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Yorkshire Air Museum FAQs

The Yorkshire Air Museum near York is one of the UK’s largest independent museums of aviation and also the Allied Air Forces Memorial, click here to learn more about the museum.

The Yorkshire Air Museum is located on the edge of the City of York. It is approximately 20 minutes by car or 35 minutes by public transport from York, and approximately 50 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport from Leeds. Click here for further information and a location map.

The museum is open 10.00am to 5.00pm, 7 days a week, with last admission at 4pm. We are open all year except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Adult tickets are £17 online and £18 at the gate. Tickets for 4-17 year olds are £7 online and £8 at the gate, and children under 4 years old are free. Registered carers have free entry. Booking online is not required but costs less and is advisable during busy periods. Group rates are available on request. You can book online here

Yes, there is ample parking and it is free of charge.

You can call us on 01904 608595, email museum@yorkshireairmuseum.org, or send a message online via our contact page.

Yes, we have an aircraft themed playground for younger children, plenty of seating and family picnic areas, kids’ woodland trails and lots of space for children to explore. Find out more here

We are 90% accessible, with ramps, accessible toilets and easy access parking spaces. Wheelchairs are available to borrow from Admissions. Registered carers have free entry. Please get in touch if you have any specific questions about access.

Yes, dogs are welcome at the Yorkshire Air Museum, including in the Café and shop.

Yes, Café 77 offers a selection of both hot and cold meals and snacks. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drink, as we have dedicated picnic areas.

Yes, our shop offers a carefully chosen selection of gifts for aviation enthusiasts, including models, books, toys, clothing and more.

Yes, there is a free digital guide which can be accessed through the Bloomberg Connects App.

We have over 45 aircraft currently on display, ranging from pre World War 1 all the way through to modern day UAVs.

Several of our aircraft have explorable interiors. We have scheduled open cockpit days — please check the events page for details.

Yes, we cater for a diverse variety of schools, scouts, STEM and overseas schools each year. Our award-nominated educational programme and guides help to educate and inspire visitors of all ages. Get more details here

You can support the museum by making a one-off donation, becoming a friend (member) of the museum, or becoming a volunteer.

Yes, you will find a number of memorials around the site, including a Women’s Memorial, 77 Squadron Memorial and a Chapel.

Most events do not require a special ticket, but please read each event description for details on admission.

Yes. For groups of 6-12 people, one of our knowledgeable volunteers can provide a talk about the history of RAF Elvington, either a brief overview on arrival or a more in-depth 1 hour tour. We also offer bespoke, pre-booked tours of our Handley Page Halifax B Mk.III bomber, the only example of its kind in the world. Halifax tours are £120 per person (less for descendants of WW2 aircrew), require 2 weeks’ notice, and can be booked by emailing collections@yorkshireairmuseum.org

Yes, the museum makes a unique venue for events, conferences and even weddings. Catering can be arranged via our on-site café.

Yes, you can join our team of volunteers who work alongside Museum staff. There are four types of volunteering: Stewards, Guides, Engineering and Collections. You do not need to be an expert on aircraft — for many roles the main qualification is the ability to interact with the public in a friendly and engaging manner.

Yes, we hold numerous special events throughout the year.

Yes, it is possible to fly into the Yorkshire Air Museum via a runway next door, but you will need to call Elvington Airfield directly on 01759 305851

Blackburn Mercury Monoplane 1911 (Replica) AH (BAPC) 130 YAM Jan.1995

The Blackburn Mercury Monoplane is regarded as the first truly successful aircraft made by Blackburn at their factory in Leeds. The Mercury I, powered by a 50 hp Isaacson radial engine, was displayed at the Olympia Aero Show in March 1911 and made its debut flying from the beach at Filey with the newly formed Blackburn Flying School. In May 1911, it flew from Filey to Scarborough and back in 19 minutes at an average speed of 50 mph, reaching an altitude of 1200 feet.
This aircraft crashed the next day when the engine seized and the propeller flew off! The Mercury I was followed by two Mercury II aircraft powered by 50 hp Gnome engines, and six Mercury III aircraft, with a number of different engines. Sadly, a Renault powered Mercury crashed at Filey in December 1911, killing an instructor and passenger.
The Museum’s replica was built for Yorkshire Television in 1979 for the Edwardian drama series ‘Flambards’, and was taxied with a car engine. It came to YAM on 10th January 1995 and after a long period in storage it was painstakingly restored to a superb display standard, and was unveiled in June 2000 by Professor Robert Blackburn, grandson of Robert Blackburn, the aviation pioneer.

AVRO 504K ‘H1968’ (Replica) AH (BAPC) 42 YAM Oct. 1994

The Avro 504 first flew in 1913. In the opening phases of the First World War, it served with front-line squadrons in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service for bombing and reconnaissance, but from 1915 onwards the aircraft entered the training role for which it is most celebrated.

Over 8,000 Avro 504s were built. In 1918, the Royal Air Force had about 3,000, of which 2,276 were trainers.

The Avro 504 was stationed at many Yorkshire airfields, including Tadcaster near the A1/A64 junction, where a period hangar can still be seen.

The Yorkshire Air Museum’s replica was built by apprentices at RAF Halton and appeared at the Royal Tournament in 1968 to commemorate what was then fifty years since the end of the First World War. The aircraft was refurbished in early 2015 to be transported to Thiepval, Northern France, for the Somme Centenary commemoration event, on request of the British Government. In May 2018, it was also displayed at the impressive Hotel Les Invalides in central Paris for a joint RAF / French Air Force event to mark the Centenary of the Royal Air Force and over 100 years of British and French Air Force collaboration.