New aircraft lands at RAF Cosford museum

This Second World War Messerschmitt Me 262 has been transported by road to its new home at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.

This particular aircraft, Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a Schwalbe, can already be seen by members of the public in its dismantled condition within one of the museum’s display hangars.

The Me 262 is returning to Cosford after 14 years on display at the RAF Museum London. Prior to the move the aircraft was dismantled by museum technicians and apprentices and arrived safely at Cosford just under a week ago.

Over the coming weeks it will be re-assembled and displayed alongside fellow German fighters the Me109, FW190 and the Ju88 night fighter in the ‘War in the Air’ hangar.

Ian Thirsk, head of collections at the RAF Museum, said: “The first Messerschmitt Me 262’s entered service in the autumn of 1944, as the first turbojet fighter to do so it heralded a new era in aerial warfare and represented a step change in technology.

"Today very few original examples survive so we are delighted to present this significant aircraft to our visitors at Cosford. Following the RAF Cosford Air Show on June 11, the Me 262 will be reassembled so now is a good opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of this famous aircraft in its dismantled state.”

The new arrival isn’t alone, a second aircraft to move up to Cosford from London in recent weeks is the Hawker Hart Trainer, an advanced trainer version of the original Hawker Hart bomber.

The Hart was introduced in 1930 and immediately became a great success; its performance exceeding that of contemporary fighters.

The basic design was readily adapted for other roles including a fighter variant and an Army co-operation version. Aviation fans can now view the Hart in hangar one.