At Hucknall Flight Test Museum we are preserving the internationally significant aviation heritage of the Rolls-Royce Hucknall Flight Test Establishment which existed between 1934 and 1971. We also cover the specialist ground testing which took place at Hucknall and was equally significant.

The museum is located in the last remaining Wing Hangar in the UK (listed grade 2) and houses our collection of key R-R engines spanning the WW2 era all the way up to 1969 and the introduction of the RB211 turbofan. We have an original 1950's control room where test engines were controlled from. Hucknall of course is famous for the Flying Bedstead or Thrust Measuring Rig. The only remaining real TMR artefact is the exhibit assembled from the genuine remains of the two originals (both of which were built at Hucknall) which both suffered crash damage from incidents occurring during testing. Unfortunately ..... despite rumours to the contrary.... we do not have this in our collection and it currently resides in the Science Museum in London. We do however have a Harrier.

Our Harrier exhibit is actually a pure test bed airframe and not a production version. It was used under a gantry at Sheerness to evaluate a possible supersonic version of the aircraft, utilising modified thrust nozzle arrangements. This artifact is due for restoration.... hopefully with work starting later this year.

We also have, as a key exhibit, The John Housley Model Collection. This is a totally unique collection of models, many scratch built, that depict 35 or so examples of the flight test platforms that were based at Hucknall, and were used to flight test all of the Rolls-Royce aero engine technology between 1934 and 1971. This heritage is little known but highly significant in the development of british and world aviation from the 1920's right up to the present day.

Donations only

*see website

Light Refreshments available