Before
heading home after our joyful stay at the seaside resort of
Eastbourne, we headed north towards the Gatwick Aviation Museum,
located next to Gatwick airport. This museum was originally started in
1987 as a private collection by local businessman Peter Vallance, and
became a registered charity in 1999 with the objective of providing
awareness of local aviation history and as an educational center for
the general public, particularly for local students and
schoolchildren. A close relationship exists between the museum and the
Central Sussex College which uses the museum's facilities to provide
practical training for the students taking aerospace courses.
This museum has a wonderful collection of British aircraft, showing
the timeline from post war to cold war in aviation terms. This
collection includes examples from some of the major British aircraft
manufacturers of this period, such as Avro, Hawker, Gloster, De
Havilland, English Electric, Blackburn and Percival.
The set-up of the museum allows you to get close and personal to the
historical important aircraft of the cold war era, shows you the key
role Gatwick played in the Second World War, let you discover how the
power of flight changed through a nice set of engines, ranging from
the piston to the modern turbo fan. There is also a nice set of
miniature aircraft models to take you through aviation history.
In the outdoor picnic area you have a nice view of the natural
surroundings and the outdoor displayed aircraft. And, as you are next
to Gatwick airport, you can enjoy airliner movements as well
see our page :
http://www.sbap.be/events/2019/044gatwick2019/044gatwick2019.htm.
One of the main attractions outdoor is the Avro Shackleton M.R.3 Phase
3 - "J" (WR982). During our visit we had the pleasure to be
tour guided 'through' this plane by Sqn Leader Mike Rankin, who flew
Shakletons during his career with the RAF. It was a most pleasant and
very insightful tour indeed. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
View
of the Gatwick Aviation Museum
(Google Earth) |
|
Gatwick
International Airport activities
(Courtesy Gatwick Airport ©) |
 |
|
 |
the
natural surroundings
(Marc Arys
©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
Indoor
Museum |
|
|
|
 |
Exhibition
of interesting archive pictures: Gatwick in the late 30's
(Marc Arys
©) |
 |
|
 |
Douglas
C-47B Dakota (44-74696) from BEA in 1950
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Sikorsky
S-76A and Sikorsky S-61N Mk II from British Caledonian 1980's
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Historical
overview of Gatwick : The begin
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
The
pioneer and the development
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Gatwick
1930's
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
During
World War II
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Post
War: the 1950's
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Modernisation
and the jet era
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
The
1980's: modernisation, expension and rapid transit system
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Dan
Air London Airspeed AS;57 Ambassador
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
The
Bristish Caledonian (1970 - 1988)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
The
Bristish Caledonian charm...
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
British
Caledonian DC-10
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Air
Europe UK (1979 - 1991)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
The
national pride: Concorde under British Airways colours
(Marc Arys
©) |
 |
|
 |
Link
trainer
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Entertainment
for the youngsters
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Fun
for the childs
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Thematic
exhibition like the Buccaneer
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Some
declassed RC models: Corsair
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Sea
Fury
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
B-17G
flying Fortress
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
617
Sqn Lancater...The Dambusters
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Hawker
Hurricane
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Spitfire
Mk XIV with the 350 (Belgian) Sqn markings
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
North
American AT-6 Texan
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Extra
EA.300
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|

 |
Westland
Whirlwind rotor servo control head
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Westland
Wessex instrument panel and HP Victor radar antenna
(Marc Arys ©) |

 |
|
 |
Buccaneer
target designator and aerial camera
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
ASV
21 radar and radar scope (Avro Shackleton Mk 3)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|

 |
Blue
Parrot radr ARI 5390
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Buccaneer
inertial platform and underwing 80 NM radar
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Aden
30mm gun
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Aden
30mm four gun system (Hawker Hunter)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |

 |
|
 |
AVPRO
Exint pod concept
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
RAF
flying suit
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
Engines |
|
|
|
 |
The
eyes of the Mamba...
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Lycoming O-540
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Continental
0-200
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
de
Havilland Gipsy Queen
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Blackburn
Cirrus
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Merlin
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Griffon
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Bristol
Hercules
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Bristol
Centaurus
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Dart
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Bristol
Proteus
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Nene
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
de
Havilland Goblin
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Armstrong
Siddeley Double Mamba
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Orpheus
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Nimbus
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Avon 208
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Armstrong
Siddeley Viper
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Spey
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Avon 301
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Blackburn
Turbomeca Artouste APU (Auxiliary Power Unit)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Armstrong
Siddely Gyron Junior
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Conway
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Armstrong
Siddeley Sapphire A7
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Rolls
Royce Olympus
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Pegasus
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
General
Electric CF-6
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
Aircraft |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
Gloster
Meteor T.7
The prototype trainer made its first flight on 19 March 1948 and the
Meteor T.7's maiden flight was on the 26 October 1948. The type
entered service with the RAF in December 1948. Meteors were the first
jet trainers in service and marked the end of the conversion from
piston powered aircraft to jets. Over 680 Meteor T.7 aircraft were
built with orders coming from the Royal Navy and overseas. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
de
Havilland Sea Vixen TT.8
The prototype of the Sea Vixen made its maiden flight on 26 September
1951. The production aircrafts maiden flight was on 20 March 1956 with
the first front line squadron being equipped from 2 July 1959. The
FAW. 2 variant first flew on 8 March 1963 and entered service with No.
899 squadron in December 1963. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
de
Havilland Venom F.B 50 MK. 1
The Venom succeeded the widely used Vampire. The prototype Venom (WV
612) first flew on 2 September 1949. Despite a cutback in initial
orders, over 370 F.B.1's were built. A large number of these were used
to equip squadrons based in Germany as a part of the 2nd Tactical Air
Force. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
Hawker
Hunter T.7B
Sidney Camm became Chief Designer of Hawkers in 1926, and remained in
that post until his death in 1966.
Camm and his team set to work, with a new design given the company
designation Type 1067 which took shape in late 1948. Metal was cut for
the first prototypes in late 1949, the first aircraft being finished
in July 1951. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
Hawker
Harrier G.R.3
The Harrier, the world's first Vertical Take Off and Landing jet
aircraft to enter military service. The first Harrier to fly was XV276
on 31 August 1966, this was one of six development aircraft. The first
production aircraft (XV738) made its maiden flight on 28 December
1967. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
English
Electric Lightning F53
The Lightning was small in export terms, only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
placed orders for an export version in December 1965. The single seat
fighters were modified variants of the F.3's designated as F.53's. The
variant had much needed additional fuel tank capacity with the
addition of a long ventral tank. The United Kingdom F6 variant was
later updated, based on the modifications embodied in the F53. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |

 |
|
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
(Marc
Arys ©) |
 |
(Serge
Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
 |
Nose
section of the English Electric Canberra PR.7 (WK146)
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outdoor
Museum |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
|
|
|
 |
(Marc
Arys ©) |
The
Shackleton was a development of the Lincoln, on 2 September 1955 the
Shackleton M.R.3 (WR970), made it's maiden flight. Superficially
similar to it's predecessors (M.R.1 and M.R.2), the M.R.3 was in fact
considerably different, so much that a new design number was allocated
to this mark, the Avro 716. This Type 716 Shackleton M.R.3 was in
response to crew feedback and observations. A new tricycle
undercarriage was introduced, the fuselage was increased in all main
dimensions and had new wings with better ailerons and also tip tanks.
The weapons capability was also upgraded to include homing torpedoes
and Mk 101 Lulu nuclear depth bombs. To reduce crew fatigue on 15-hour
flights, the sound deadening was improved and a proper galley and
sleeping space were included. Due to these upgrades, the takeoff
weight of the RAF's M.R.3's had risen by over 30,000 lb (13,600 kg)
and assistance from two Armstrong Siddeley Viper Mk 203 turbojets was
needed on takeoff with a 5 minute limit. The Griffons had to be run at
high power for very long periods after a heavyweight take-off so the
Vipers were later cleared to run for four hours continuously so lower
Griffon power settings could be used which reduced the risk of
failures. The extra strain took a toll on the airframe, and flight
life of the RAF M.R.3's was so reduced that they were outlived by the
M.R.2's. |
|
|
|
 |
(Mike
Badrocke © vie web) |
|
|
|
Avro
Shackelton M.R.3 - Phase 3 - "J" (WR982)
Certified on 26 February 1958 and delivered to 23 Maintenance Unit
(MU) on 4 March 1958. Allocated to 206 Sqn and coded 'B'. Despatched
to Woodford on 21 April 1958 for investigation into engine fading
incidents on free loan to Avro. Returned to St Mawgan on 13 June 1959
and reallocated to 206 Sqn. Moved to 49 MU in November 1959 for Phase
1 modification by Avro Contractor's Working Parties (CWP), which was
completed in January 1960, when issued to 203 Sqn and coded 'G'.
To Avro at RAF Langar in November 1961 for the Phase 2 update, and
retained for Phase 3 from 26 January 1962 on, when WR982 was handed
over to the MoA Air Fleet. Following conversion and contractor's
trials, WR982 was delivered to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental
Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down on 14 April 1964 for
certification release of Phase 3 armament, including bomb-bay heating,
auxiliary fuel tank jettisoning, special stores drops and an
investigation into vibration problems.
On completion on 20 May 1965 the aircraft was allocated to HSA for
refurbishing prior to RAF service. Arrived again at Langar on 25 May
1965 and on completion in November that year, WR982 was ferried to
Kinloss and issued to 120 Sqn as 'A'.
Armstrong Siddeley Viper Mk 203 turbojets were installed by HSA from
March till July 1966, when transferred to 201 Sqn and coded '1'.
To Kinloss for a wing change in February 1967, retaining 'J' code.
Moved on to 60 MU from March till May 1967 for fitment of the STR 70
radar altimeter and allotted to the Ministry of Technology on 4 August
1967, on loan for Viper takeoff trials (with water and methanol) and
clearance of the radar altimeter at the A&AEE.
Ferried back to Boscombe Down on 7 August 1967, WR982 remained until
28 November 1967, when the aircraft returned to Kinloss still as 'J'
until withdrawn from service in September 1970 and flown to Cosford on
6 October 1970 for use as an instructional airframe at the N°.2
School of Technical Training of the RAF, receiving the maintenance
serial 8106M.
'J' was offered up for sale by the Ministry of Defence in 1988 in
'fair condition' and was purchased by Peter Vallance of Charlwood...
indeed the same Peter Vallance who started the museum back in 1987... |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Sqn
Leader Mike Rankin
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Bomb
bay
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Griffon 58 (phase 3) V-12 engine
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
4
x de Havilland six-bladed constant speed contra-rotating propeller
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Exhaust
muffler
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Profile
view of the nose and the propellers
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Rolls
Royce Viper 203 exhaust
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Boost
engine (Viper 203) air intake
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Optically
flat gunner's windscreen and ventral bomber observation window
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Side
view of the gunner post
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Tailcone
observation window
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Other
view of the tailcone
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |

 |
|
 |
ARI
18144 ECM aerial and flare discharger
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Port
fin and rudder
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
Instrument
panel
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Left
pilot
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Right
pilot
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
Particular
control wheel steering
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
The
way to the forward observer post
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Bombsight
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |

 |
|
 |
Emergency
indication - Detail of the FE panel
#1 (Marc Arys ©) - #2 (Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Flight
Engeneer (FE) control panel
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
Rolls
Royce Viper turbojet totalizers
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Port
side signaler's station
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Tactical
Navigator station
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Attack
navigator's station and ploting table
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
Master
sonic station
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
ASV
instruments
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Secondary
sonic station
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
   |
Flares
stowage rack - Rest bunks on the port side - Kitchenet
#1 & #2 (Marc Arys ©) - #3 (Serge Van Heertum ©) |
   |
Rear
port observer station - Details of the observer panel - Smoke marker
#1 & #3 (Marc Arys ©) - # (Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
|
 |
Load
and clear
(Marc Arys ©) |
|
'Blue
Silk' radar equipment
(Marc Arys ©) |
 |
|
 |
Tailcone
access decking
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
|
Rear
observer station
(Serge Van Heertum ©) |
 |
(Gatwick
Aviation Museum via web) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
If
you are in the area, this museum is certainly worth a visit. More
details can be found by a simple click on the banner |
|
|
|