Staff man Andy gets unique view of RAF Cosford museum display
Only a select few have ever seen this view of Shropshire's iconic RAF museum – from above.
Shropshire Star photographer Andy Cunningham got a unique chance to capture the exhibits at the RAF museum at Cosford while it was closed for its annual clean-up.
Visitors usually see the planes from below, as they are suspended from the ceilings by strong cables, but Andy was allowed up to see the exhibits in the Cold War hangar from the unusual angle while the museum was closed to the public.
Michelle Morgans, spokeswoman for RAF Museum Cosford, said the closure not only gave staff the chance to clean the museum but also carry out staff training.
She said: "We were deep cleaning the museum and carrying out work that may not be possible to do when the visitors are here. Staff were also doing a stock-take in the shop."
This is the fifth year that the museum has closed for a week in January so that essential cleaning an maintenance could be completed.
Maintenance workers use a cherry picker to take a closer look at the aircraft which are suspended in the air as part of the exhibition.
The visitor centre also had an overhaul, with the vast wooden floor being sanded and refurbished ready for the thousands of visitors who flock to the free museum each year.
The museum displays more than 70 aircraft and is home to the National Cold War Exhibition which focuses on the Cold War story.