01 June 2009

Typhoon's arrival generates excitement at Duxford

As reported last month in Aviation Museum Guide News, Imperial War Museum Duxford has recently taken delivery of Typhoon Development Aircraft 4 (ZH590), which was gifted to the Museum by the Ministry of Defence in 2008. DA4 was used in the early stages of the Typhoon's development, prior to full production.

The Typhoon is an extremely agile, multi-role combat aircraft. Its capability makes it the natural successor to several aircraft already on display in AirSpace at Imperial War Museum Duxford, including the Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado.

A British-built two-seater, Typhoon DA4 made its maiden flight from Warton, Lancashire on 14 March 1997. It was flown for the first time by an RAF crew in April 1998, and in the same year it flew in formation with the Red Arrows at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. In June 2000, it was announced that Typhoon DA4 had completed the first successful night flight by a two-seat developmental aircraft.

In December 2001, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, the UK's former Chief of the Air Staff and now Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, became the first non-RAF test pilot to fly the Eurofighter when he took control of the DA4 during a 60-minute flight from BAE Systems' Warton facility. During this flight, the Typhoon achieved speeds in excess of 900mph.

In April this year, the RAF's Recovery Team carefully disassembled the aircraft in-situ at RAF Coningsby and transported the aircraft to Duxford, where personnel from RAF Coningsby will work with Imperial War Museum Duxford's Conservation Department to re-assemble the aircraft and carry out conservation work, in preparation for its unveiling as part of the IWM Duxford collection during summer 2009.

It is planned that Typhoon DA4 will be displayed in pride of place in AirSpace, Imperial War Museum's newest exhibition which tells the story of British and Commonwealth aviation.

Richard Ashton, Director of Imperial War Museum Duxford said " We are delighted to receive the Typhoon and very much look forward to displaying this exceptional aircraft at Duxford. I would like to thank RAF Coningsby for their sterling support and to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the Ministry of Defence."

Group Captain Hitchcock, Station Commander, RAF Coningsby, said " We are pleased to support the Imperial War Museum with the move of DA4 to Duxford. Typhoon is a very important aircraft for the RAF; and an exciting aircraft for aviation enthusiasts. Members of the public now have an opportunity to see one 'in the flesh'."

BAE Systems is the British partner in Eurofighter, which manufactures the Typhoon, and a major supporter of Imperial War Museum Duxford, having contributed significantly to the building of AirSpace.

The gifting of the Typhoon to Imperial War Museum Duxford enables the museum to further develop the narrative of technological innovation in military aircraft that is already told throughout the museum.