Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird – Photo: American Air Museum | IWM Duxford
Recently, I was delighted to get an invite to the Imperial War Museum’s (IWM) inaugural re-opening of its American Air Museum (AAM) at Duxford in Cambridgeshire. The AAM opened to the public on Saturday 19 March 2016, after being closed for 12 months for major redevelopment work. I had the opportunity to get a sneak preview and to talk to some honorary guests, whose legacies form part of the new exhibition. A midweek event meant my trusty photographing sidekick of a son could not join me due to school. Given half a chance, he would probably have skipped to come with me.
Packed flight plan – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
The AAM is housed in a concrete semi-conical building with a glass front that faces the airfield and, as you can see from the AAM’s floor plan above, it’s packed full of aircraft that showcase some of the very best in US historical aviation.
Aerial Views of Duxford Airfield – Photo: IWM Duxford
I was met by IWM’s press officer, Esther Blaine, who gave me a quick rundown of the morning’s activities. After a quick coffee, cinnamon danish, and pit-stop, I milled around the main causeway for introductory speeches from historians Jenny Cousins and Carl Warner about the updated AAM collection. I had a delightful shock to the system when meeting a former school friend, and now an Associated Press photographer, in the small gathering. We hadn’t seen each other in roughly 20 years so we had to whisper during our brief reunion. Small world.
The AAM collection – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
Since nothing was getting airborne today, the mood was perhaps far more serene and relaxed than the recent Spitfire homecoming at SOU event or last year’s 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain spectacle. We were invited to walk among the displays at our leisure, ask questions of staff members who were floor-walking, and interview some of the honorary guests.
Link D2 trainer – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
Having briefly spent the afternoon in the flight deck of an Airbus A319 on stand at London Stansted (STN) the day before, I marveled at the world’s first instrument flight simulator. It is a Link D2 trainer, built by Link Aviation Inc in the 1930’s and now proudly at home among its bigger brethren in the AAM.
A-10A Thunderbolt II “Warthog” – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
It is difficult to pick a favorite among the aircraft, especially since being a child of the movies, I associate so many of them with some great flicks. Looking at the P51 Mustang takes me straight to Empire of the Sun and the “Cadillac of the Sky” moment. The B-25J Mitchell throws me into the world of Yossarian and Catch 22; a brilliant book and enjoyable film.
However, the A-10 tank buster sits on the summit for me. As a child, I recall the news footage of it action during the 1990 Gulf War and at about the same time my mother bought me an Airfix model of one to assuage my bitter disappointment at failing an important school exam. I still have it hanging on the ceiling in my son’s room as a reminder never to give up.
AAM collection’s P51 Mustang and B25J Mitchell – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
I was impressed listening to one of the honorary guests, military veteran Jack ReVelle, speak. Now this chap was involved in two nuclear accidents during his USAF career, one of which included leading a team to Goldsboro in North Carolina to recover and defuse the nuclear payload that had fallen from a crashed B-52 in 1961.
This information having been declassified since 2013, he very calmly described his team’s horror at finding the weapon’s switch set to “arm,” upon locating it.
Living legend, Jack ReVelle – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
After being introduced to Jack by an IWM employee, I had the courage to ask him a question. Get ready for it… “how would you describe your perfect Sunday?” His eyes widened and a bemused smile spread across his face and he said, “Well, I’d say watching a football or basketball game, having read the Sunday papers and having eaten a decent breakfast.” Looking at me as if I was certifiable, he then said “young man, that is the strangest question I’ve had all day” to which I said that I didn’t want to ask the same question about disarming nukes that had probably been asked by everyone else. He smiled and nodded, but I think he still wondered whether I was a lunatic.
Old and Older: MD F4-J Phantom II shadowed by a replica Spad XIII – Photo: Alastair Long | AirlineReporter
The AAM makes the claim that it contains the best collection of American aircraft on display outside of North America. I would love to test that claim. In any event, the re-vamped AAM serves to enhance an already superb civil and military aviation museum experience. When visiting the UK, I heartily recommend that all AvGeeks from across the Pond, and elsewhere, head up there and enjoy it.
Nice to see it has re opened,,,,,very good museum, but all of the Duxford collection is worth a visit.
I visited in about 2008ish, and it looks like its had some great changes since then – cant wait to re-visit it next time im in the Northern Hemisphere! Great write-up, brings back some good memories – thank you.
Do you have any duxford volunteer info. I worked in aviation for 25 years as an A&P. I also taught aviation. Master of Arts in Education, within the area of Curriculum And Instruction. 2003; Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety, spring 1992, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University European Division; University of Wyoming; Quaker City School of Aeronautics;. I was an Adjunct Faculty with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for four years Teaching Aviation Maintenance. Instructor with Catalina High Magnet School, teaching basic aircraft repair and maintenance, private pilot ground school, aerodynamics, meteorology, and aviation fundamentals. I worked at AMARC for 13 years.I HOLD PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. ,GROUND INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE WITH RATINGS ADVANCED,.MECHANIC CERTIFICATE WITH RATINGS AIRFRAME, POWERPLANT. I Plan to be near Duxford an hour North for the summer and have a UK work visa.