Aerospace Bristol celebrates RAF100

Aerospace Bristol welcomed the RAF100 Centenary Baton on Sunday, as it makes its way around the country and visits 100 sites associated with the RAF in 100 days. The baton was handed over during an Air Cadet parade at the new museum, with Britain’s last surviving Dambuster present as guest of honour.

The museum was chosen as one of the 100 locations due to Bristol’s long history of designing and manufacturing many aircraft and engines that entered service with the RAF over the last one hundred years. 

The centenary celebrations featured more than 50 Air Cadets marching outside the museum’s WW1 hangar, as proud families, visitors to the museum and Britain’s last surviving Dambuster, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson MBE watched on as guest of honour. He later praised the “remarkable discipline” of the cadets who took part.

Following the parade at Aerospace Bristol, the baton continued its journey, travelling from Aerospace Bristol to the next of its 100 sites: The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare. Having begun at the Royal Courts of Justice on 1 April 2018, the relay will continue until 10 July when it reaches Horseguards Parade.