Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre goes on the air!

Popular for amateur radio enthusiasts and anyone just interested in our heritage, International Museums Weekend was created in order to set up amateur radio special event stations at as many museums as possible throughout the whole of the world.

The event will take place over two weekends – June 18 to 19 and 25 to 26.

Publicity Officer for the international event, Sue Pyecroft said: “Since the initial weekend in 2002, with 80 museums participating across the UK, numbers have increased and we now have museums ‘on air’ from Australia, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Austria, France and Germany as well as the UK.

“It is a good way to let other people know about the museums we have chosen to support - not just the people we actually talk to but the multitude of listeners - and a very good excuse for radio amateurs to spend time talking to other people worldwide as well as the visitors to the museum.

“We demonstrate the hobby and can answer questions about ways of obtaining an amateur licence as well as the numerous types of communication we use, from Morse code to computer based data modes as well as speech. Some of the participating museums have their own permanent amateur station as part of the attraction who are ‘on air’ at other times than just museums on the air weekends.”

Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre will be open over both weekends from 10am to 4.30pm, ready to make contact with museums from around the world. Visitors will also have the chance to explore the history of RAF Cranwell’s Electrical and Wireless Training Unit during the Second World War as well as having a go at Morse code on a Morse code machine and learn how to translate messages.

Museums taking part over the years have included ships, castles, air museums, Napoleonic forts, pumping stations, wireless museums, racing museums and many others.

For more information contact the North Kesteven District Council Tourism Team on 01529 308102 or email [email protected]. For information about any of the attractions involved in the trail visit www.heartoflincs.com