RAF Museum launches 'Names on a Plane' campaign for RAF Centenary Programme
Above:
An RAF Museum Mk16 Spitfire on Horse Guards Parade.
The ‘Names on a Plane’ campaign will raise funds for the Museum’s RAF Centenary Programme - as 2018 marks the centenary of the Royal Air Force - and the award-winning RAF Museum will celebrate and commemorate this anniversary through a major transformation of its visitor experience, sharing the RAF story on site and online.
On site at Horse Guards Parade, the RAF Museum will have on display the three aircraft that are represented in the Museum's RAF Centenary Project logo (above), a Sopwith Snipe, an Mk 16 Spitfire and a Typhoon jet.
At 2pm an announcement will be made regarding upcoming plans for the RAF Museum and how the public can get involved, then at 3pm (weather permitting) a Eurofighter Typhoon will make a flypast.
Grandparents who served in WWII are becoming fewer and there are young people now who don not know what the letters RAF stand for. New dynamic displays will be ready for the 2018 RAF Centenary.
The RAF Museum is preparing for a major transformation at its iconic site in Colindale, North West London, in order to share the story of the RAF with a new generation.
For one spectacular season of air shows and celebrations in 2017, the underside of one of the Red Arrow’s Hawk Jets will display names chosen by members of the public who have contributed to this unique campaign. From a donation of £30, these can be the names of the people themselves, or dedications to friends and relatives.
RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton MBE said: “This is a fantastic chance for the public to be part of the RAF’s history and to receive something unique in return for their support. The Museum is looking forward to transforming itself in time for the 2018 anniversary to make us more accessible, engaging and up to date.”
Squadron Leader David Montenegro, Red 1 and Team Leader of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, said: “Through the Names on a Plane campaign, thousands of people will be joining us as the Red Arrows fly in 2017, displaying to millions of people.
“On each of these occasions, the team aims to showcase the excellence of the Royal Air Force and, as we approach the Centenary of the Service in 2018, we are especially delighted to be supporting the RAF Museum.
“The Museum’s Centenary Programme will transform its London site, providing an enduring legacy for the Royal Air Force.
“This development will help to tell the story of the Royal Air Force and the vital roles the Service continues to provide, such as securing the skies of the United Kingdom, every hour of the day, 365-days a year.”
Five naming packages are available ranging from £30 - £25,000. Supporters will also receive:
- A thank you and a commemorative RAF ‘bluey’ (specially made airmail letters for sending to and from the Forces)
- Updates during the flying season with an app to follow your name on the plane
- Name acknowledged at the Museum’s redeveloped site in 2018
The appeal will officially run from April until September 2016, with the ‘Names on a Plane’ appearing on a Red Arrow Hawk throughout their 2017 display season.
As 2018 marks the centenary of the RAF, the RAF Museum will transform its visitor experience. A multi-million-pound transformation of the RAF Museum’s London home will welcome visitors to discover a new green heart of the community in Colindale, reflecting the historic RAF Hendon airfield. New, innovative galleries will explore the first 100 years of the RAF, its roles today and invite visitors to imagine its future contribution and technology, plus a new digital sharing project will promote a conversation with a global audience and help connect people to the RAF story.
For more information visit
www.namesonaplane.org
#NamesOnAPlane