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2017/08/15 London Science Museum's Airplane Section
π 2017-08-15 01:01 in Flying, Greatbritain2017, Nflying
Usually I would only feature an airplane museum in the flying section, but the London Science Museum's section of airplanes is big enough that it deserves its own mention. Later, I went to see a few more, to total:
  • London Science Museum's Airplane Section (this one)
  • RAF Museum North of London
  • RAF Museum in Cosford (30mn from Birmingham and Stafford)
  • Imperial War Museum in Duxford
  • There was a good history of early planes:


    a good reminder that the first aircraft that was heavier than air was French, even if it didn't fly far
    a good reminder that the first aircraft that was heavier than air was French, even if it didn't fly far

    very bird-like aircraft
    very bird-like aircraft

    of course the wright brothers are mentioned, along with their patents and thirst for money that caused the US to slip back decades while France quickly took over the world of flying machines
    of course the wright brothers are mentioned, along with their patents and thirst for money that caused the US to slip back decades while France quickly took over the world of flying machines

    one impressive thing on the wright brothers' airplane was the engine: light and efficient
    one impressive thing on the wright brothers' airplane was the engine: light and efficient


    lots of early french planes
    lots of early french planes

    While most people know about the French Mongolfier brothers and their hot air balloon, few know about all the dirigeables that many countries experimented with, including England:



    The section on VTOL aircraft was very nice. I didn't know about the pre-harrier prototypes:

    VTOL thrust vectoring prototype
    VTOL thrust vectoring prototype


    Short SC-1, first UK VTOL aircraft
    Short SC-1, first UK VTOL aircraft


    and harrier
    and harrier

    Other random planes:



    first german jet aircraft
    first german jet aircraft




    early airplane with inefficient propeller
    early airplane with inefficient propeller

    So again, while it was not an aviation museum, it sure had a worthwhile collection to check out.


    More pages: July 2017 August 2017

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