Over 100 historic aircraft at Imperial War Museum Duxford will be moved in a major conservation project, as the AirSpace hangar prepares for transformation into a Cold War and Contemporary Conflict exhibition.
IWM Duxford is set to commence a significant phase of its transformation project next month, involving over 100 aircraft movements in one of its most complex logistical operations in recent years.
The Conservation team will undertake works in the AirSpace hangar between 24 February and 6 June, preparing it for conversion into a permanent exhibition focusing on Cold War and Contemporary Conflict. Most suspended aircraft will be brought to ground level, allowing visitors unprecedented close access to historic aircraft for the first time in nearly 20 years.
“What our team is about to undertake in AirSpace is no easy task and it has taken months of careful coordination and meticulous planning,” said Jon White, IWM Head of Conservation. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to the movements and the individuality of each aircraft has to be taken into consideration, including its size, weight, material and age.”
Notable aircraft being moved include the only surviving original Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 from 1918, the last operational Airspeed Oxford, and the de Havilland Mosquito, renowned for its Second World War service.
The project is part of the broader Transforming IWM Duxford initiative, which has already delivered The Ops Block and Weston Play Zone. Over the next decade, the transformation will create new exhibition spaces to showcase IWM’s collection of aircraft and military vehicles, whilst preserving them for future generations.
AirSpace will undergo thirteen scheduled closure dates during the works. When open, visitors will have access via a designated route through the hangar.
