What are you planning? Where shall we go?
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By kanga
#1524874
The Cheltenham furniture company H H Martyn started making aircraft components (initially, dH wings) in 1915, but their aviation subsidiary was not started until 1917, as the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company. The abbreviation 'Gloster' was initially only to help export sales, because some foreigners could not get their heads and tongues round 'Gloucestershire'.

Anyway, 2017 is thus an important Centenary (as was 2015), and we invite all former GAC employees to get in touch for an invitation to this 10 May event, which is thus our 3rd annual staff reunion. We would be grateful if any Forumites who know or know of any former GACers with whom we have not yet been in touch to let them know and invite them to get in touch (PM me or contact JAM via contact details on its website

http://www.jetagemuseum.org/

or FB page ). There will be special exhibits, including a blast from our newly restored GAC factory hooter!

[other GAC Centenary events at JAM, some of which I will be (re)posting nearer the time:

Sat 8 Apr: launch of 'Whittle and wild flowers' walk. This starts and ends at the Whittle Inn at Brockworth, taking in still visible signs of the old airfield and works buildings, including a a wildflower garden. Map leaflets will be available at the Inn and at JAM.

Sun 28 May: '100 years of GAC' talk at JAM, during normal opening hours

Mon 5 Jun: Extra opening day to unveil a new 'Time Tunnel' with extra GAC-related exhibits

Sat 1 Jul: 'Cool Aeronautics' displays for (mainly!) children, with exhibits from local aviation companies. (previous day will have been only for local school groups, by arrangement)

Sun 30 Jul: Illustrated talk on H H Martyn, on normal opening day.

Sat 26 Aug: unveiling of the GAC-built (they all were) 'Hawker' Typhoon, which we have been restoring offsite.

As ever, fly-ins welcome]
#1528878
The 'Whittle and wildflowers walk' was duly launched today. Ian Whittle, Sir Frank's son and a BA Captain, was in attendance. A (small) image of the walk route and annotations may be seen on the JAM FB page here:



.. and leaflets may be collected from the 'Jet and Whittle' pub (which is the start and end point of the walk route), from JAM Reception, and some other local places.