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Post by graham on Oct 31, 2022 8:45:20 GMT
I'm sure most of us have heard that the wonderful Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre at Cornwall (Newquay) airport closes its door for the final time today. I visited here in 2013 when it was known as the Classic Air Force Museum and here's a link to the photos I took on that day. The Museum is housed in a huge hanger which is owned, as is the airport, by Cornwall Council, They, in their typical bureaucratic and dogmatic wisdom have decided that despite them not handing over a penny to the Museum, "need to give our ratepayers better value for money" so have terminated the lease. All efforts by the Museum founder and the team of volunteers who help run it to negotiate with the Council have fallen on deaf ears. A terrible injustice for sure. www.flickr.com/photos/brownieboy27/sets/72157633828013113/ |
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Post by Trevor B on Oct 31, 2022 8:49:44 GMT
Visited many times what a shame.
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Post by graham on Oct 31, 2022 13:09:51 GMT
Makes me wonder who on earth the council thinks might want to take on that vast hanger with all the associated bills, not least of all the heating during winter. Like most councils, they just can't leave anything alone. And I wonder how "better value for their ratepayers" might be achieved? At best they might re lease the space to a storage company who will employ five blokes and of course, no visitors injecting a lot of money into the local economy. The owner says that even if they could find a new home, the cost of roadrunning everything out is well beyond their financial means so most will be scrapped.
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Post by keefyboy on Oct 31, 2022 13:36:01 GMT
I just don't get it!!
I was on holiday in Cornwall with an ex girlfriend on the day it opened. We were staying in her caravan just outside of Padstow and decided to go to Newquay for the day - it was more luck than judgement that we ended up at St Mawgan for a couple of hours - the opening must have been announced on the local TV news the night before - I really can't remember. Anyhow, what a great couple of hours it was with several hundred people present - it must have been around Easter time in 2013? - they were then based in the old Nimrod hangar that day.
I've not been back since but I understand they were required to relocate the museum to one of the HAS shelters (very small) with the aircraft being dispersed around 3 sites in the open. The airfield is so vast, I find it hard to understand the Councils need to press for closure. Surely this place is another feather in the cap for tourism??
Perhaps one of our Cornish regulars can shed light on what the old Nimrod hangar is used for these days and why the museum is now being turfed out of a much smaller HAS?? Very short sighted IMHO.
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Post by graham on Oct 31, 2022 16:10:48 GMT
My first visit was 30th May 2013 Keith so not that far behind you.
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Post by chrisj on Nov 1, 2022 20:02:46 GMT
Hi All , On 20 October I ventured down to Cornwall . Intension was to see any stored aircraft and may-be visit the 'Museum ' . It was a very good day for weather so after a spell at the western end of the runway photographing the one or two aircraft landing or doing go-rounds , I went off to see what I could . During my time at St. Mawgan I worked out of the Ops block which was at the top of the hill not quite behind the large Nimrod hangar . Much has changed since my time there and there is now a road from the Newquay road to the large hangar and beyond . As I got to the hangar I found the road went through a gate and behind the hangar . This is where busses are stored and/or repaired . I think there was a sign saying that some driving school was in side the hangar . ( What a waste ?) From here it is possible to see into what in my day was Seven Sqn.s hangar which I think now has helicopters but was closed on my visit . Out of there and back onto the Newquay road and turn to the St. Mawgan gate . Wow ! That has changed ! Drive past and follow signs for museum . Very friendly bunch and one is just left to wander about . I did wonder why they were stuck in that location which has resulted in several frames not looking their best . About the area were at least two Meteors dismantled and Canberra sections behind the museum HAS . Also what could be Canberra wing parts on a trailer by the next HAS which is used for plastic replicas . Outside here is a P51D Mustang mock up . Very nice too . Following my visit I have been in contact with one of the Runway26 group members who produces a current listing of all Devon and Cornwall based aircraft no matter what condition . He has help identify one or two that I could not . There is little enough aviation in the SW so to loose this very friendly museum will be a great loss . At my visit there were quite a lot of people visiting and I would say just about all were not 'spotter' types . As the museum chap I spoke to said , 'They bring in a lot of tourists to the area ' . This is over looked by Cornwall Council . I can not think what might require that area . Also the same for the old Nimrod hangar unless there is a connection with the space program - a 747 may fit inside ! Very likely there is some quest for finance ! One day we may get to know ... Chrisj
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Post by billsamuels on Dec 21, 2022 17:27:18 GMT
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Post by chrisj on Dec 21, 2022 19:26:30 GMT
Very good news just at a time when good news is much needed ! Chrisj
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Post by graham on Dec 22, 2022 13:04:32 GMT
Daft thing is that as far as I know the new location is still within the airport perimeter so why on earth Cornwall CC has chucked them out is beyond me.
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Post by foxfire on Dec 22, 2022 14:41:16 GMT
I just came across this on Twitter with a bit more information on the move to a nearby site. I've never visited the museum but the idea of all those aircraft being broken up was horrifying. |
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Post by chrisj on Dec 22, 2022 18:18:56 GMT
Graham , They are dealing with a council ! These people often seem to have their own agenda usually revolving about some money making scheme ! I have not heard if the 'plastics' facility that was near to the museum , is to move or not . We may never know , but at least the museum has been saved , if only for another short period . Chris
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Post by graham on Dec 24, 2022 11:20:07 GMT
Indeed Chris, when you think how much revenue the museum was bringing in for the area, then CCCs comment that "we need to ensure taxpayers are getting the best return" or whatever words they used is crass.
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