Latest news with #HawkerSeaHawk
The Herald Scotland
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
High flying National Museum of Flight reaches half century
The Museum's creation followed the donation of a Supermarine Spitfire to the Royal Scottish Museum (now National Museums Scotland) in 1971. Unsuitable for display in Edinburgh, it was instead stored in a hangar at the former RAF airbase at East Fortune. Further aircraft donations followed, including a Hawker Sea Hawk from RNAS Lossiemouth, before the Museum of Flight opened its doors on Monday, July 7, 1975, displaying many of the aircraft that remain popular today. The National Museum of Flight's collections have since evolved into a world-class showcase of civil and military aviation. Exhibits include an Avro Vulcan delta-winged bomber as well as an RAF Red Arrows Hawk T.1A that took part in a flypast over Edinburgh in 1999 to celebrate the opening of the Scottish Parliament. READ MORE: Astonishing exhibition proves there's still something about Mary Queen of Scots Scottish band to have track housed at virtual Spanish Civil War museum Perth Museum celebrates first birthday after 'remarkable' year of success The attraction's most famous exhibit is Scotland's Concorde, which arrived in 2004 following an epic 16-day journey by land and sea from Heathrow Airport. The iconic aircraft now sits as the centrepiece of a special exhibition about the story of supersonic flight. In recent years, the Museum has undergone significant development including the transformation of two former Second World War buildings into the new Fortunes of War and Fantastic Flight galleries. Another major milestone came in 2016 with the restoration and redevelopment of two Second World War hangars which now house an impressive collection of civil and military aircraft presented alongside interactives and films that tell the stories of those who flew them. Conservation work completed in 2024 also means that the site's Second World War blast and air raid shelters can now be explored. This Summer the National Museum of Flight is offering a special programme for visitors, including its popular 360 Fest on September 6. The event features high-energy mountain bike stunt shows, pedal-powered activities, circular circus workshops and STEM-themed sessions. Concorde at the National Museum of Flight Throughout the season, there will be a series of engaging lunchtime talks about the Second World War from Ian Brown, assistant curator of aviation with topics ranging from the Enigma machine to the RAF's food production efforts and the wartime bombing of Haddington. Visitors will also be able to borrow a Second World War satchel packed with contents that offer a glimpse into RAF life during the Second World War and allow families to discover some of the skills required to be part of the Special Operations Executive. They can also test their code-breaking skills in the Second World War Puzzle Room. Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: 'This is a hugely exciting milestone for the National Museum of Flight. For five decades, we've been telling the story of flight in Scotland and beyond, inspiring visitors through our iconic aircraft, fascinating interpretation and displays, and our unique location. "As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we're proud to look back on our remarkable history and delighted to offer a summer of engaging events that will entertain and inspire our visitors about the science and story of flight.' The National Museum of Flight is open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm. Tickets can be booked online at
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thiruvananthapuram's Sea Hawk brings back memories of 1971 war
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy which participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak War is the pride of Thiruvananthapuram city. The Hawker Sea Hawk IN-174 sits majestically on the Jawahar Bala Bhavan premises facing the busy Palayam-Vellayambalam stretch. The carrier-based plane was used for ground attacks. The Sea Hawk, perched on INS Vikrant,was part of the squadron that bombed the Chittagong Port in present-day Bangladesh. Chittagong was a crucial eastern base of the Pakistan Navy then. The weapons it carried included four 40 mm guns, two 1000 LBS bombs, four 500 LBS bombs and 24 rockets. The subsonic aircraft's ceiling height was 40,000 feet. The board near the aircraft reads: 'In 1971 Indo-Pak war the aircraft was launched from INS Vikrant for attack on Chittagong Port'. During 1980s, the Navy donated the aircraft to the Jawahar Balbhavan which offered a course on aeromodelling. Originally, the aircraft was kept in the open, left to elements. It was the intervention of the then President APJ Abdul Kalam that helped the aircraft regain its glory. In 2006, Blessen Siby, a Tiruvlla resident wrote to Kalam seeking his intervention. Within a week, the President's Office wrote to the chief secretary seeking follow-up action. Unfortunately, in a classic case of red-tapism, the state government acted on it after 10 long years. In 2016, the government and the Indian Navy jointly conducted the repair works. The Navy repainted the plane and erected a board displaying its details.
