Express & Star

In the cockpit: Rare chance to see inside planes at RAF Museum Cosford

Hundreds of aviation fans will get the chance to take a look inside the cockpits of some of the world's most iconic planes at the RAF Museum in Cosford.

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Ieuan Moraghan gets ready for the Open Cockpits event in a anti aircraft missile defence armoured carrier

The third of four 100 Cockpits and Cabs event will take place at the RAF Museum on Saturday, with up to 600 people expected to turn out.

They will have a chance to get a closer look inside more aircraft and vehicles from the museum's collection including the Valiant, one third of Britain's V-Bomber force.

Saturday's event will focus on aircraft and vehicles from the National Cold War Exhibition and the transport and training collection in Hangar 1.

Michelle Worthington, of RAF Cosford Museums, said: "The Valiant was the first of Bomber Command's V class aircraft and established Britain's air-borne nuclear deterrent force before pioneering operational in-flight refuelling in the Royal Air Force. Not only was it the first V-Bomber to enter service, it was also the first to drop an operational British nuclear weapon over Christmas Island in 1957.

"Another highlight will be the chance to get up close to the Museum's collection of Cold War vehicles including the Russian BMP-1. The BMP-1 went into production in the early 1960s and marked an important departure from previous armoured personnel carriers."

The night will also see Hanger 1 opened, including the Landrover Series 1, de Havilland Devon, Hawker Siddeley Andover E3A and the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1.

Volunteers will be on hand next to each aircraft to answer questions, and a logbook will be available for £1 for anybody who wants to keep a record of the aircraft and vehicles they have seen.

Tickets are now available for £13.50 per person, including parking. They are available at rafmuseum.org/cosford