Isn't it odd that when most of us go on holiday we visit many historic monuments and museums yet never really do the same in our own back yard? This was my first ever visit to the Science Museum and certainly will not be my last. There are many truly historic aircraft there including the only surviving original Fokker Eindekker.
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
This fell into British hands when the pilot got lost and mistakenly landed at an RFC airfield.
This silver doped SE5a is an original from 1917 that had a post war career as a sky writing machine.
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
The Wolseley Viper engine is display separately among a really impressive array of engines dating from pre WW1 up to the jet age.
Of huge significance in the history of aviation is the actual Vickers Vimy in which Alcock and Brown completed the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919.
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
Another jaw dropping exhibit is the surviving Supermarine S.6B that won the Schneider Trophy in 1931.
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
This aircraft was retired after the race and donated to the Science Museum where it can be seen in a completely unrestored state. Reginald Mitchell went on to base the design of the Spitfire on this race winning thoroughbred and one can be seen in the background of this awful mobile phone snap.
There are many other incredible exhibits on display and some amazing scratch built models including this exquisite Gloster Gladiator in 1/24 scale.
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Richard Williams, on Flickr
Anybody visiting London would have an amazing day dropping in here especially admission is free. None of the exhibits are replicas and they are all of immense importance in he history of flight.
I was unable to spend as long as I wanted photographing everything as Mrs W isn't greatly interested in aviation history. I may not have told her that the 3rd floor was dedicated to it and that I mostly just wanted to get a close look at the Wolseley Viper engine.
Richie
