Aircraft Fuselage and Wind Tunnel by Barbara Jones, watercolour and graphite on paper

This is one of three watercolours Barbara Jones painted of wind tunnel testing at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

It represents an obsolete Fairey Battle Mk 1 awaiting modification. A Napier Sabre engine is about to be fitted to the fuselage and tested for the effects of wind drag. The engine was to be used for Hawker Typhoon aircraft, introduced a few months later. Jones, who participated in the wartime Recording Britain watercolour scheme, became an expert in British folk art. Her writings and exhibitions about ‘the popular arts’ influenced the work of British Pop artists including Eduardo Paolozzi. Purchased in 1994. Copyright: the artist's estate / RAF Museum.