Newark Air Museum expands permanent collection after donation from Royal Air Force Museum of a Rolls-Royce R.B.108 engine and jet pipe; a Yellow Sun bomb casing; and a Fireflash Missile and trolley
April 23, 2024 | In the PressFrom Newark Advertiser (https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/collection-expanded-thanks-to-royal-air-force-museum-donatio-9362767/)
Several historic military objects have been gifted to Newark Air Museum, helping to expand their collection.
The objects have been on a long-term loan from the Royal Air Force Museum, some for more that fifteen years, but have now been formally transferred to Newark.
These include A Rolls-Royce R.B.108 engine and jet pipe, designed in the 1950s and used to provide horizontal lift in jets such as the Short SC.1, which was the first British fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing jet aircraft.
Colin Savill with a Yellow Sun test bomb
The second object is a Yellow Sun bomb casing, which housed the first British operational high-yield strategic nuclear weapon warhead, and is currently displayed alongside the Avro Vulcan which used to carry the warhead.
Finally is a Fireflash Missile trolley, which was the UK's first air-to-air guided missile and saw limited service with the Royal Air Force in the 1950s.
The donation was made as part of ongoing discussions between the two organisations and follows follows a similar donation of the Lockheed TriStar simulator back in 2015, which is now displayed at the museum.
Fairy Fireflash Air-to-Air Missile
Newark Air Museum Trustee, Colin Savill, said: “The museum trustees are grateful to the RAF Museum for donating these objects to the museum.
“Such donations illustrate the benefits of our Accredited Museum status, and we look forward to the possibility of working with the Royal Air Force Museum to explore similar loans and donations in the future.”
Colin Savill with a Rolls Royce RB 108 vertical lift engine
Dr Harry Raffal, head of collections and research, Royal Air Force Museum, said: “The Royal Air Force Museum is proud to be gifting these objects to Newark Air Museum with the knowledge that we are sharing the RAF story and making it more accessible to people across the country.
“We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship and working together to inspire new generations.”
Newark Air Museum has grown into one of the largest volunteer run museums in the country since it opened in April 1973.
The museum also has a number of ongoing projects including the restoration and re-painting of their Hunter T7 aircraft.
