RAF

Joey and Sammy love airplanes.  

On the trip to Cambridge we thought about stopping at the RAF Museum on the way but decided against it since there wasn't enough time.

So, on a laid back Saturday, we decided to go!  Getting there would be possible on the Tube and we thought the boys would like that as well.  (We only took the kids on a bus since I was terrified I would lose one or more of them traveling in the crowded Tube on a weekday).

We walked to Euston Station, navigated our way down to the platform with the stroller, and made our way onto the Underground!

Being in the Tube was pretty exciting for the boys.  They had plenty of space to stretch out.

The ride was pretty long and did take us aboveground for our final destination.  The walk from the Tube station to the RAF was about 15 minutes.  The day was blustery and raw but fortunately no rain.

The RAF Museum is enormous.  It has over 100 aircraft in multiple gigantic hangars.

Prior to even getting inside, the boys were treated by the site of their first Spitfire.  

Inside they got some activity books and rushed into the first hangar with a fantastic variety of aircraft over the past 100 years.

They also loved the fact there were video displays which allowed them to touch the screen, pick planes, and watch videos of them. 

One highlighted planes was the P-51 Mustang.  "It's like your Mustang but it's silver and a plane!" Sammy exclaimed.

The museum also had one of the amazing new F-35's.

From that hangar we went into an even bigger hangar!  Given the wealth of aircraft, they even divided the area into bombers, like the B-24 and the B-17 Flying Fortress, helicopters, and planes specializing in water travel.

Here's the famous B-17:

A plane that isn't as well known as the B-17 is a British plane used during World War II, the Southampton Supermarine.  It's a seaplane that is beautifully engineered.  The hull is made out of wood, well crafted and the wings attached to the top.  

Here is the hull and close up with the copper nails they used.  

After exploring all these planes, we found the play area.  

After a snack and playing with planes, hang gliders, hot air balloons and learning about pitch and yaw, we made our way to the Battle of Britain hangar.  

Here the Spitfires were highlighted and the displays about the Blitz and the Battle of Britain were excellent.  

Lanna especially enjoyed running up and down the aisles between the Spitfires and Messerschmitts.

By the time we had explored it all, night had fallen (at about 4:30).  The kids were pretty elated about all the planes they had seen.  To top it off, they enjoyed the return Tube trip.

To check out the RAF Museum's impressive collections, you can go to their website here:

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk