Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

[Tork1945]

It will not be high up in the lists of museums to visit for aviation historians, but the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam has started their new display after a renovation of eight years with the installation of the B.A.T. FK.23. This original machine was bought by the Rijksmuseum, so it has left its place in the Lelystad aviation museum Aviodrome.

Here is some footage about the bringing in of the machine in the completely empty museum. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam will open officially in April 2013.

You may have some difficulty understanding the spoken text (Dutch language).

Tork1945

[Oesau]

Thanks for that, was recently at both mentioned museums and enjoyed them both

['14-'18aviationcollector]

Hi Tork, or anyone else who might know,

I have heard that there are the remains of a B.A.T. Bantom here in Australia. Does anyone know if this it true, and if so, where the remains are located?

Thanks,

David.

[Biber]

Originally Posted by Tork1945

It will not be high up in the lists of museums to visit for aviation historians, ...

Don't let that stop you. My wife and I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 97 and were quite taken by the collections. As I remember they seem to be more "stuff" oriented than art oriented, if you know what I mean. Would love to go back but the cost of family life says otherwise.

[Tork1945]

Originally Posted by Biber

Don't let that stop you. My wife and I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 97 and were quite taken by the collections. As I remember they seem to be more "stuff" oriented than art oriented, if you know what I mean. Would love to go back but the cost of family life says otherwise.

You were in time to visit the Rijksmuseum in 1997 as it was completely closed during the restoration of some 10 years [2002 - 2012]. During that time it was only possible to see the most famous paintings separately.

The Museum will reopen in April 2013 with a completely new presentation of the collection via a sort of time line. The B.A.T. FK.23 will be featured in the 20th century chronology. You are right they will be presenting way more artefacts than paintings.

Tork1945

[Tork1945]

Originally Posted by '14-'18aviationcollector

Hi Tork, or anyone else who might know,

I have heard that there are the remains of a B.A.T. Bantom here in Australia. Does anyone know if this it true, and if so, where the remains are located?

Thanks,

David.

I have no information on remains of a B.A.T. FK.23 Bantam being in Australia. As so few of them were actually built I have somewhere in my collection articles which list the history of each and every FK.23. I doubt that one of them came to Australia, but one never knows.

The specific FK.23 now in the Rijksmuseum was lying as a complete wreck for years in England until it was bought by a Dutch preservation organization. More information to be found here.

The restoration is the work of about 10 years. It is a great, great achievement.

* Extra *

The project manager of the FK.23 restoration - Mr. Harry van der Meer - has written a lengthy profusely illustrated article on the restoration of the FK.23. It appeared in WW1 Aero Issue 202 (February 2010) pp.27-41 with the title 'The Last Koolhoven in the World'.

This title gives little (or better) no hope that a part of another FK.23 survives in Australia. **

Tork1945

[Oesau]

Thanks Tork, have got myself a copy of WW1 aero issue 202 and am reading the article.