A long-serving volunteer at a Shenley museum has been given a lifetime achievement award by Aviation Heritage UK.
Ian Thirsk has been volunteering at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum for well over 40 years.
He is a leading authority on the museum’s restoration of the Mosquito Fighter Bomber TA122, one of its 20 aircraft. He has been actively involved in the restoration of the prototype and two production models, as well as supporting other surviving examples worldwide.
This required extensive and painstaking repair, renovation and restoration. In some cases, parts were manufactured from scratch using the original drawings. The aircraft was rewired to allow electrical functions, a new Perspex canopy was installed, and the cockpit was fully fitted out with all the radios and navigation equipment.
Last month, Ian supervised the aircraft’s roll-out into the winter sunshine. This needed very careful co-ordination, as there was little space between the wingspan and the open hangar doors.
Ian, who retired from the RAF Museum Hendon in 2021 after working there for 32 years, initially specialised in the museum’s film archives and later became its head of collections. His most significant achievement was co-ordinating the amazing recovery of the sole surviving Dornier Do 17 bomber aircraft from the English Channel in 2013.
Commenting on the award, Ian said: “I am both surprised and delighted to receive this award. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy my career in the aviation heritage sector, so it comes as a bonus.”
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