Duxford

Iconic

Not much chat here just some photos from a day out at Duxford (Imperial War Museum Duxford) which is just off the M11 in Cambridgeshire.  It took us hardly anytime at all to get there and we had a fantastic day, so much so that we are thinking of heading back in half term to finish it off and see what we missed out on this trip.  I was a little worried that I may not have enjoyed it as much as some places we have visited but it was brilliant - outstanding - and so well worth a visit.

My Boys at Duxford

It's one of those places which has been on our plan to do list for a little while, but it is an amazing place to visit with some superb sights to see and lots of interesting stories to tell.  I think we all had our own ideas of what we would be most interested to see but for Mike there was only one thing to see and that was The Concord, and he was chomping at the bit to have a look inside.

Concorde Cockpit

Duxford is primarily an aircraft museum but it also covers some land warfare and maritime history too.  Stacks of parking and lots of places to eat or have a coffee, and plenty of loos dotted about everywhere.  Even though we went during school holidays the place did not seem full at all as there is so much space both inside and outside the halls and we had plenty of time at each display.  A value for money family day out.

The seats - sadly we couldn't try them out!!

A few photos of our day out including one or two highlights too.  It was a well timed trip as Jamie is starting World War II at school so it will form a good background for his studies too.

Inside the Airspace Hangar - So Many Planes

Richard Branson capsule from Atlantic Crossing

Unexpected - A Piece of The Berlin Wall

Badges from the American Air Museum ........

which had their own humour .......

A partial view of a B52 - I am still in awe of its size

A cruise missile - I will never forget the TV coverage of these during the first Gulf War and their ability to seemingly turn corners!!

You can almost see Tom Cruise jumping into this and strains of Berlin's Take My Breath Away starting in the background!!

How do they fit them all in together?

Monty's Car in the Land Warfare Hall .......

which took us through D-Day - fascinating

                                                     onto the troubles in Northern Ireland

and up to The Falklands War

A Mig - Impressive up close

Jamie testing out the soldiers kit - boy were they heavy - he could hardly lift the gun and the helmet, boots and backpacks would have been on top of that too - the admiration for what those men sacrificed for us and gratitude for that sacrifice could only increase.

Airspace again - the skill of fitting and fixing all those aircraft into one hangar is amazing

This could have ended our world

......and some more badges.

Top Gun Jamie!

It may not be a good idea to pull those Jamie!!

Jamie in an ejector seat which has saved hundreds of lives.

World War II Operations Room - this room along with many others played a huge part in The Battle of Britain - we owe our thanks to those RAF men who were dispatched from this one and all of the others

Ciao

Sue
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Reading challenge 13/16 - currently reading If I Was by Midge Ure