Families are invited to go behind the scenes and become aerospace engineers at IWM Duxford this summer.
Britain’s best preserved wartime airfield has a fun-packed, hands-on schedule of events for youngsters and their parents to enjoy this month.
You can meet war veterans, conserve museum objects, and build their own aerodynamic paper planes throughout August.
From meeting Second World War evacuee John Kershaw to hearing stories from Robert Johnson, a child in London during the Blitz, visitors can hear first-hand extraordinary stories of war and conflict from veterans and eyewitnesses every Thursday during the summer holidays at IWM Duxford.
Every Wednesday and Friday throughout August, families can take the challenge of creating the perfect paper aeroplane.
Those taking part can draw inspiration from IWM Duxford’s awe-inspiring exhibitions of aircraft, from the mighty Spitfire to the supersonic passenger airliner Concorde.
The world renowned aviation museum’s conservators need help to keep Duxford’s iconic aircraft in tip-top condition, and are looking for willing aeroplane investigators.
Families are invited to go behind the ropes, get hands-on and learn how IWM Duxford looks after aeroplanes, from famous World War Two aircraft to a one-of-a-kind Cold War aircraft, the Victor.
Visitors can see how Imperial War Museums conserves historic aircraft by getting up close, searching for mini-beasts and using specialist tools to care for original objects.
Duxford Aviation Society also invites families on board the Avro York, a transport aircraft used during the Berlin Airlift in the Cold War.
You can learn more about how the aircraft was involved in the Berlin Blockade, discover how to load an aircraft properly through a load-master game, and find out how to navigate using the basic principles of dead reckoning.
There is also an opportunity to have a go at handling a kite whilst learning the theory of flight.
As part of a trip to IWM Duxford this summer, visitors can walk through the same hangars and buildings as those who served at the RAF air base during the First World War, World War Two and the Cold War, and can see aircraft take to the skies from the historic airfield.
Hundreds of aircraft and objects are on display, with iconic aircraft ranging from a Lancaster bomber to an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
A new addition to the collection on display is the Tornado GR4, a combat jet deployed by the RAF in Afghanistan and most recently in counter-ISIS operations in the Middle East.
You can get up close to the Tornado, an aircraft that is still being deployed in RAF operations today.
• Summer events at IWM Duxford
We Were There: Meet Veterans and Eyewitnesses
Every Thursday until August 30, 11am to 3pm.
Suitable for all ages. Free, drop-in sessions.
Please note that due to the unique nature of this event, eyewitness availability may vary.
Paper Plane Challenge
Every Wednesday and Friday throughout August, from 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.
Suitable for all ages. Free, drop-in sessions.
Aeroplane Investigators: From Mini-Beasts to Melting Metal
Every Tuesday until August 28, from 11am to 1pm, and 2pm to 4pm.
Suitable for all ages. Free, drop-in sessions.
Flying a York during the Berlin Airlift
Wednesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 29, from 11am to 2pm.
Suitable for all ages. Free, drop-in sessions.
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