What's On This Month, August 2008
Set Course For A Trailblazing Exhibition
31 May
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31 December
Many people identify the Golden Age of aviation as the period between the two World Wars, a time when young men and women sought thrills, danger and, ultimately, international recognition through trailblazing aviation exploits that set the world alight.
This small group of pioneers were the first to conquer oceans and seas or just the physical and mental demands of long distance flying, without the comfort of the modern technologies that we take for granted today, making their achievements, for many, even more wondrous.
In this the Centenary Year of British Powered Flight, the Royal Air Force Museum has decided to honour this band of intrepid aviators with a free six month exhibition. ‘Trailblazers’ focuses on four individuals whose courage, grit and determination captured the world’s imagination during the 1920s and 30s.
•Alex Henshaw, Spitfire Test Pilot and British Air Racer who flew in 1939 from London to Cape Town covering all 6,377 miles in just over 39 hours, a few short months before the outbreak of World War II.
•Amy Johnson who, in 1930, became the first woman successfully to complete a long distance solo flight to Australia – in a second-hand De Havilland Gipsy Moth.
•Francis Chichester, a superb navigator who, in 1931, was the first to make a solo east-west crossing of the Tasman Sea in his Gipsy Moth.
•Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to cross the Atlantic single-handed in 1927, with just a compass and the stars to navigate his way.
On 31st May ‘Trailblazers’ will re-introduce these pioneers, their achievements and aircraft associated with them to a new generation of young explorers in the appropriately named Milestones of Flight Hall at the Museum’s London site.
For further information, please call 0208 205 2266
Aeronauts Olympics
8 August
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24 August
Young Aviators 5+ are invited to participate in a trail containing 7 challenges that will test their physical dexterity, reaction times and agility in a series of fun tasks which, in accordance with the Olympic Spirit, help promote teamwork and friendly competition.
Will they be able deliver a package on target in our Drop Zone challenge? Using only a column of air can they successfully guide in under a minute a Flying Ball through a suspended hoop and into the waiting basket? Who is able to spot our craftily hidden Spitfires the fastest?
At the end of each task team members will be awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold dependent on their success. At the end of the trail, each child’s medal scores are then totted up after which they participant will be awarded a certificate stating that they are a successful Aeronaut Olympian.
Attached to the trail will be an exhibition about medals and why they are awarded which will cover the history of Olympics, pictures of famous Olympians wearing medals, plus a full description of what medals are awarded by the Royal Air Force to its personnel.
For further information, please telephone 020 8358 4896
Fantasy Flying Summer - Flying Horse Week
18 August
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22 August
Come along and make your very own flying horse.
Activity times: 11.00 am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm
There will also be story time each day at 3:30pm about Pegasus, the flying horse, who helps Bellerphon, the brave prince of Corinth, defend his life against the evil Chimera.
A small nominal charge of £1 will be levied for each child attending this activity. In return, they will receive a fun information booklet filled with activities and puzzles all about fantasy flight – including a dragon word search, “Find the Faeries” picture puzzle, plus the secret of how magic carpets fly, plus much more. In addition to this they will also receive all the materials that they need to make and decorate this week’s fantasy flyer.
For further information, please telephone 020 8358 4896
Fantasy Flying Summer - Magic Carpet Week
25 August
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29 August
Make your own magic carpet and learn how they can fly!
Weaving carpet activity from 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
There will also be story at 3:30pm each day about how Granny flies around the world on her magic carpet, shopping for amazing treasures in all the places that she visits.
A small nominal charge of £1 will be levied for each child attending this activity. In return, they will receive a fun information booklet filled with activities and puzzles all about fantasy flight – including a dragon word search, “Find the Faeries” picture puzzle, plus the secret of how magic carpets fly, plus much more. In addition to this they will also receive all the materials that they need to make and decorate this week’s fantasy flyer.
For further information, please telephone 020 8358 4896
We make every effort to adhere to our published schedule.
However, dates may vary without notice. Please confirm dates and times
prior to the event to avoid disappointment.
