The Tangmere Experience on FS2004 will be launched on Hawker Weekend starting July 16th at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. The exhibit will use FS2004 to demonstrate military aircraft and even give the public a chance to "fly" historic aircraft. For details, click on Read More.The Tangmere Experience on FS2004 to be launched at the Hawker Weekend on July 16th and 17th 2005 by Sqn. Ldr. Neville Duke DS0, OBE, DFC**, AFC, MC (CZECH).
“We need a way of bringing the museum exhibits to life and appeal to a new generation of visitors” was the message sent out by Alan Bower, the curator of the Tangmere Aviation Museum, based at the famous ex-RAF Fighter Command airfield in Southern England.
In response, museum volunteers Bob Nagle and Trevor Clark, both ex-RAF men and avid flight simulator enthusiasts, suggested using MSFS 2004 to re-create the famous events in the airfield’s history and give visitors a chance to “fly” the aircraft on display in the museum.
Now, after 6 months of sometimes hectic activity, the project is about to be launched at a special celebration event to mark the 70th anniversary of the maiden flight of the legendary Hawker Hurricane, to be held over Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July 2005.
As well as a flying display by a Hawker Hurricane of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and many other special events, the museum has invited ex-Hawker pilots and engineers to come along and re-live their past experiences with museum visitors.
Heading this list will be the museum president Sqn.Ldr. Neville Duke, one time holder of the absolute air speed record set in Hawker Hunter F3 WB188, which is exhibited at the museum and also represented on the simulator project. Sqn. Ldr. Duke is now also believed to be the highest scoring, surviving ace from the RAF in World War Two.
A highlight of the week-end will be Sqn Ldr Duke returning to the cockpit of Hawker Hunter F3 WB188 and putting her through her paces for the first time in almost 50 years, but this time in virtual reality!
The new simulator features state-of–the-art video and sound set ups and employs two flat screen monitors, one for the pilot and another for spectators to enjoy the view. Pilots are seated on a genuine Martin Baker ejector seat and are equipped with Saitek stick and throttle, together with Simped rudder pedals. Museum volunteers, some of whom have thousands of real world military flight time are already very enthusiastic, having sampled some early shake down flights.
All the aircraft featured on the simulation are adaptations of freeware add-ons, donated by their designers, some of whom will be on hand to witness the real test pilots sample their simulated replicas!
A totally new RAF Tangmere has been designed by Irish scenery designer John McKeon, which adds superbly to the re-creation.
So if you are in the UK that week-end and do not fancy 7 hours in traffic jam to visit the IAT at RAF Fairford, why not visit the Hawker Weekend and experience living history, while you still can!
You can visit the Tangmere Aviation Museum at www.tangmere-museum.org.uk where details of admission and directions can also be found.
