RAF museum
I must say when the year 1903 is casually mentioned in sentences, the Wright brothers do not instantaneously spring to mind. Thus, on Tuesday, I went to the RAF museum in London to become more acquainted with the intricacies of aeronautics and its esteemed history.
When meandering around the museum it became quickly apparent that flying had been a concept that started many years before 1903 (for those who do not know, 17 December 1903 represents the first powered flight by the Wright brothers in Kittyhawk, California). The exhibition started in the pre-1903 period, with various balloons and gliders combined with literature stating the initial importance of the UK, Germany and France to aeronautics. After viewing the early planes of the post-1903 period, I started to focus on the 1939-1945 period. On show, was the Lancaster and its sheer size, power and incredible history of completing 137 missions was something to behold. In complete contrast, the Messerschmitt Bf109E (Germany’s principal fighter during the Battle of Britain) reinforced the brutality and massive losses that occured over the period.
The postwar period for aeronautics provided a greater degree of sophistication in design. I was particular impressed by the design of the 1952 Vulcan bomber. The Vulcan’s wing-span and streamline nature would undoubtedly be a ferocious weapon in battles. Unfortunately, due to the vast amount on display it was extremely difficult to absorb anymore and thus will return at a later date. For people that are interested, I would strongly recommned planning your visit as it is practically inconceivable to visit all the attractoins in one visit. On reflection, I was delighted to see an attraction of such significance and its evolution over the various periods.