MEMBERS of Penarth's aviation society recently visited Duxford's imperial war museum to view the historical aircraft collection.

They undertook the four and a half hour journey to Cambridgeshire on Tuesday, May 19 and returned the following the day.

RAF Duxford was a 'front line' airfield during the Battle of Britain and their fighter squadrons were the first to be equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane.

As one of five Imperial War Museums throughout the UK, Duxford is dedicated mainly to aircraft dating from WW1 through to the Cold War era. There are eight hangars and buildings, including the American Air Museum that contains, amongst others, a B29 bomber from WW2 and the giant B52 jet bomber still flying today with the US Air Force. The American museum is currently being re-developed and opens in the spring next year.

Barrie Howell from the society said: "It was interesting to note that there were quite a number of military personnel visiting the museum and also parties of school children learning about the history of flight and Duxford’s vital role during the Battle of Britain and the ‘Cold War’."

A team of dedicated staff and volunteers at IWM Duxford care for hundreds of unique exhibits.

They work on restoring aircraft and aim to put back in pristine condition aircraft that would have appeared to be nothing more than scrap. They restore around three aircraft each year including the Bristol Blenheim MK.1 which was designed initially as a passenger aircraft.

Other aircraft flying involved a Spitfire Mk. 9, Mustang, Tiger Moth, Dragon Rapide and a French piston-engine Hawk.

The next meeting of PAS is at 7.45pm on Friday, June 5, at Penarth Conservative Club. The guest speaker is Peter E Roe from Nova Scotia, Canada, who will talk about ‘Early Aviation Pioneers’.

As one of five Imperial War Museums throughout the UK, Duxford is dedicated, mainly to aircraft dating from WW1 through to the Cold War era. There are eight hangars and buildings, including the American Air Museum that contains, amongst others, a B29 bomber from WW2 and the giant B52 jet bomber still flying today with the US Air Force. The American museum is currently being re-developed and opens in the spring next year.