On my way to the Battlefront Show tomorrow, I visited the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM). It sits on the former RAF Usworth and Sunderland airport site, next to the massive Sunderland Nissan factory, and comprises the former Aircraft Museum (NEAM) military vehicles collection. The North East Electric Traction Trust (NEETT) is also based on the site.
RAF Usworth was a fighter and training base from 1916 until it was taken over as Sunderland Airport in 1962. In WW2, it defended industrial Teeside against Luftwaffe raids.
There are two small and one large hanger, plus outside displays. The first hanger has a Tornado and a 1916 Morane-Saulnier Type N, which is quite a contrast!
In the main hanger, there is a range of modern-era aircraft, including
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| Harrier |
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| Sabre (latterly in Greek service) |
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| EE Lightning |
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| Hawker Hunter |
The outside displays include the magnificent Vulcan bomber.
A Spitfire
And one of my favourite jets, the Super Sabre. Apparently, this was in French service and somehow ended up in Scunthorpe, where the museum acquired it. It needs a lot of work.
If you are in the area, it is certainly worth a look.
A nice diversion and, if you were passing nearby anyway, then it would almost be rude not to call in… I hope you have a great time Battlefront- I’d love to have gone.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff