INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE GROUP VISIT TO THE DE HAVILLAND MUSEUM AT LONDON COLNEY
Having been deferred due to the lockdown in March I was relieved that the group’s guided tour to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at London Colney was able to go ahead on October 14th. They have enforced strict Covid precautions.
We were the only group and welcomed with open arms. The museum had been closed for 4 months and desperately needs to replenish their coffers. Totally self- funded they have always relied heavily on groups. We did encounter a few independent visitors but otherwise had the displays and dining area to ourselves.
Alistair Hodgson, the enthusiastic and knowledgeable curator guided us around the extensive hangar full of exhibits and those outside for 2¼ hours hardly pausing for breath. It was absolutely fascinating. This was followed by a delicious selection of sandwiches, fresh fruit and cakes with welcome hot drinks (it was cold outside!).
Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, founder of the de Havilland World Enterprise, one of the first global manufacturing companies, was one of Britain’s aviation pioneers. Geoffrey was responsible for the design and test flying of his own aircraft. With the outbreak of WWI, he joined the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco) at Hendon. During WWI, Airco produced fighters, trainers and the twin engine bomber, all designed by Geoffrey de Havilland.
With the end of WWI, the expected boom in aviation was not realised, and Airco was sold to BSA, with Geoffrey forming the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Stag Lane Aerodrome in Edgware on 15 September 1920, employing around 60 personnel
It was the development of the Moth, first flown by Geoffrey on 22 February 1925, which led to the highly successful series of light touring and training aircraft throughout the 1930s, including the Tiger Moth, which became the standard RAF elementary trainer during WWII.
Aviation first came to Salisbury Hall at London Colney October 1939 when the de Havilland Mosquito design team moved in. Many prototypes often named after insects or birds were designed by Geoffrey at Salisbury Hall mansion adjacent to the current museum.
The de Havilland Aircraft Museum was the first aviation museum in Britain, when it opened to the public on 15 May 1959. It had several million pounds spent on huge a new hangar and other improvements in 2019 and I would thoroughly recommend a visit.
Biddy Wombwell Convenor