The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Lincolnshire’s important contribution to the development of jet and gas turbine propulsion will be revealed in a unique exhibition at the county’s archives.
The one-day event unveils scores of rarely-seen historical documents, charting the area’s legacy as a centre for jet-age innovation and flight.
“Lincolnshire is sometimes regarded as a sleepy backwater, but the county played an important part in the development of jet technology” says Adrian Wilkinson from Lincolnshire Archives.
“Britain’s very first jet-powered flight took place here, the RAF’s first jet fighter made its inaugural flight here and the Red Arrows are based here.”
The exhibition features photos, models, catalogues and articles from the 1940s to the present day.
The exhibition covers the whole of the jet age from the German V1 Flying Bomb to the blades of a turbine engine direct from the assembly lines of Siemen’s Lincoln-based factory.
Other highlights include the evolution of jet engines from their piston predecessors, the record-breaking Fairey Delta, prototype aircraft, the Avro Vulcan, the Red Arrows and the story of Frank Whittle, the father of jet propulsion.
Lincolnshire’s connection with the production of gas turbines is also covered, with a range of archival material relating to Ruston Gas Turbines of Lincoln and its successor companies.
A world leader in the manufacture of gas turbines, Ruston’s products have been used to generate power in shopping centres, factories and warships across the globe. The engineering giant became part of Siemens in 2003.
Lincolnshire in the Jet Age takes place at Lincolnshire Archives from 10.30am until 3pm on Saturday, September 27. Entry is free.
