#colindale

Royal Air Force Museum London

It may seem odd to find a museum of this scale outside of central London, but where else than the former Hendon Aerodrome would have enough space for all the hangars required to house all these planes? For those with a particular interest in the history of the RAF, a trip to Colindale (if going by tube, do not alight at Hendon – it’s further away) will definitely be worth it. Just maybe go on a weekday during term time if you want to avoid a lot of enthusiastic younger visitors…

The aerodrome – one of the first civilian airfields – that was once on the site was first requisitioned to be a Royal Naval Air Station in 1914 for the training of new pilots, and then fell under the control of the newly-formed Royal Air Force in 1918. After World War I, the first RAF Display was held at Hendon in 1922 - the only chance for most civilians to see the skills of RAF pilots. In World War II, the aerodrome served briefly as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain, but was primarily used for transport. Use of the airfield declined after WWII, with the last flight in 1968, and it was decided to use two of the hangars for the new RAF museum, which opened in 1972.

The museum has expanded over the years, both in terms of collection and physical size, currently consisting of six main hangars. The point of entry, Hangar 1, was refurbished for the centenary of the RAF in 2018, and houses two exhibitions – one on the first 100 years of the RAF, the other exploring the development of technology in aerial warfare.

Hangars 2 through 5 could all be described as the “historic” displays. Hangar 2 has an exhibit on the early days of flight at Hendon Aerodrome, though the majority of the space is given over to fighter aircraft from WWI – mostly biplanes and triplanes. Hangars 3, 4 and 5 contain aircraft from the 1920s up to the end of the Cold War; these hangars are undoubtedly home to the most famous names – Spitfire, Lancaster, Hurricane, Typhoon, Lightning, and Vulcan.

Finally, Hangar 6 (another recently-opened exhibition) explores the RAF in “an Age of Uncertainty”, defined as 1980 to the present. A Harrier, Jaguar and Eurofighter are suspended from the ceiling, and flashy displays detail how the RAF has adapted its strategy and technology to face the modern world.