The 2014 Cockpit-Fest at Newark Air Museum again attracted a record number of visitors who came along in great numbers on both days of the event, which was attended by twenty-four (24) visiting cockpits. These travelled from all around the UK and an extended range of supporting displays in Hangar 2 at the museum provided an added dimension to the event. All of this was well supported by a good Aeroboot / Aerojumble aviation and avionics sale.
This year the museum was able to award prizes in eight (8) different categories thanks to the external support for the event from: Ken Ellis (Wrecks & Relics); Farlam Airframes and David Gledhill. The winning entrants were:
Grand Champion (Visitors Award) – Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group’s Whirlwind HAS.1 – XA862
Visitors Award Non-Cockpit / Equipment display – Trudi Heathcote & Andy Guest
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Wings Museum’s Douglas A-26C Invader – 43-22649
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award Runner-Up – Richard Scarborough Harrier GR.3 – XV810
Cockpiteers Award Non-Cockpit – Garry O’Keefe, Martyn Steele, Tony Dyer, Alan Partington, Ian Hodgkiss; control column display.
Cockpiteers Award Non-Cockpit Runner-Up – Karen Wilson – Women in World War II
Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Andy Blair’s Jet Provost T3 – XN549
Wrecks & Relics Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award (Ken Ellis) – Gary Dean’s Mustang P.51D – 44-11175
Everyone who displayed at the event was really a winner and a credit to their hobby, with some tremendous exhibits proudly displayed around the site and all of which engaged with the visitors. Special thanks also go out to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, who provided flypast on both days.
“On behalf of the museum members and trustees I would again like to thank everyone who contributed to making Cockpit-Fest 2014 such a great event,” commented event organiser Bill O’Sullivan. “This year we built on the revised the layout from 2013, which again seemed to work quite well but as ever we always look to improve things.”
He concluded, “We would like to send out an extra special thank you to those individuals and organisations that supported the event financially and with the provision of trophies and prizes. We are already looking towards the 2015 event and we are always keen to hear from any fresh supporters who might like to get involved with the event.”
Source:Newark Air Museum
Author: Newark Air Museum
Photo:Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions