Half Term at Hendon Air Museum

With this half term rapidly vanishing in front of our very eyes I decided to take a days holiday from work today and have a family day out. With the weather being so cold and with forecasts of rain we had to pick somewhere indoors. We fancied somthing a bit more than just a soft play centre and bowling was no good either as the boys are doing that at Wizz Kids tomorrow. So in the end we decided to head over to Hendon air museum as we haven't been there in a few years.

 

We had a really great day and the boys are at an age now where they are actually interested in learning about the the different planes and the various wars as opposed to just walking around looking at them. We also played a game trying to guess the wing span of each plane and by the end was actually getting pretty accurate with our guesses. Holly did absolutely amazing and walked/ran around the entire museum from the moment we got there to the moment we left. She flat out refused to go in her buggy. God only knows how far her little legs walked today. When we eventually settled her in the car for the journey home she was completely exhausted and slept the entire journey home.

 

Holly, Brandon and Joshua arrive at Hendon for a family day out.

The boys head kids trail activities to complete and the first one on Joshua's sheet was the Euro Fighter.

Our 3 kiddies posing in front of a plane.

I was under instruction to take a picture of Donald which was painted on the side of the Mustang.

Me and my kiddies in front of one of my favourites, the Lancaster Bomber. Albeit one that has been shot down and blown up!

Holly and Brandon with a pilot.

This mosaic was very impressive, about 30ft by 20ft and made entirely of little pictures of planes to make a large spitfire mosaic.

Joshua sitting beneath the under carriage of the Vulcan bomber watching the movie about its history.

I think the boys counted 21 bombs all lined up and ready for the Vulcan.

Brandon with a funny looking little plane.

Holly running laps in and out of the Chinnock helicopter.

The 3 kiddies in front of a stunning RAF Memorial stained glass window.

Man over board, 3 kids fall out of a inflatable survival boat.

Joshua and Brandon exiting the 3D simulator having been shaken around and knocked off their seats a few times.

Joshua, Brandon and Holly getting to understand the controls of a plane.

My 3 little pilots.

Holly and Joshua playing in a play helicopter.

Then after playing it is time for Biggles Josh to teach her how to fly a real copter.

Holly having fun in a little play plane.

Joshua learning about jets trying to blast the inflatable ball through the metal ring. Brandon was more interested in doing toes to bar on it (which he learnt at cross fit yesterday).

Joshua and Brandon piloting another plane and learning how to may it lift and drop.

Joshua was such a good boy and helped out with Holly so much and was always there to show her how to do different things.

Joshua couldn't grasp hand gliding on his belly so went on his knees instead.

In the Battle of Britain hanger the boys were both fascinated learning abour WW2 and comparing the German planes with the RAF planes.

Joshua, Brandon and Holly about to enter the absolutely gigantic and very impressive Sunderland sea plane.

Inside the Sunderland.

This was a projection map in the WW1 hanger and Holly was hilarious as she chased around the outside trying to catch the moving planes.

This might be a little ambitious of Joshua to try and teach Holly Morse Code.

Watch out there's a Holly about and she has got a machine gun.

Joshua got a bit of a workout on this contraption. Using the lever he could manouver the cockpit chassis with body weight in all directions to simulate flight.

A Holly size plane - amazingly made from polysterene and wool!

Another plane that Brandon liked and wanted his picture taken with.

An exhausted Holly slept all the way home with her pink cat seatbelt ted to snuggle up to and keep her company.