Trip 2011

After another buffet-style English breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express (the closest thing to the land of the free refill, it seems), we loaded up and drove to the Imperial War Museum (Air), Duxford.

The airfield at Duxford was originally began during World War One as one of the earliest Royal Air Force stations.  Over the years, it evolved until in the 1960’s it became obsolete.  The Ministry of Defence declared its intention to dispose of the airfield in 1969.  In 1977, various organizations came together along with the Imperial War Museum to purchase the airfield.

Our visit began in the building designated as #1 on all the maps and diagrams of the site, called AirSpace.  This building houses aircraft which tell the story of British and Commonwealth aviation.  From a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 (WWI) to an Avro Lancaster (WWII) to a BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde, AirSpace has any aircraft affectionato covered.  There were other panels and displays, including aircraft engines and interactive displays.

A view of the Aircraft Hall at the AirSpace Hanger of the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. The aircraft on the far left, with cockpit window closest to the camera, is the BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde.

Of course, I can’t resist the opportunity to show my personal favorite aircraft:

Hawker Siddley Harrier GR3 on display at IWM Duxford.

In addition to the aircraft on display in the Aircraft Hall, there is also a smaller section of aircraft undergoing preparations for display, and a museum for the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.

A view inside the Airbone Assault museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at IWM Duxford.

While Kathy looked about the gift shop, I headed down to the next building with the intent to make it down to the American Air Museum, about a half a mile down the flightline.  After a run through building #2 (called Flying Aircraft, where privately owned aircraft are stored and maintained, including the last airworthy Boeing B-17 in Europe ) and building #3 (called Air and Sea, where there are more aircraft and also boats, submarines and maritime aircraft), a look at my watch told me that there was no way I was going to make it down to the American Air Museum with time to spare that we were going to need when turning in the rental car, so I headed back to the main entrance and gift shop.

A Boeing B-17G, "Sally B", on display at IWM Duxford. This B-17 is the last airworthy B-17 in Europe. Although the picture shows this as "Memphis Belle", the other side shows a less clothed "Sally B". The nose art on this side is because this aircraft was used in the movie "Memphis Belle".

From Duxford, we headed to London so we could check in to our hotel in the Bayswater/Paddington area, drop off our luggage, then return the rental car to the airport.  We found the hotel fairly easily, but the reason everyone advises against driving in London was fairly evident when trying to check in to the hotel – there is no place to park.  The street had signs for residents only, and you had to have a special sticker on your car to park there.  As it was, I dropped Kathy off at the entrance to the hotel, then drove around the streets nearby for a few minutes, and when I saw her come out of the hotel, I found a place to park – but I couldn’t leave the car.  Kathy and a doorman from the hotel got all of the Clampetts luggage, bags, and belongings out of the car and in the room.  While this was going on, a police-type person even gave a walk-by, but didn’t say anything to me, and as far as I know, did not record the license from the car.

Once the car was clear of everything we didn’t want to have to carry back from the airport, we headed for Heathrow.  We got to the rental center (after one wrong turn, anyway), and asked to speak with the manager on duty about our rental.  We explained about what had happened with the tires, what the AA man had told us, etc.  The manager listened, but he seemed very defensive about the people who prepare the cars for rental – their job would be on the line if they let a car go out with bald tires, etc.  Of course, I had already deleted the tire pictures from the camera, but told him that we could put them on line when we got back to the hotel that evening.  In discussing the situation with him, he said that they would waive all charges for the rental due to putting us in a dangerous situation.  He still didn’t seem to believe that they could be THAT bad.

We took the rental center shuttle back to the airport, where we bought tickets for the Heathrow Express, which would wisk us back to Paddington Station (about a 1/2 walk to our hotel) in 15 or 20 minutes.  Well worth the £32.50 or so that it cost.  There are other less expensive ways to get from Heathrow to London, but from a time-saving standpoint, this one couldn’t be beat.

Dinner at an oddly named restaurant, then back to the hotel.

Menu for "Bizzarro Restarante", where we ate dinner our first night in London.

Got settled in, then posted the pictures of the tires as we said we would.  The next day we received an e-mail from the manager indicating his shock at the state of the tires.

But the credit card still got charged anyway.  Meh.