RAF Centenary Celebrations Begin This Weekend

As most of our readers will know, the Royal Air Force celebrates their centenary as the world’s first independent air arm on April 1st. As such, the RAF Museum has been planning a series of events to celebrate this major milestone, and the party kicks off this coming weekend at RAF Museum Cosford in Shropshire with the 100 Years of the RAF Festival. The official press release continues as follows…

The ‘100 Years of the RAF Festival’ is taking place at RAF Museum Cosford on the April 1st and 2nd, 2018. Re-enactors, living historians, interpreters and a variety of entertainers bring the Museum to life with authentic experiences for visitors to enjoy.  A walk-through history, exploring the 100 years of the Royal Air Force, vintage vehicles and children’s activities will be nestled amongst the historical, pioneering aircraft on display and will engage visitors throughout their tour of the Museum site.

WHAT’S ON over the festival weekend: 

• Chat amongst Second World War pilots, have a go at plotting maps, or relax in the Officer’s Mess.
• Take aim and fire with a have-a-go anti-aircraft area. For the young and the young at heart, take a seat behind replica anti-aircraft guns and see whether you can catch the enemy (charges apply).
• Join family friendly interactive talks; get involved in tactical mapping, learn how to scramble to all manner of aircraft and explore RAF missions in the wider world.
• Wonder at the skills of pilots in the new Jet Age and practice your own Scramble to the Vulcan.
• Watch Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk500 and Bristol Hercules Mk216 demonstrations (2 April only).
• Meet the originators of the Royal Flying Corps and see up close what these young pilots undertook to defend our skies 100 years ago.
• Meet serving personnel from the RAF today and hear more about their roles.
• Marvel at some of the earliest technologies in flying machines, from bi-planes to airships, and hear how integral their roles were in making the Royal Air Force what it is today.
• Hear the stories of peacetime operations throughout history, the Royal Air Force’s wider community involvement, and its continuing spirit.
• Dress up in RAF attire and grab some props from the Museum’s handling collection and take photos as a memento of your day.

A walk-through RAF history will include a First World War display, have a go anti-aircraft game (charges apply), engine demonstrations (Monday only), plotting table, vintage vehicle display, interactive storytelling, Second World War Camp and a Vulcan Scramble to name but a few!  Activities and displays will be spread across the entire site for the FREE two day event which runs from 10am until 5pm both days. On arrival, make sure to pick up your free handy festival site plan to help guide you round the site and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the displays!

The Museum’s on-site caterers Kudos will be joining in the celebrations serving RAF100 birthday cupcakes, plus, wood-fired pizzas and ice-creams will be served from vintage vehicles outside the Visitor Centre all day.  The Museum will be operating a free shuttle bus service from Cosford train station for any visitors travelling by train or using the park and ride and will run continuously throughout the day.

The ‘100 Years of the RAF Festival’ will run from 10am to 5pm on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 April 2018.  On arrival, make sure to pick up your free handy festival map to help guide you round the site and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the displays!  The Museum will also be operating a free shuttle bus service from Cosford train station for any visitors travelling by train or using the park and ride and will run continuously throughout the day.

SPITFIRE 100K CHALLENGE –

To celebrate 100 years of the Royal Air Force, the RAF Museum has set a new centenary year challenge to complete 100K in 100 days. The Spitfire 100K Challenge is virtual and launches on 1 April 2018. Challengers have exactly 100 days to walk, jog or run 100km in a location of their choice. Participants will be given a distance log to record their 100K before being rewarded with a spinning propeller Spitfire 100K Challenge medal. Registration is still open via the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org with over 600 people signed up from multiple RAF bases and countries across the world including New Zealand, Canada, Japan and America. Limited edition Spitfire 100K Challenge T-shirts are also available to purchase when registering online.

The entry costs is £20 per person, and all proceeds from the Spitfire 100K Challenge will go towards the RAF100 Appeal, a joint venture between the Royal Air Force and four major charities: the RAF Benevolent Fund, RAF Association, RAF Charitable Trust and the RAF Museum.

RAF STORIES: THE FIRST 100 YEARS 1918-2018 –

A new display celebrating the first 100 years of the RAF will be open to visitors in time for the festival weekend. Highlighting the principal roles of the RAF; Attack, Defence, Support and Prepare, the display also incorporates a snapshot timeline and artefacts spanning 100 years including uniforms, equipment, tools, personal possessions and commemorative items. In addition, a collection of life-size photographic metal cut outs will be positioned around the Museum site, sharing the stories of RAF personnel who have held a variety of roles within the service. The new display is supported by National Lottery Players through the Heritage Lottery Fund and founding sponsor BAE Systems.  It is part of the RAF Museum’s RAF Centenary Programme across its two sites in London and Cosford.

GUILD OF AVIATION ARTISTS DISPLAY –

A brand new collection of paintings from The Guild of Aviation Artists is now on display in the Museum’s Hangar 1 Art Gallery. Representing 100 years of the Royal Air Force in its centenary year, the paintings on display in the Art Gallery have been specially selected to demonstrate the variety and scope of members’ work. Formed in 1971 The Guild of Aviation Artists is recognised throughout the world for the promotion of aviation art. The paintings on display are all for sale, and the RAF Museum will receive a commission from sales. For more information about the Guild of Aviation Artists please visit their website www.gava.org.uk.

For more information on the RAF Museum Cosford’s centenary celebrations, visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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