Cold War to Kabul

OPENED 19th JULY 2017

The ending of the Cold War did not mean an end to the vital role played by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.  Instead it had to adapt and develop to meet the new demands made upon it in a constantly changing world.

This exhibition tells the story of the part played by the Fleet Air Arm as the world moved from the era of Cold War politics, driven by the fear of nuclear war, into one dominated by international tensions, globalization and terrorist action.    Three aircraft - a Sea King HC4, a Harrier GR9 and Lynx Mk3 - will be on display and have all experienced front line action in conflicts such as the Gulf Wars, Bosnia and Afghanistan.  They will be used to help explore how the Fleet Air Arm has operated in some of the most difficult terrains on the planet and to tell the stories of the men and women who fly such aircraft and keep them airborne.  It will also examine the perhaps less obvious roles of the Royal Navy and the Fleet air Arm including humanitarian assistance, civilian evacuations, anti-piracy and anti-drug patrols  where the focus is on saving lives and upholding the rule of law.   All in all this exhibition will show how, in the post-Cold War era, the Fleet Air Arm has continued to provide air power from the sea in hazardous, diverse and complex operations around the world.

This exhibition will feature

Sea King ZA298

Harrier GR9 ZD433

Lynx XZ720