A number of the UKDSC team recently visited the BAE Systems Heritage Department located in the famous Black Sheds (the oldest purpose-built aviation buildings in the United Kingdom) in Farnborough, where they were hosted by Andrew Fetherston , BAE Systems Heritage Archives Manager and archivists Helen Jordan and Julian Temple.
The archive houses many millions of photographs, technical reports and manuals. The aim of the Heritage Department is to preserves the company’s proud heritage in aviation, marine and military equipment and it is a resource used almost daily by authors, film makers and researchers.
Chris Nunn (Executive Director, International Collaboration at UKDSC) commented “ a visit to the BAE Systems Archives gives you not only a look into the past history of BAE Systems and its predecessor companies but it also provides a valuable insight into Farnborough as the ‘Birthplace of British Aviation’ after Samuel Cody made the first flight on Laffans Plain in October 1908.
