Wellington restoration progress on show to visitors
The award winning Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford will be opening its doors to visitors for one special week to enable greater public access and understanding of the Centre's work. From Monday 14th to Saturday 19th March 2011, 10.15am -1.00pm, a range of aircraft and other artefacts in various states of restoration will be on display, including the Centre’s largest project, the Wellington Bomber.
Visitors will gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to aircraft conservation work and have a rare opportunity to view current projects including on-going refurbishments such as the Handley Page Hampden TB1, Spitfire Mk XIX and Range Safety Launch. This may also be the last opportunity to view the conservation efforts on the Mk1 Sopwith Dolphin which is nearing completion.
Visitors who attended the November Open Week will be able to see the significant progress on the latest arrival, the Vickers Wellington. Its famous geodetic fuselage structure designed by Barnes Wallis is now visible as the fabric covering has now been removed due to its desperate need of replacement. The extensive conservation work on the structure will take place at the Museum's Conservation Centre over the next four to five years.
The Vickers Wellington is one of the largest restoration projects in the Conservation Centre’s nine year history which has seen many new arrivals or established exhibition aircraft pass through its doors for conservation, restoration or maintenance.
Manager of the Conservation Centre, Tim Wallis says:
“The Museum’s Conservation Centre is not routinely open to the public, yet everyone who does gain access has invariably left with a smile and much enthusiasm for the work that we do here. I urge anyone who has not been to an Open Week before, to seize this opportunity to visit and experience our ‘Aviation Heritage’ for themselves. We look forward to extending a warm welcome to each new visitor and of course, if you’re returning to get an update, then we will say “Welcome Back!” Please remember that the MBCC is not normally open to the public, so we urge you to make the most of this opportunity by engaging in conversation with my staff. They will do their level best to answer your questions fully and honestly or discuss aircraft design, build methods, engineering practices and restoration difficulties. Come and join the many thousands who have visited to date and savour the atmosphere that surrounds these historic and iconic aircraft. We hope to see you all soon.”
Last year the Museum won ‘Small Employer of the Year Award 2010’ at The National Apprenticeship Awards 2010, which recognised the success of the forward thinking apprentice initiative and wider conservation training programme offered by the Museum’s Conservation Centre, which now successfully employs seven apprentices and one former apprentice who is now a full time Technician with the team.
Opened in May 2002 by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham, the MBCC is regarded as one of the world’s foremost centres of excellence in aircraft conservation and restoration. Its skilled technicians undertake careful, extensive work to prepare aircraft and other projects for display at both of the Museum’s sites in Cosford and London with the MBCC team responsible for the conservation and routine maintenance of some 300 aircraft.
Admission to the Conservation Centre is FREE and from 10.15am to 1.00pm each day during Open Week. Cosford’s main Museum will open daily from 10am – 6pm (last admission 5pm). Admission is FREE of charge. For further information, please contact the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org.
14.03.11
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