Museum Volunteers Raise Funds For Falklands Charity

A presentation took place this Sunday at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare when Museum Volunteers handed over a cheque for £300.00 to a representative of The South Atlantic Medal Association to bring to an end the museums calender of commemorative events to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict.

A Falklands themed Art Exhibition ran from February until the end of July alongside a factual exhibition about the conflict itself and earlier this Summer a Falklands re-enactment took place on the Helicopter Museum site as well as a Veterans Signing Event to raise much needed funds for the S.A.M.A Charity.

The South Atlantic Medal is the official name of the medal awarded to almost 30,000 service men and women - and civilians - who took part in the campaign to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982, The South Atlantic Medal Association is their Registered Charity.

Simon Parks-Lockett, who made the presentation and who organised the collection and signing event said “The South Atlantic Medal Association is an extremely worthwhile cause and it is really wonderful that charities can work together and support each other in these difficult times.”

The Helicopter Museum is a Registered Charity in its own right and houses the Worlds largest collection of helicopters including examples of aircraft used in the Falklands Conflict of 1982.

  Presenting the cheque.

From left to right, Falklands Veteran Ade Thorne, Museum Volunteer Simon Parks-Lockett, S.A.M.A Representative John DeBathe, Museum Assistant Manager Sharon Webber and Falklands Veteran Mike Costello in front of the Museums Westland Wasp Helicopter.

Hangar Dance

Most people think of museums as quite, sedate locations but for one night this September The Helicopter Museum is going to literally 'rock' that image with an evening of jive dancing and swing music.

Tickets have gone on sale for the Annual Charity Hangar Dance at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare. The one night only event takes place on Saturday 15^th September from 7.30pm to Midnight and features a live performance by 'Swing Fever'. The West Country based group specialise in Swing and Jazz music and have performed all over the World, including at Ned Kelly's famous jazz club in Hong Kong and for Her Majesty the Queen in 2007.

During the evening the aircraft hangars will rock to the sounds of WWII era music and American swing, while guests dance the night away in an authentic aviation hangar setting with real historic aircraft and wartime decoration. Museum staff and Volunteers will be dressed up in period costumes ranging from Spitfire Pilots and Land Girls to American G. I’s and an 'anti-rationing' buffet will be laid on for guests. There will also be a licensed bar serving drinks and refreshments throughout the evening.

Smart dress is requested with period attire optional so if anybody is looking for the opportunity to dress up World War Two style or dust off the old flight jacket, poodle skirt or penny loafers this is the ideal opportunity.

Tickets are £12.00, which includes the evening buffet and can be purchased from The Helicopter Museum on 01934 635227.

Flying visits

There is nothing quite like watching a helicopter in flight, it is an even better experience watching them land and take off. Here at the museum we are blessed with a fully functional landing pad and get  many different aircraft gracing us with their presence. The last few weeks has seen some real crackers which are worth sharing with you.

We were lucky enough for this Apache to land on 03/08/2012, what a treat for our customers.

Another intesesting landing included this fire and rescue EC135 on the 04/08/2012.

This R66 landed at our helipad on the 13/08/2012.

To top it off we are expecting a Chinook at 4 O’clock today!