The Yorkshire Air Museum Aircraft and Vehicle Collections
The Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington houses one of the most impressive aircraft displays in the UK, from pre-world war two to cold war.
Pre-World War Two Aircraft
From the tiny Flying Flea to the famous SE-5A WW1 fighter, our collection of pre-World War Two aircraft is a great study of early aviation. It’s a great way to learn about early flight and its icons.
- World War 1
- Pre-World War
- Pre-World War
- Post World War 1
- World War 1
- World War 1
- World War 1
- Pre-World War
World War Two Aircraft
Our World War Two Aircraft collection is probably best know for the Handley Page Halifax “Friday The 13th”. But our collection extends beyond this famous machine to encompass aircraft as diverse as the Spitfire and the WACO glider, towed behind Allied bombers and crewed by courageous troops. Our Douglas Dakota served around the globe before retiring to live in our Canadian Hangar.
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
- World War 2
Post World War Two Aircraft
Our Post-War collection straddles the period between the iconic aircraft of the WW2 era and the more technologically advanced jets that came later. There's a mixture of pistons, props and turbines, as the science of flight began to gather pace.
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
- Post World War 2
Cold War
Our collection of military Cold War aircraft complements the Post World War Two Aircraft collection and shows the rapidly advancing technology of the jet and turbine era. Several aircraft are kept in running condition.
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
- Cold War
Post Cold War
Our collection of Post Cold War aircraft. Several aircraft are kept in running condition.
- Post Cold War
- Post Cold War
- Post Cold War
The Vehicle Collections
Our range of support vehicles is diverse in both size and purpose. It’s a varied collection of historic military vehicles, from huge, heavy-duty aircraft tugs big enough to move a large airliner, all the way to small utility vehicles. Far from being static exhibits, you will see many of these old machines working each day in the museum as our engineering staff use them to move aircraft around, refuel and work on them. See how many you can spot as you visit the Museum
Museum Support Vehicles
The David Brown Aircraft Tractor was a common sight on UK airfields throughout World War II and until the mid-1950’s, where it was used extensively for towing aircraft and bomb trolleys. It weighs nearly 4 tons and is powered by a David Brown 4-cylinder, 2523cc, overhead-valve petrol engine delivering 37 bhp. The towing pull is 2.5 tons.
The transmission is a four-speed gearbox driving rear wheels through a Brockhouse turbo transmitter torque converter. The brakes are mechanical with a vacuum servo unit. The suspension is without springs and there is a swivelling front axle. The tractor is fitted with a 5-ton winch at the rear.
The examples at the Yorkshire Air Museum are the later diesel engine versions of the wartime VIG 1/462, which was introduced in the late 1940s and was used around RAF stations until the early 1970s. Our tractors are still regularly used to position aircraft around the museum.
The Lansing tug was used on aircraft carriers as a general-purpose tug and in the civilian role for baggage handling. This 1958 vehicle has been restored on site and has a two-cylinder Enfield diesel engine of 2400-cc capacity.
The Douglas P3 is a 12-14 ton light/medium aircraft-towing tug powered by a Perkins diesel engine with a Brockhouse gearbox. This example was used by British Midland Airways Ltd (BMI) at Durham Tees Valley Airport for many years. After being out of service for some time, the tug was kindly donated to the Museum by BMI in late 2008.
Restored to operational condition and repainted in a striking bright yellow colour scheme by the Museum’s volunteers, the tug is now fully operational and is the museum’s heavy-duty workhorse, capable of towing the Handley Page Victor K.2 Tanker weighing around 80 tons.
Military Transport & Operations Vehicles
This very rare 1938 Ford 8 (7Y) 4 seat family car was produced for just a few months between 1937 and 1939 before the outbreak World War II closed down production. It has an 850cc side-valve engine, cable brakes and 6-volt electrical system. It was the actual vehicle used by the station carpenter at RAF Elvington during World War II, travelling to and from Howden throughout the period. This is the “deluxe” model having chrome around the air vents and bonnet plus a covered spare wheel. It has running boards and 4 opening side and front windows. After the war Ford began to make a similar though plainer model, the called the “Popular” with a four-door version called the “Prefect”. The “sit up and beg” version of the Popular continued until 1959. This vehicle still runs and operates.
The ‘Tilly’, as Light Utility Vehicles affectionately became known, dates back to 1938. The Standard version was derived from the Flying Standard chassis, with modified bodywork converting the dashing saloon into a light van, with 10 cwt capacity.
Other ‘Tillies’ were manufactured by Austin, Hillman and Morris. Around 25 Standard ‘Tillies’ are believed to still exist out of over 3000 built. Only two of these are from the Mark 1 DC Series, based on the 12hp car chassis of which this is one. This vehicle has been restored and drives.
Many Light Utility Vehicles were supplied to the RAF, where they were used for carrying personnel, light cargo, and general errand work between bases. They were regarded as comfortable, economical and reliable.
From the outbreak of war, the Coventry based Standard Motor Company became involved in the manufacture of engine parts for the Air Ministry. It is fitting, therefore, that the vehicle should be on display at a former WWII Bomber Command Station. Following painstaking restoration by the vehicle’s owner, Tony Allen, from Bristol, the ‘Tilly’ is on long-term loan to the Museum.
The Chevrolet Type C15A is a 15cwt general service truck, which was produced from 1941 in vast numbers by the Canadian motor industry to a British specification. (The letters CMP stand for Canadian Military Pattern). In all, Canada produced more than 857,000 vehicles for service in World War II, including the ubiquitous Chevrolet. Many types were produced including water tankers, personnel carriers and radio vans.
The Thompson Mk Vc Aircraft Fueller is a small three-wheeled, airfield-based refuelling vehicle, powered by a Ford 10hp petrol engine. It has a three forward speed and one reverse speed gearbox and a chain driven rear axle. The three-wheeled, low slung design made it easier to get close to aircraft for refuelling.
The left side tank carried 500 gallons of petrol, whilst the right tank carried 50 litres of oil. Each tank had its own pump driven by a power take off engaged by levers in the cockpit and each was equipped with an indicator gauge, hose and nozzle.
The service history of the vehicle at the Yorkshire Air Museum is not known. It is possible that it was originally based at RAF Woodhall Spa or RAF Coningsby as it was discovered in poor condition in a scrap yard at Woodhall Spa. Following total restoration by a private owner, this rare and historic vehicle was acquired by the Museum and arrived in September 2009.
After the Second World War, the RAF and the then British Overseas Airways Corporation were in need of vehicles to transport passengers between airports and city centre terminals. A design specification was drawn up by the Ministry of Supply for a vehicle to accommodate 20 passengers carrying their maximum 60lbs of luggage. This led to the 1½ deck observation coach design with 180 cu ft luggage space. A total of 375 (later modified to 315) vehicles was ordered from the Park Royal Coachworks based on the well established Commer Q4 Commando chassis.
The Museum’s vehicle, XAT 368, was delivered to the RAF in April 1947 and served at various Yorkshire airfields until 1957, when it was bought by Hull Cricket Club who found it slow, causing the team to frequently arrive late for matches! From 1959 it was used first as a staff bus, then as a commercial coach by two operators until, in June 1962, it was bought by The British Automobile Motor Club and converted for use as a race control vehicle. In this role, it appeared at the Harewood Hill Climb, Castle Howard, Scarborough, RAF Church Fenton and Silverstone until 1972.
In 1978, a new owner, David Hardcastle, planned to restore the vehicle but eventually donated it to the RAF Benevolent Fund in 1993, in recognition of the help received by his mother from the Fund when her first husband was killed in a flying accident in 1937. The bus was then moved to RAF Cottesmore where restoration finally began.
Thanks to the volunteers at RAF Cottesmore and the most recent owners, the Panton brothers at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, the Museum’s Crew Bus, believed to be one of only 5/6 still to survive, is fully serviceable with just some interior work outstanding.
The Austin FV1801 4 x 4 is powered by a 4 cylinder, Rolls Royce B40, 2838cc engine. It was sold directly to the civilian market and designated “Champ”. This military “cargo” version was built in 1953 and has been restored on site and is an example of the 12,000 made to Ministry of Defence specification from 1952 to 1956. It was specified as a cross-country general-purpose vehicle, which could tow an anti tank gun. Always controversial, many thought it was a replacement for the World War II jeep, which it was never designed to be.
Armoured Vehicles
The original Chieftain Main Battle Tank weighed 55 tons combat-loaded and was armed with a 120 mm main gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft gun. Powered by a Leyland 750 hp 6-cylinder diesel engine, it had a road speed of about 30 mph and a range of action of about 280 miles. The tank had a crew of four and was equipped with night vision equipment.
The development of the Chieftain with a 1000hp engine and enhanced transmission was a project by Vickers Defence Industries, in partnership with the German companies RENK, MTU and Krupp-MAK, to offer a significant performance and reliability upgrade for existing Chieftain tanks. The first customer was to be Kuwait immediately before the first Gulf War. The MoD expressed an interest in upgrading their engineer vehicles and the BARV (Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle) of the Royal Marines. Subsequently
most of Kuwait’s Chieftain fleet was scrapped. The improved design was not developed further, however, leaving this unique prototype as the most powerful Chieftain Tank ever built.
The prototype was donated by Vickers Defence Industries to the Museum and delivered on 15th January 2002. The German engine and transmissions include features that are still regarded as industrial secrets and there are strict conditions relating to access attached to the donation. The tank, which still functions, has been partially restored with support from RENK, Vickers and 150 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corp.
Fire and Emergency Services Vehicles
The red 1971 Reynolds Boughton Chubb Pathfinder Airport Crash Tender was kindly donated to the Museum by Manchester International Airport, where it helped to put out an aircraft fire in 1983. It weighs 37 tonnes fully laden with 3000 gallons of water and 260 gallons of foam concentrate. Its pump can deliver 1700-1900 gallons per-minute and it can project 700-1900 gallons per minute through its roof mounted remote controlled foam monitor. The engine is a General Motors 18.6 litre 2-stroke supercharged V16 diesel that can propel the fire tender at speeds up to 70 mph.
The vehicle was used extensively during the York and Selby floods during November 2000.
The second vehicle, 1976, is in American service yellow and served at Kennedy International Airport. It is the only example in this colour scheme outside the USA.
The Commer Q4 “Bikini” FV13100 is a militarised version of the civilian Commer Centrepoise. It has a 6-cylinder, 4750cc, petrol engine and four-wheel drive. Its task with the Auxilliary Fire Service (AFS) was to provide water for fire pumps. It carried several Coventry Climax fire pumps, which were floated on dinghies in a river or lake
and provided an extra water supply for land-based pumps. The Museum’s 1958 vehicle is rare, only one other working example being known in Britain. Many Q4s were used by the army in the immediate post war era and were fitted with several different types of
bodies, from Command Workshops to Signals offices.