Museum of Science and Industry

An RAF Hawker Hunter and a Sycamore helicopter was taken out of MOSI's (Museum of Science & Industry) Air & Space Hall this weekend and hoisted on to trucks to be taken to the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford, Shropshire.

The two aircraft have been on loan to MOSI for 25 years, and will be returned to the RAF Museum to make space for new exhibits.

The Sycamore helicopter was built in 1958 and served in Cyprus and Libya. It was one of 178 Sycamores built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company for the Royal Air Force, Belgian, German and Australian air forces, and for civilian use. The RAF used Sycamores for search and rescue work, carrying troops and general transport duties. The Hawker Hunter jet fighter is one of the first built and entered service with 43 Squadron (The Fighting Cocks) Royal Air Force in 1954. It was used to train maintenance crews before coming to MOSI.

Tim Wallis at the RAF Museum and project manager of the move said: "The Hunter Hawker and Bristol Sycamore are really impressive machines which saw considerable action serving our forces and we are really looking forward to bringing the aircraft back to their home at the RAF Museum.

"A fleet of lorries and a Hi-Ab Crane was used to load the aircraft for onward transportation, and a team from the Sir Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at RAF Museum have been working throughout September to prepare the aircraft for the extraction process.”

Nick Forder, transport curator at MOSI said: "MOSI tells the story of the North West's continuing contribution to aviation. Although the Hunter and Sycamore have been popular exhibits here they are not part of that story and I have a growing queue of more exciting aircraft just waiting to replace them."

For media information please contact Sarah Roe on Tel: 07847 372647.

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