The Wireless Heritage SIG is delighted to offer 10 places for a privileged opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Exhibition housed in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officers’ Mess of RAF Northolt telling the story of the Polish Air Force and its achievements during the Second World War in Poland, France and England.
The exhibition combines personal memorabilia, artworks, aircraft models, photographs, and display panels. For most of the Second World War, RAF Northolt was home to a Polish Fighter Wing of three Squadrons on rotation. In 1940, the 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kosciuszko City of Warsaw Squadron, flying Hurricanes, became the most successful Squadron of any that fought in the Battle of Britain with 126 confirmed victories, despite only being operational for less than half the period of the Battle.
The visit includes the restored Sector Control Room which was at the heart of the world's first integrated air defence system and the crucial link between radar reports of enemy aircraft and the pilots intercepting them.
There is an optional lunch with the Station Commander available to those that attend the visit which does attract an additional fee.
There are no charges for visiting the Exhibition and Sector Control Room but as funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and the RAF Northolt Heritage Charity respectively, donations to either charity are appreciated. There is also a small selection of books, pamphlets and DVDs available for sale.
RAF Northolt in west London is used by both military and civilian aircraft and is home to units from all three Armed Services and the Ministry of Defence.
RAF Northolt plays an important royal role with both 32 (The Royal) Squadron and 63 Squadron RAF Regiment (King’s Colour Squadron) based on the Station.
2,000 service personnel (from all 3 Armed Forces), civil servants, and contractors work at RAF Northolt.
Please note: Priority will be given to members of Cambridge Wireless for this visit so early registration is essential.
Should we have availability we will offer places to non-members on a first come first served basis. To register your interest to attend this event as a non-member of Cambridge Wireless please email Clare.kettle@cambridgewireless.co.uk
Visit Schedule for Friday 9th May
10:15 - Arrive at Main Guardroom
10:20 - Move from main Guardroom with Station Commander in the lead car to the Officer’s Mess
10:30 - Welcome Brief from the Station Commander
10:45 - Visit Polish Air Force Room with guide Mr Kornicki.
11:40 - Visit Sir Keith Park Restoration Project
12:30 - Optional lunch with Station Commander (Additional payment required)
13:40 - Departure from Officer’s Mess to Main Gate
Practical details to note:
This exclusive opportunity is being led by one of the SIG Champions from the Heritage SIG. Geoff Varrall, will contact you directly to confirm your place for this visit and share any relevant details you will need for the day.
Delegates will need to check in is at RAF Northolt main gate. This is the second gate on the A4180 West End Road when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout.
As this is a secure operational airbase, the security staff will need vehicle make, model, colour and registration of the car you will be arriving in (which must be submitted 48 hours in advance of the visit). You will also need to provide photo ID.
Wireless Heritage SIG Champions
Stirling Essex
Stirling Essex has over 25 years of product development, product management, strategic marketing and business development experience in many areas of wireless technology, and has been intimately involved in the development of test systems for GSM, CDMA (IS-95), 3G (W-CDMA) and LTE. He founded Espansivo, a technology consultancy specialising in helping organisations with their technology, product and business decisions, in 2005. Stirling was previously a co-champion of the CW Future Wide Area Wireless Special Interest Group and and was a member of the CW Board from 2004 to 2015.
Professor Andy Sutton
Andy Sutton is a BT Fellow and Principal Network Architect for Wireless Access. The wireless access domain includes 4G/5G RAN architecture and mobile backhaul/xhaul, along with microwave and millimetre wave radio systems, and satellite communications. Andy holds an MSc in Mobile Communications from the University of Salford and has over 35 years of experience within the telecommunications industry. Andy’s current research interests include advanced RAN coordination techniques, including C-RAN and OpenRAN, optical fibre and radio based backhaul/xhaul, along with LEO satellite communications and High-altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), all in the context of building resilient heterogeneous networks. Andy holds the post of Visiting Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Liverpool and the University of Salford, he is a Chartered Engineer and holds Fellowships from the IET, ITP and BCS. Andy sits on the editorial board of the ITP Journal and is a CW SIG Champion for eMBB and Wireless Heritage.
- Twitter:
- @sutton960
Geoff Varrall
Geoff Varrall joined RTT in 1985 as an executive director and shareholder to develop RTT's international business as a provider of technology and business services to the wireless industry. He co-developed RTT's original series of design and facilitation workshops including 'RF Technology', 'Data Over Radio', 'Introduction to Mobile Radio', and 'Private Mobile Radio Systems and developed 'The Oxford programme', a five day strategic technology and market programme presented annually between 1991 and 2005. Geoff has been running in depth technology and market workshops for the industry for over 33 years, spanning five generations of mobile cellular technology. A co-author of the Mobile Radio Servicing Handbook (Heinemann Butterworth, UK), Data Over Radio, (Quantum Publishing, Mendocino, USA and 3G Handset and Network Design (John Wiley, New York). Geoff's fourth book, Making Telecoms Work – from technical innovation to commercial success (John Wiley) was published in early 2012 followed by 5G Spectrum and Standards published by Artech House in July 2016. His latest book 5G and Satellite Spectrum Standards and Scale is now available from Artech House and can be ordered from http://uk.artechhouse.com/5G-and-Satellite-Spectrum-Standards-and-Scale-P1935.aspx. As a past Director of Cambridge Wireless, Geoff is actively involved in a number of wireless heritage initiatives that aim to capture and record past technology and engineering experience and is a patron of the Science Museum In his spare time he plays Jazz trumpet semi-professionally and is a marathon and ultra-runner.
Nigel Wall
Nigel has been involved with connected vehicle research since 1992 when he led BT’s mobile data research team – initially using modems on first generation analogue TACS mobile phones! Since 2001 he has provided consultancy complex-systems, with a primary specialism in connected vehicles. He acted as the Monitoring Officer for twelve of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle research projects supported by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. Climate Associates provides consultancy on delivering pragmatic sustainable systems and services, based on life cycle assessments where wholesale replacement of current systems with lower footprint solutions may not be the most sustainable option.
