Flying for fun

From wartime classrooms to building your own glider, the RAF Museum at Cosford has plenty going on during the summer holidays.

This summer holiday, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has created a range of interactive August Activities for families to enjoy throughout the school break.  Each week throughout August will have an exciting activity dedicated to it with the fun continuing into each weekend and even Bank Holiday Monday.  With everything from making parachutes and gliders to a Let’s Fly airport experience on offer, there is something suitable for children of all ages.

 Week 1 – Model Making

Model Making will kick start the August fun as families work together to build and paint an Airfix 1:72 scale Lightning model to take home. Running from 1st-4th August between 11.00am and 3.00pm, this drop in make and take session will take place nestled in the heart of the Museum’s Hangar 1 next to the giant 1:1 Airfix Spitfire model built by TV  presenter James May. Participation costs£3.00 per person and all materials will be provided including the kit, glue and paint.

Week 2 – Step Back in Time

During week two visitors are invited to Step Back in Time with our wartime session and learn about pounds, shillings and pence. Taking place in the Wartime Classroom visitors will ‘enjoy’ a 1940s class, sitting at old wooden school desks whilst answering to a strict old fashioned teacher, but be ready for the air raid siren as it may go off at any time! Running from 5th-11th August, tickets cost £2.00 per person and each participant will get a gas mask box to take away and make at home. Sessions will run at 11.00am, 1.30pm and 3.00pm each day and will last around an hour.

Week 3 – Parachute and Gliders

Feeling creative? Why not have a go at designing and making your very own Parachute and Gliders during week three. Taking place from 12th-18th August in Hangar 1, participants will have the chance to make paper gliders and test how well they fly. You can use the designs provided or try one of your own designs and see which flies best. Then get creative and have a go making a parachute and personalise its design. The morning session is from 11.00am-12.30pm and the afternoon session between 2.00pm – 3.30pm and participation costs £1.00 per person.

Week 4 – Let’s Fly

From 19th-25th August younger visitors can take part in Let’s Fly, a new summer activity where families will be able experience an airport without the usual holiday rush! Step into the Let’s Fly classroom and take part in the airport experience right through from picking up your boarding passes, to checking in your luggage and passport control before taking a seat in our mock aeroplane. Sessions will run at 11.00am, 1.30pm and 3.00pm each day this week and will last around an hour. Numbers per session are limited; pick up your boarding pass on arrival from the Visitor Centre for just £1.00. (Suitable for children under the age of 8)

Week 5 – Pencil Boxes

As the end of the summer holiday approaches, what better way to get prepared for the new school term than creating your very own pencil box? From 26th-31st August children can decorate and personalise a wooden pencil box to take home. With all the colours, glitter and stickers needed to make yours stand out from the crowd, take part in this hands-on activity for just £2.00 per person. The morning session is from 11.00am-12.30pm and the afternoon session between 2.00pm-3.30pm.

These creative and fun workshops will run throughout August and all materials for these hands-on sessions will be provided by the Museum. Timings and prices for each activity vary per week; please check the Museum website for details.  Tickets for each session will be available from the Admissions Desk on arrival at the Museum. For further information on August Activities please contact the Museum on 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.orgThe Museum is open daily from 10am–6pm and entry is free.