Concorde Experience at Museum of Flight, East Fortune

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:28 am

If you haven't been, you need to go!

http://www.nms.ac.uk/museumofflighthomepage.aspx

A piece of truly inspiring British (and French) engineering, vision and reality in a very well thought out setting with something for everyone. Those were the days...

Proved a great way to keep both Eilidh and Granda Reg amused this Easter weekend (neither is an easy task...) and was also an excuse to get my Elise out for a short blast. Too short sadly.

However, I also noted that East Fortune is a potential haven for car photography, maybe even for a bit of a group "meet" en route to some interesting roads sometime. Acres of parking, decent wee cafe, and if you do want a wander round the planes, it's about a fiver or eight quid if you include Concorde (however that deserves an extra 2 hrs to be spent so set aside a special visit I think!).

I love the feeling of old airfields, and trying to piece together their history...and the connection with motorsports (in the UK at least) is of course strong, be it Lotus with their base at an old aerodrome, or many key tracks laid out on them, etc.

[quick edit...eg "East Fortune operated as Edinburgh's airport for a brief period in 1961 while facilities at Turnhouse were rebuilt. Buildings on the opposite side of the airfield from the hospital began to be used by the Royal Museum of Scotland for storage in 1971 and this developed into the Museum of Flight, which opened in 1975."]

I dropped by Lawrence's Spanners en route home and was at least able to contribute to the Sponges aspect, for once. Great stuff.

Campbell
(biggles faction)

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:22 am

strangely enough the borders 7s are off there on the 14th

[quote=rif]Our next meeting is on Saturday 14th April. We are planning a drive from Innerleithen to the Museum of Flight in East Fortune. Those wishing to meet us just at the museum may do so. The aim is to be at the museum by 12.00 noon.

We need feedback from those wishing to attend so that we can reserve the entry into the museum, a â€œTour of Concordeâ€

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:43 am

My old manager from Glasgow Science Centre now runs the museum at East Fortune (unless she's moved on again . . . must check!). I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can arrange something for us. Perhaps a wee discounted museum visit or some cool photos next to the concorde or something.

Will see what I can do . . .

D

delands · Post by **delands** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:17 am

Sounds like the dogs...

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:44 am

dezzy wrote:My old manager from Glasgow Science Centre now runs the museum at East Fortune (unless she's moved on again . . . must check!). I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can arrange something for us. Perhaps a wee discounted museum visit or some cool photos next to the concorde or something.

Will see what I can do . . .

D

Dezzy,

That is a great idea. Some support to help us get the cars into interesting settings for some pics would be great. And with the photographic talent on this forum, methinks an SE 2008 Calendar picture might just result

No pressure though. I am sure we can all just head along some time and enjoy the fun like regular punters. Don't be getting yourself stressed out...

Campbell

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:09 am

campbell wrote:
dezzy wrote:My old manager from Glasgow Science Centre now runs the museum at East Fortune (unless she's moved on again . . . must check!). I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can arrange something for us. Perhaps a wee discounted museum visit or some cool photos next to the concorde or something.

Will see what I can do . . .

D

Dezzy,

That is a great idea. Some support to help us get the cars into interesting settings for some pics would be great. And with the photographic talent on this forum, methinks an SE 2008 Calendar picture might just result

No pressure though. I am sure we can all just head along some time and enjoy the fun like regular punters. Don't be getting yourself stressed out...

Campbell

Sounds like a top idea

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:49 pm

Will try to get in touch with my old manager by the end of the week and let you know how I get on. I think she'll at least arrange for us to get some cool photos as you suggest Campbell.

D

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:07 pm

Excellent, all we need now are our resident photographers - including lurkers CAMERON - to step up to the plate to ensure some good snaps for posterity.

Can you imagine if we ever got the cars into the Concorde Hangar =8-o They do weddings n stuff in there right enough!

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:05 pm

Found out that Amanda still runs East Fortune, so have fired off an email. I've asked if we can get pics next to the Concorde

. . . might be pushing it a bit, but if you don't ask you don't get!

Skyenet · Post by **Skyenet** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:33 pm

I was in Heathrow in 1976 waiting for a flight to join my Squadron in the US when Concorde made its first cemmercial flight. It was amazing to watch and listen to it take off. It was a lot smaller in real life than I imagined. They have one at the Fleet Air Arm museum In Yeovilton which I had a look around years ago.

http://www.fleetairarm.com/index2.htm

I think Skye was three when we went to one of East Furtune's air shows. We camped nearby and it was great being woken up by a spitfire buzzing the site

I havn't been since Concorde arrived but Skye has and enjoyed the visit. Would make a good day out for the gang, memories of Rich's Leuchars event

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:36 pm

dezzy wrote:Found out that Amanda still runs East Fortune, so have fired off an email. I've asked if we can get pics next to the Concorde . . . might be pushing it a bit, but if you don't ask you don't get!

Great progress. Sounds like a WAGACS run coming up then!

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:56 pm

I would be up for this as well

Always remember watching concorde at PIK as a boy, and seeing it at home in Filton a decade ago.

Only shame is it didn't have proper GE engines

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:39 pm

campbell wrote: Great progress. Sounds like a WAGACS run coming up then!

I know what the WAG bit stands for . . . but what's the 'ACS' bit?

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:08 pm

Now here's a thing...do you think, crash apart, that engine technology 30-odd years could have provided more efficient and/or quieter engines to enable Concorde to keep flying whilst upsetting fewer residents and becoming more commercial viable through reduced fuel usage?

Post by **campbell** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:12 pm

dezzy wrote:
campbell wrote: Great progress. Sounds like a WAGACS run coming up then!
I know what the WAG bit stands for . . . but what's the 'ACS' bit?

And Children'S