A Hurricane hits the shops
Shoppers got the chance to sit in the cockpit of a replica of a plane which flew during the Battle of Britain.
The Hawker Hurricane MKII Replicate was at the Galleries in Washington as 2214 Usworth Squadron Air Cadets group celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Members of the public were able to sit in the plane and also chat to air cadets about their organisation.
Jennifer Beavis, marketing executive at the Galleries, said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic to have a Hawker Hurricane MKII Replicate here at the Galleries.
“Everyone has loved getting their pictures taken in the cockpit with hundreds of children and adults queuing up to be seen with the aircraft throughout the day.
“Although it was a little bit of an effort getting it assembled onsite - it is 40ft and took eight team members to get it in place - it’s all been well worth it and we’ve really enjoyed having a unique attraction such as this at the Galleries.
“The feedback we’ve received so far has just been tremendous.”
The squadron has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant in order to make a DVD of its history.
Events such as the Hurricane display are being filmed to feature in the production, by Lonely Tower Film & Media, which are playing a major part in.
The grant included a trip to the RAF Museum at Hendon in London, to see the original Blackadder Aircraft which is stored in the Battle of Britain Hall.
It is in the codes AFF, the aircraft that Flt Lt Francis Blackadder flew in the Battle of Britain from RAF Usworth on 15th August 1940.