The Helicopter Museum.

Press Release 19th October 2007

MORE AIRCRAFT FOR THE HELICOPTER MUSEUM

The Helicopter Museum (THM) at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, which is already the world’s largest dedicated rotorcraft collection, is to take on two additional exhibits in the near future.

Both are being transferred from other museums in the UK.

From the Museum of Flight in Scotland THM is receiving a rare tandem-seat Air & Space 18A autogyro, built in Muncie, Indiana in the mid 1960s to a design originated by Raymond Umbaugh.

The prototype first flew in 1959 and certification of a production version followed in 1965. A total of 68 were eventually built but financial problems and the death of the company owner in 2000 saw further development and production abandoned.

The example being permanently transferred to The Helicopter Museum, G-BVWL, was one of the last built in 1966 and one of two sold to a Swedish customer. Later purchased by a Scottish autogyro enthusiast, it is substantially complete, except for a set of main rotor blades, which THM now hopes to source in the United States. “Efforts to develop a modern two-seat autogyro capable of commercial use have been going on for more than 50 years and the Air & Space 18A was close to achieving that success. As such it will make an interesting comparison with the other autogyros in our collection.” says Chairman Captain Elfan ap Rees. Delivery of this new exhibit is being part-funded by the Museum, Libraries and Archives PRISM Grant scheme.

The second aircraft joining THM is a Bristol Sycamore Mk14 helicopter, previously displayed at the Bristol Industrial Museum and the last to be retired from Royal Air Force service in December 1971. This aircraft, XL829, was originally built at Weston-super-Mare and is therefore returning home. It is expected that XL829 will replace an existing Sycamore Mk14 on loan to THM, which is due to go to an overseas museum in exchange for another future exhibit.

Capt. Ap Rees says the new acquisitions will not only lead to interesting new aircraft for the collection but demonstrate the standing of THM in the professional museum community. “National and Local Authority museums of such standing would not part with items entrusted to them without being sure that they would continue to be well looked after and on public display. Our reputation and accreditation under the Museum, Libraries and Archives jurisdiction has given them that guarantee”.