By John Connell

Published at 08:56, Saturday, 23 June 2012

A rare World War Two aircraft will form the exciting centrepiece of Carlisle’s revamped £1.68 million military museum.

The 1941 cargo and assault glider will be the star attraction in Cumbria’s Military Museum when the collection moves from the cramped Queen Mary’s Tower to the nearby Alma Block.

Assistant curator TonyGoddard, who is helping to restore the aircraft, said the museum would become an “international attraction” and would add to the already considerable draw of the castle.

Under the ambitious plans, the Grade II listed regency style building will be transformed into a modern visitor attraction complete with education centre, cafe and restored regimental bar.

The city’s MP John Stevenson described it as “fantastic” for Carlisle, adding that the new site had “masses of potential”.

He said: “It will enhance what we have on offer for tourists in terms of our heritage at the castle, Tullie House and the cathedral.”

The museum refurbishment would not be possible without a £1.43 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Alma Block, which served originally as the Regiment’s Institute and canteen, is almost three times the size of the existing museum.

The size of the present museum means that only half of the collection can go on show at any one time but the new site will allow 80 per cent of it to be seen.

Stuart Eastwood, curator of the museum, said: “This will enable us to make our collections accessible to a far wider audience with the space and facilities expected in a modern museum.”

The aircraft, which will enjoy pride of place in the Alma Block, is one of just four such aircraft in the UK and 14 in the world.

Found in farmland at Kirkby Lonsdale, it was donated to the museum about 18 months ago and is now in the process of being restored by a four-man team.

When rebuilt, it will be exhibited on the ground floor with a jeep emerging from the front, illustrating its use of a cargo glider.

The original metal frame would have been covered only in cotton fabric, making it lighter in the air but making it vulnerable to enemy attack.

Mr Goddard said the cloth was so flimsy that a soldier could easily have poked his finger right through the cloth.

Catching sight of the glider for the first time, Carlisle veteran Ron Graydon said: “My goodness, did I really go to Sicily in one of those?”

It is understood that this particular glider never saw active military service.

However, it would have been identical to the aircraft that would have flown soldiers to Sicily and Arnham.

The Waco CG-4A was named Hadrian by the British.

It was originally used to carry 13 troops or six litters for the evacuation of the wounded. It could also be used to carry artillery including a 37mm AT gun and a 75mm howitzer.

The gliders could also carry trucks, mobile laboratories, weather stations, radar equipment and even field kitchens.

Curators hope to have the museum open next summer, with work on the glider taking three months.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk