Example Of The National Museum Of Flight Scotland Report

Introduction

Scotland's National Museum of Flight was founded as in 1975 as a national museum and is situated on an ancient RAF airport in East Fortune. It holds precious memories of the heartaches and victories of the brave men who fought and protected their countries from the air as well as paying tribute to those curious minds that designed and made it possible for the flights to be used through their relentless efforts. Transportation through flight is an aspect of human inquisitiveness that caused people like the legendary Wright brothers to be in the continuous expedition to build an aircraft that would be used by human beings hence giving them the wings to fly (Berliner, 2011).
This Museum of Flight is one of Scotland's great attractions which comprise four huge hangers that display the biggest collection of aircraft and aviation history that is useful for educational amenities used by scholars, tour groups and adults. The engines, aircrafts and other precious collections found at the National Museum of Flight Scotland give a fascinating hint into the interesting history of flying in the past. Although the aircraft’s hangars were originally built to last a few years, they have stood the test of time and more than Seventy years on, they are still a part of the East Fortune Airfield Monument. They give an important link to the war period of Scotland and the rich aviation story. Plans are also underway by the new management to change the restoration and civil hangars to as to fit into the 21st Century (Berliner, 2011).

Core resources and products at the visitors’ attraction at the National Museum of Flight Scotland

The National Museum of Flight Scotland is the home of Flight RAF Station East Fortune that is measured to be the best kept airfield from the Second World War in the United Kingdom. More of the resources that attract visitors at the National Museum of Flight Scotland include:

The 1896 hang-glider

R34 and the Pilcher Hawk that took off in 1919 to make the first ever flight to cross from the East to West of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Model A biplane made by the Wright Brothers

Other vast collections include rockets, photographs, models, fine art, weapons, aviation uniforms and clothing, medals, engines, coins, relics and instruments that complete the rich historical display found at the Museum of Flight (Rosie, 2010).
There is a library of reference searches that helps visitors and scholars who come to the museum. In addition, there is research that enriches the optical displays of the planes that fought their way into the books of history during World War I and World War II. At the National Museum of Scotland, it is the historical aircrafts that steal the show. The aircrafts are well maintained and preserved as they stand proudly as one of the leading attractions in Scotland (Williams, 1981).
More aircrafts that are displayed include: the F4S Phantom II, Spifighter F.21, Bristol Beaufighter, Goldwing G-MBPM, Tiger Moth C/N 82537, Dan-Air De Hanilland Comet 4C, Avro Vulcan V-Bomber, De Havilland DH 80A Puss Moth, Supermarine Spirfire and Avro 540. The most recent display aircraft is the G-BOAA Concorde that was added in 2005, gives the visitors to the museum a whole "Concorde Experience" (Williams, 1981).
Also, there is a Museum Shop, which sells model kits, videos, books, die cast models, gliders, and many other similar items can be bought. The Aviator Café also situated in the Museum provides visitors with munchies and it boasts of being able to put up visitors who are disabled using wheelchairs to access the museum, parking, and bathrooms, they also provide information using Braille (Garrard, 2008).

Identify and list the key stakeholders involved in managing and visiting the visitor attraction

Some of the key stakeholders involved in managing the visitors to the National Museum of Flight Scotland include key policy makers from each of the following bodies:

The National Museum Director's Council (NMDC)

THE Art Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund
The National Archives
The Association of Independent Museums
Arts Council England
Museum Galleries Scotland (Wilson & Symington, 2013).
Establish and list the key management and visitor management issues encountered at the visitor attraction
Some of the major challenges faced by the management at the National Museum of Flight Scotland include:
Reduction in resources – as the year's progress, there is more and more need to have new artifacts to be displayed at the museum for future generations. This is a challenge because the resources keep decreasing by the day
Change in the governing body – frequent changes in the managing/governing bodies causes there to be difficulty in the implementation of goals and visions
Changes in the economic environment – this problem is not unique to the National Museum of Flight Scotland. Every museum despite its type, size, location or funding, has to contend with the issue of dire changes in the economic environment (Scottish treasures, 2001).
Discuss and assess the effectiveness of the management tools that have been put in place to manage the resource and visitors at the site

The management has put up tools to ensure proper management of the National Museum of Flight Scotland, including:

Effective financial systems and adequate controls to ensure that the money is not misused. Hence, the structure can be maintained in top notch quality
Systems to check and detect fraud and irregularities at its earliest stage to ensure minimal to no misuse of funds. Though these systems have been put in place, they do not mean that it has totally eliminated the possibility all corruption, irregularities or fraud being committed (Wilson, 2013).
They also ensure that the proper conduct of its affairs is put in place to ensure that there is no misappropriation of resources. When resources are misappropriated, it leads to the loss of a rich culture denying future generations an opportunity to enjoy the same culture. Corruption can lead to embezzling funds that were meant to be used for maintenance of the artifacts. Poor maintenance may lead to loss of items with a rich historic background (Gourividis, 2010).

Suggest recommendations for the improved management of the visitor attraction

Product development – product development is multifaceted as it ensures that systems have been put in place to ensure new products with a rich historic background are brought into the museum and also old artifacts are properly maintained to ensure they exist for the longest time possible. Museums hold a very rich heritage, and it is a pity if the precious historical artifacts are not maintained and developed to increase longevity (Dawson, 2007).
Staffing – the people employed in the museum determine its success and longevity or its failure. Passion for historical issues is a key thing to consider when choosing employees to be placed at the National Museum of Flight Scotland. The employees must also be educated and trained on the importance of preservation of the artifacts and their maintenance so that future generations can witness the beauty of history (McKean, 2000).
Interpretation – people travel from all over the world to come and experience the wealth of history in Scotland. Among the people that travel to this place are those who do not understand the languages spoken there hence the need for interpretation especially at their main tourist attraction.
Visitor management – the continuity of a tourist attraction is dependent on how well the visitors are managed. When people feel valued and welcomed, they are bound to come back again, but people who feel unappreciated are not going to visit a place again (Prior, 2002).
Marketing – a strong marketing system ensures that a place is well known, especially for its strengths. Marketing is the act of amplifying the strengths of a place or person so as to attract people. To ensure the awareness and usage of the National Museum of Scotland, there is the need for a good marketing strategy (National Museum of Scotland, 2011).

Conclusion

The National Museum of Scotland has a rich cultural heritage that can benefit the nation of Scotland. The management needs to be carefully scrutinized to ensure that they have the best interests of the museum at heart so that generations to come can boast of this precious history in their land (Clarke, 2000).

References

Berliner, D. (2011). Surviving Fighter Aircraft of World War Two Fighters: A Globel Guide to Location and Types. Havertown: Pen and Sword.
Rosie, G. (2010). Flight of the Titan: The story of the R34. Edinburgh: Birlinn.
Williams, A. (1981). A heritage for Scotland: Scotland's National Museums and Galleries : The next 25 years : Report of a committee appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland under the chairmanship of Dr. Alwyn Williams. Edinburgh: H.M.S.O.
Garrard, S. (2008). Directory of museums, galleries and buildings of historic interest in the United Kingdom (4.th ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Wilson, N., & Symington, A. (2013). Scotland (7th ed.). Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet.
Scottish treasures: Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland. (2001). Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland.
Wilson, N. (2013). Discover Scotland 2013: Experience the best of Scotland (2nd ed.). Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet.
Gourividis, L. (2010). The Dynamics of Heritage History, Memory and the Highland Clearances. Farnham: Ashgate Pub.
Dawson, J. (2007). Scotland re-formed 1488-1587. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
McKean, C. (2000). The making of the Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland Pub.
Prior, N. (2002). Museums and modernity: Art galleries and the making of modern culture. Oxford: New York, NY :.
Clarke, D. (2000). Creating the Museum of Scotland: A reply to Neal Ascherson. Public Archaeology, 220-221.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND. (2011, July 29). States News Service. Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-262800930.html?