This October Half Term, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford invites families to join in the free and exciting Helicopter Half Term activity.

Taking place from Monday, October 24, 2011, to Friday, October 28, visitors will have the opportunity to see inside a replica air ambulance cockpit, speak with air ambulance and search and rescue helicopter crew, plus take part in a question and answer session with ex-United States Air Force (USAF) flight engineers and technical sergeants Chuck Gutshall and Walt Brown.

Families can sit inside the replica air ambulance cockpit and see what it’s like to fly a helicopter and speak with some of the crew about how the helicopter they use can save lives. Plus there is a possibility that the real thing will be flying in to see visitors depending on operational requirements.

Each day the search and rescue team from RAF Valley will be talking with visitors about the Sea King helicopter and bringing along their road show including a dinghy, stretcher, a selection of rescue equipment, wartime and post war display, actual footage of one of their rescues and tonnes of information and giveaways for visitors.

The Sea King helicopter will be flying in and landing at the museum during Helicopter Half Term subject to operational requirements.  Families will also have the opportunity to climb aboard the RAF mountain rescue vehicle and speak with the mountain rescue team.

On Friday, October 28, the ex-USAF crew will be holding two question and answer sessions next to the museum’s MH-53 helicopter located in the National Cold War Exhibition.  The ex-USAF flight engineers and technical sergeants have both logged time on the MH-53 on display at the museum.  They will be discussing the duties they carried out whilst working on the Mighty Pave Low, showing actual video footage of the aircraft during service and will be happy to answer any questions visitors have about this helicopter.

Sessions with RAF Valley and the air ambulance crew will take place from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm each week day and will be located in the Museum’s Hangar 1.  Question and Answer sessions with the ex-USAF team will start at 11am and 2pm.  The Museum is open daily from 10am.  Entry to the event and to the rest of the Museum is free.

Throughout the year there is a wide range of events taking place at the museum.  For further information call 01902 376200 or visit www.rafmuseum.org