9125 Lysander III moved to Hangar 5.
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Hangar 2: The First World War in the air 1914-1918
(ZK-TVD)/D7343/17, Albatros D.Va replica, Royal Air Force Museum (0083)
(G-EBJE)/E449, Avro 504K, Royal Air Force Museum (927)
(BAPC.107), Bleriot Type XXVII replica, Royal Air Force Museum (433)
(BAPC.165)/E2466, Bristol F.2b Fighter, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
(G-AETA)/3066, Caudron G.III, Royal Air Force Museum (7487)
8417/18, Fokker D.VII, Royal Air Force Museum, German (unknown)
(BAPC.181)/687, Royal Aircraft Factory Be.2B, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
(BAPC.400)/A6526, Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b replica, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(ZK-TVC)/A3930/B, Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 replica, Royal Air Force Museum (0002)
F938, Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (688/2404)
F6314/B, Sopwith 1F.1 Camel, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(BAPC.353)/C3988, Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
N5912, Sopwith Triplane, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(G-ATVP)/2345, Vickers FB.5 Gunbus replica, Royal Air Force Museum (VAFA-01 & FB.5)
Hangar 2 change notes:
This building was formerly known as the Grahame-White Factory.
Current inmates – no changes
Past inmates – not relevant as above
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Hangars 3, 4 & 5: War in the air 1918-1980
Entrance to hangars 3, 4 & 5:
K4232, Avro 671 Rota I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (954)
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Hangar 3: War in the air 1918-1980
XW323/86, BAC Jet Provost T.5A, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (EEP/JP/987)
XS925/BA, BAC Lightning F.6, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (95258)
(G-ABBB)/K2227, Bristol Bulldog IIA, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (7446)
VT812/N, de Havilland Vampire F.3, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
WE139, English Electric Canberra PR.3, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (71110)
MM5701/13-95, Fiat CR.42, Royal Air Force Museum, Italian (326)
(N5628), Gloster Gladiator II (wreck), Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
WH301, Gloster Meteor F.8, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(G-ABMR)/J9941/57, Hawker Hart II, Royal Air Force Museum (H.H-1)
NV778, Hawker Tempest TT.5, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
MN235/I8-T, Hawker Typhoon 1B, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
XV424/I, McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (3084)
(4101)/+12, Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3/B, Royal Air Force Museum, German (4101)
FE905, Noorduyn AT-16 Harvard IIB, Royal Air Force Museum, LN-BLM, United Kingdom (14A-639)
ZE887/GF, Panavia Tornado F.3, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (753/AS092/3345)
(BAPC.366)/G-AEXF, Percival Mew Gull replica, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
XA302, Slingsby Cadet TX.3, Royal Air Force Museum, BGA3786, United Kingdom (844)
(BAPC.348)/E6655/B, Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe replica, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
N9899, Supermarine Southampton I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
LB264, Taylorcraft Plus D, Royal Air Force Museum, G-AIXA, United Kingdom (134)
(RW393)/TB675/4D-V, Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire LF.XVIe, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (CBAF/IX/4651)
K6035, Westland Wallace II, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
Hangar 3 change notes:
Current inmates – MM5701 Fiat CR.42 moved from Battle of Britain Hall, G-ABMR Hart II moved from Milestones of Flight Hall, NV778 Tempest TT.5 moved from Milestones of Flight Hall, 4101 Bf 109E-3/B moved from Battle of Britain Hall, BAPC.366 moved from Milestones of Flight Hall.
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Hangar 4: War in the air 1918-1980
RD253, Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(BAPC.436)/DD931/L, Bristol Beaufort VIII, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
XG474/O, Bristol Belvedere HC.1, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (13365)
WV783, Bristol Sycamore HR.12, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (12900)
(A29-556)/FX760/GA-?, Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk V, Royal Air Force Museum, Australian (29863)
WP962/C, de Havilland Canada Chipmunk T.10, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (C1/0809)
XG154, Hawker Hunter FGA.9, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (S4/U/3387)
P2617/AF-F, Hawker Hurricane I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
A16-199/R, Lockheed Hudson IV, Royal Air Force Museum, G-BEOX, Australian (414-6464)
(13064)/KL216/RS-L, Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, Royal Air Force Museum, Yugoslavian (unknown)
(KL110)/KK995/E, Sikorsky Hoverfly I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
X4590/PR-F, Supermarine Spitfire I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (6S.81254)
920/QN, Vickers-Supermarine Stranraer, Royal Air Force Museum, CF-BXO, Canadian (CV.209)
XW855, Westland Gazelle HCC.4, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (1050)
XV732, Westland Wessex HCC.4, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (WA627)
XP299, Westland Whirlwind HAR.10, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (WA342)
Hangar 4 change notes:
Current inmates – WP962 Chipmunk T.10 moved from Bomber Hall, P2617 Hurricane I moved from Battle of Britain Hall, KL110 Hoverfly I moved from Milestones of Flight Hall, X4590 Spitfire I moved from Battle of Britain Hall
Past inmates (Hangars 3 & 4) – G-FAAG Armstrong-Whitworth R.33 Gondola not seen but could have missed, XM463 Jet Provost T.3A to Cosford by November 2023, unknown Bristol Beaufighter IIF (forward fuselage), ZJ116 EH-101 Merlin moved to The Helicopter Museum/Weston-super-Mare during August 2022, K4972 Hart Trainer IIA to Cosford during April 2017, PR536 Tempest II to Cosford during January 2020, PK724 Spitfire F.24 last noted November 2022 and status unknown.
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Hangar 5: War in the air 1918-1980
MP425/G, Airspeed Oxford I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(VH-AZU)/W2068/68, Avro Anson 1, Royal Air Force Museum (unknown)
R5868/PO-S, Avro Lancaster I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
XL318, Avro Vulcan B.2, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
44-83868/N, Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Royal Air Force Museum, N5237V, United States (32509)
KN751/F, Consolidated Liberator VI, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (6707L)
TJ138/VO-L, de Havilland Mosquito B.35, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
L5343, Fairey Battle I, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
W1048, Handley Page Halifax II, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
(XM717), Handley Page Victor K.2 (nose section), Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (HP80/85)
(701152)/NT+SL, Heinkel He 111-H20, Royal Air Force Museum, German (701152)
120227/2, Heinkel He 162A-2 Salamander, Royal Air Force Museum, German (120227)
(494083)/RI+JK, Junkers Ju 87G-2, Royal Air Force Museum, German (494083)
(16336), Kawasaki Ki-100-1b, Royal Air Force Museum, BAPC.83, Japanese (16336)
730301/D5+RL, Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4/R6, Royal Air Force Museum, German (730301)
(191614)/191461/+14, Messerschmitt Me 163B-1A Komet, Royal Air Force Museum, German (191614)
(5439), Mitsubishi Ki-46 III Dinah, Royal Air Force Museum, BAPC.84, Japanese (5439)
(N51RT)/413317/VF-B, North American P-51D Mustang, Royal Air Force Museum (122-40949)
(LK488), Short Stirling III (tail section), Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
R9125/JR-M, Westland Lysander III, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (unknown)
10461, Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka II, Royal Air Force Museum, BAPC.99, Japanese (10461)
Hangar 5 change notes:
Current inmates – TJ138 Mosquito B.35 moved from Milestones of Flight Hall, L5353 Battle I moved from Battle of Britain Hall, 701152 He 111-H20 moved from Battle of Britain Hall, 120227 He 162A-2 moved from Battle of Britain Hall, 494083 Ju 87G-2 moved from Battle of Britain Hall, 191614 Me 163B-1A new to Hendon and moved from Cosford by May 2022, 5439 Ki-46 new to Hendon and moved from Cosford in October 2022,N51RT P-51D moved from Milestones of Flight Hall, LK488 Stirling III (tail section) new to Hendon and moved from Stafford store during 2023, R9125 Lysander III moved from Battle of Britain Hall.
Past inmates – 584219 Fw 190F-8/U1 moved to German Air Force Museum/Gatow during October 2023, 10639 Bf 109G-2 moved to Cosford during October 2016, N9115Z TB-25N moved to East Kirkby during November 2022, VS618 Prentice T.1 not seen and believed to now be at RAF Stafford, MT847 Spitfire FR.XIVe moved to Pima Air & Space Museum in 2022
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Hangar 6: The RAF in an age of uncertainty 1980 – today
ZG477, BAe Harrier GR.9A, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (P67)
(83-24104), Boeing-Vertol CH-47D Chinook (front fuselage), Royal Air Force Museum, United States (M.3034)
ZH588, Eurofighter 2000, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (DA2)
03-33119/CH, General Atomics MQ-1B Predator UAV, Royal Air Force Museum, United States (P-119)
XW547/R, Hawker Siddeley Bucanneer S.2B, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (B3-08-71)
64-0553, Lockheed WC-130E Hercules (nose), Royal Air Force Museum, United States (4048)
ZA457/AJ-J, Panavia Tornado GR.1B, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (259/BS087/3123)
XX824/AD, SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1, Royal Air Force Museum, United Kingdom (S73)
Hangar 6 change notes:
This building was formerly known as the Milestones of Flight Hall.
Current inmates – ZG477 Harrier GR.9A is new to Hendon from March 2018. 83-24104 CH-47D Chinook (front fuselage) moved from Hangars 3 & 4, 03-33119 MQ-1B new to Hendon in 2018, XW547 Buccaneer S.2B moved from Bomber Hall, 64-0553 WC-130E Hercules (nose) new to Hendon by July 2018, ZA457 Tornado GR.1B moved from Bomber Hall and XX824 Jaguar GR.1 new to Hendon from February 2018.
Past inmates – BAPC.296 Army Balloon Factory Nulli Secundus I gondola replica not seen and status unknown, XZ997 Harrier GR.3 moved to Cosford in October 2018, BAPC.106 Bleriot Type XI last noted October 2015 and assumed to be at the RAF Museum at Stafford, BAPC.100 Clarke TWK Glider to Gliding Heritage Centre at Lasham and noted there by me on 14th August 2021, DG202 Gloster F9/40 Meteor moved to Cosford by June 2018, 112372 Me 262A-2a moved to Cosford during May 201, BAPC.293 Supermarine Spitfire FSM moved to Langham Dome, Norfolk by August 2020.
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Photograph credits: Grant Robinson
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Best regards,
Grant Robinson
http://www.oxfordaviationgroup.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordaviationgroup
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums