Happy Birthday Royal Air Force! This Easter Sunday we joined rest of the UK in celebrating 100 Years of The Royal Air Force. Officially formed at an RFC aerodrome at St Omer in France on 1st April 1918, on that day, the Royal Flying Corps became the became the world's first independent air force. A century later, the world has moved incredibly quickly from the concept of air power being a small sub-section of military might to being one of the deciding factors in conflicts around the … [Read more...]
Easter Holidays at The Yorkshire Air Museum
The Easter Holidays are always a special time for family days out at the Museum. This year we are particularly busy with the celebration of 100 Years of the Royal Air Force, which as formed a century ago on the 1st of April 1918. Here's a rundown of some of the special activities taking place during the Easter holidays. Our Brand New RAF 100 Quiz Trail We have a great new information trail and quiz for everyone to follow at the Museum. The new family quiz comes in two versions - a … [Read more...]
Aviation Gift Ideas for all Mums and Dads
Each year as Mothers Day and Fathers Day comes around, those aviation minded Mums and Dads are probably dropping hints right now. "A Spitfire passenger ride…... Backseat with the Red Arrows...." The usual implausible things from the Bucket List. But this year, if you're wondering what you buy the aviation minded parent in your life, here are five ideas that will help you along. Four are available to buy online from the Museum and the other is a great gift to support a worthy cause. There’s … [Read more...]
A Perfect Start to the School Holidays
The school summer holidays started on a great note for the Museum on Sunday. Despite the variable Yorkshire forecasts, everyone was blessed with dry weather for the Vintage Props Day. Our collection of vintage propellor driven aircraft were all running sweetly around the museum as joining us were singing ensemble Micky And The Alka Seltzer Sisters with some lovely period tunes. Providing the perfect dancing accompaniment were the York Vintage Dance Group. The temptation to join in was strong in … [Read more...]
Against The Odds – A Picturesque Weekend
The Museum's first Against The Odds weekend on 13th and 14th of May proved to be a successful and atmospheric event. Our mighty Cold War Jets took a break and instead, many of our World War Two era aircraft enjoyed a weekend in the sunshine. Across the Museum, a whole range of expert period re-enactors, from Arnhem paratroopers to authentic Home Guards brought the grounds of the Museum to life to give an authentic flavour of what life was life at RAF Elvington during World War Two, while in … [Read more...]
Exploring the Fairey Gannet AEW3
She stands very high. It’s only when you walk up close that you realise just how high the pilot’s cockpit is on the Gannet AEW3. This height is driven by necessity, as when the design for the AEW3 was put forwards, it involved some pretty heavy modifications from a standard Gannet. You can read a full description of the Gannet’s operational history and the earlier aircraft she was designed from at this article here. Our Gannet AEW3 has been with the Museum for a while now, but it’s … [Read more...]
14 Things You Must Do and See When You Visit The Museum
Want to ensure you see the best of the Museum when you visit? Visitors to the Museum are often surprised at how many diverse exhibits we have and how much time they find themselves taking to enjoy all of the different aspects. If you are planning a visit to the Museum, here is our list of some of the most popular things to remember for all visitors to the Museum. 1. Talk to our Guides Our volunteer guides are always on hand to answer your questions. They have a wealth of knowledge about … [Read more...]
Inside The Radio Room and the Secrets of SOE
The Control Tower sits in the centre of the Museum grounds. It’s the original building, used by the bomber crews in World War Two and accurately restored for visitors to experience what life will have been like at the time. On certain days of the week, visitors will also be drawn by the chatter of Morse Code in the air. Following the sounds will take you to a small room on the corner of the museum, where you will find a fascinating array of radio equipment. This is the Museum’s radio … [Read more...]
Friday the 13th – Nine Things You May Not Know About Her
"Friday The Thirteenth" is a phrase that has been used to illustrate bad luck for many, many years. Books and been written and films have been made on the subject, but for us, "Friday the 13th" only means our Halifax Bomber, residing in the main hangar. Many visitors are suprised by the physical size of the bomber and also, how few of them now survive. So here are some interesting facts about "Friday the 13th" and the Handley Page Halifax in general that you may not realise when you visit … [Read more...]
Seven Reasons Why Families Enjoy The Air Museum
Families looking for things to do in Yorkshire visit the museum and have a wonderful time, often spending far more time here than they had originally planned. Family visitors outnumber all others whenever we study who comes to visit and how long they stay. But some people worry that if they're not aviation enthusiasts and military history geeks, they may not find much to interest them. In fact, we find that people who aren't ardent fans of aircraft or history are often the ones who enjoy … [Read more...]
