From May 22, those with a Biggles fixation (or anyone who simply prefers to inhabit Cloud 9) can take a pilot aptitude test at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, north London. Others can learn about engineering in the hangar or be propelled down a track by the force of a propeller. These activities will be available in the expanded museum where you can investigate a section of a Dakota, try on flight clothing and RAFuniforms, or prepare to go on a daring “mission”. Information: www.rafmuseum.org.

Thesps go west

There will be outstanding opportunities for theatre folk in Aberystwyth this summer. The Centre for Performance Research is running The Summer Shift, billed as “part retreat, part intensive workshop, part holiday”. Goat Island, the Chicago-based collaborative performance group founded in 1987, will be in attendance, and there will be a choice of courses of different length with an international flavour in voice and visual work, and even an intensive fortnight leading to a site-specific performance. Described by previous participants as “a revolution”, working together reaches new heights of collaboration. Information: www.thecpr.org.uk.

War history online

The Imperial War Museum’s collection is now available online.

Sample film, documents, works of art and sound snippets from the comfort of study or classroom and read the accompanying essays on major historical themes without making the journey to south London. More than 55,000 items are available - under topics such as war at sea, prisoners and burial and remembrance. There are plans to add more in 20032004. Information: www.iwmcollections.org.uk.