Martin4356111
Location : Prestwick
Spotter Watch Member : No
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 Subject: Report - Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley Airfield 2009-04-01, 10:36 |
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The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is a small museum on the site of the former Woodley Aerodrome near Reading. This excellent little museum is steeped in history, once the centre of a thriving aircraft industry with Miles and Handley Page aircraft being built here. The museum has recently opened its new extension, giving it almost twice the space to show off its collection of aircraft and artifacts.
The Miles M.100 Student, was the only aircraft of this type built. It crashed at Duxford on August 24th 1985. Designed in 1953 as a jet trainer for the RAF and Royal Navy (carrier bourne) in competition with the Jet Provost. However, lack of resources delayed it until too late for consideration. Interestingly, the pilot who crashed at Duxford was pronounced "clinically dead" for 20 minutes. Peter Hoar later recovered and went on to Captain Airbus aircraft for many years.
The Fairey Jet Gyrodyne was a British experimental compound autogyro built by the Fairey Aviation Company that incorporated helicopter, gyrodyne and autogyro characteristics. The Jet Gyrodyne was the subject of a Ministry of Supply research contract to gather data for the follow-up design, the Fairey Rotodyne. Scheduled for scrapping in 1961, the Gyrodyne was saved and is displayed at the museum as XJ389.
This Miles M.14A Hawk Trainer 3 was first used by No. 16 EFTS and then by No. 11 EFTS before being sold to BOAC for use by their Speedbird flying club. Registered as G-AKKY it flew until being withdrawn from use in November 1964. G-AKKY languishing for many years during which time the fuselage and centre section was destroyed. The remaining parts were bough and the replica constructed around these.
This is thought to be the most complete Miles Martinet in existence in the world. MS902 was originally used by the RAF station flight at Reykjavik in Iceland before being sold to a local flying club in 1949. Sadly in 1951, the aircraft came to grief in the far North East of the country where it remained until 1977. The intention was eventually to put it on display in Iceland however, the museum went to Iceland and negotiated the return of this historic aircraft to Woodley.
The gem in the Museums crown, the first production Herlad. Flown by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh during his tour of ten South American countries in 1962, the Herald has seen more than 14,000 man hours during her loving resoration by the Herald Society.
This Fairey Gannet T.5 came from Wales Aircraft Museum at Cardiff Airport in 1996. Unfortunately the aircraft has had to be hidden behind this fence as the years of British weather are now taking their toll on this venerable old aircraft and her undercarriage is no longer considered safe. What I would do to hear those engines roaring into life!
Mini link trainer.
Nimbus turboshaft engine from a Westland Wasp.
Concorde helmet, 12P Mk4 partial pressure type. Specially fitted to the crew during prototype testing and later converted for high altitude testing in the Tornado.
If you are in the area this museum is a must. PLease visit and help the museum preserve the history of aviation in Berkshire.
Hope you enjoyed the report!
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Tonks
Location : A secret airbase in Oxfordshire
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| Subject: Re: Report - Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley Airfield 2009-04-01, 10:55 |
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What a cracking looking museum and an excellent report... thanks for taking the time! Will try and visit at some point this year...
Tonks 8)
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Flaps
Moderator
Location : 478 miles NNW of Skegness.
Spotter Watch Member : No
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| Subject: Re: Report - Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley Airfield 2009-04-01, 12:57 |
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Me too,just love that "red square" BEA colour-scheme.
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Wallace
Location : Kinross
Spotter Watch Member : No
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| Subject: Re: Report - Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley Airfield 2009-04-02, 00:32 |
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So that's what happened to the Miles Student. A sad end for such a nice looking aircraft. It used to fly from Glasgow Airport, flown by Capt. Duncan MacIntosh. It was registered G-APLK in those days.
Nice little museum.
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| Subject: Re: Report - Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley Airfield |
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