Work has just started on the cockpit section of Lightning XP701. Member Clive Hammond was a Lightning technician in the RAF and worked on this airframe whilst serving. The cockpit section has been located outside our headquarters for many years now and has become a bit of a landmark. It has always been the museums intention to restore the cockpit with instruments and a seat, many of these items are already in storage. First job was to remove the canopy to allow safe access to the cockpit. Now removed, work will commence-cleaning and assessing water damage and restoring the units still fitted such as throttle controls and sub instrument panels. It is hoped that when the canopy is refitted we will be able to raise and lower it using its hydraulic actuator. Clive also worked on RAF Phantoms and is also part of the team recovering an F4J from the fire dump at Manston for the British Phantom Aviation Group. Thanks to Clive and Peter for their efforts.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN FILM CELEBRATION
50 years ago the iconic film “Battle of Britain” was released. The film featured a host of famous actors and of course “real” aircraft. One scene from the film features Susannah York and Christopher Plummer at “The Jackdaw Inn”. The pub was actually called the “Red Lion” and is situated in Denton near Canterbury, the present Landlord has renamed the pub
“The Jackdaw” in honour of the film. On the weekend of the 14th and 15th September the pub celebrated the release of the film with a beer festival, screening of the film, plus military vehicles, re-enactors and a display of Battle of Britain relics from our collection. This was the first time the event has been held and the Landlord hopes to repeat the event next year.
