The Yorkshire Air
Museum is perfectly poised to celebrate the forthcoming RAF
Centenary during 2018, as our extensive, internationally acclaimed
collection of historic aircraft covers all era’s of the history of
the Royal Air Force. From WWI bi-planes to the current frontline
Panavia Tornado GR4 supersonic jet, we have it all. Discover the
history of the Royal Air Force with our RAF100 Family Activity
Trail.
See the only complete WWII Halifax
bomber in Europe, climb aboard the Douglas C-47 Dakota, the
aircraft famed for its role in the airborne invasion of the D-Day
Landings and stand up close to our examples of the famous WWII
Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.
You will also
find a Gloster Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter and many
aircraft from the Cold War era with exciting, evocative names such
as Lightning, Hunter, the Yorkshire built Blackburn Buccaneer,
Nimrod and the awesome and still futuristic looking Victor
V-Bomber.
From the birth of flight, you can also
see the only example of Sir George Cayley’s historic man-carrying
glider of 1853, the only full size replica in Europe of a Wright
Flyer, the world’s first powered aircraft, and the intriguing
Blackburn Mercury Monoplane.
Newly on display
and creating a great deal of interest is the Dassault Mirage IV
strategic, supersonic nuclear bomber, gifted to the Museum by the
French Government, which is the only example of this type to be
seen in the world outside of France. This imposing aircraft makes
a rare, and possibly unique, pairing with its smaller variant the
Mirage III supersonic fighter here at Elvington.
There is indeed
a great deal for the visitor to discover during a day out with us.
Based on an authentic WWII Bomber Command Station, the former RAF
Elvington, we maintain the authentic atmosphere of the period,
whilst housing superb displays and exhibits, such as the Bomber
Command exhibition “Against the Odds”, which is now the definitive
national presentation on this subject. Similarly, the “Pioneers of
Aviation” exhibition provides a fascinating insight into
Yorkshire’s literally ground -breaking role in the birth of manned
flight, with Sir George Cayley, renowned as the Father of
Aeronautics and the inventor of the aeroplane, who was born in
Scarborough in December 1773. The exhibition also explores Leeds
born Robert Blackburn who established a hugely successful aircraft
manufacturing business; Hull born aviator Amy Johnson, whose
daring exploits and solo flights to Australia and South Africa are
indeed the stuff of legend. The work of Sir Barnes Wallis on the
R101 airship at Howden is also explored and the exhibition
features a dramatic interpretation of the famous ‘Dambuster raids’
with the Bouncing Bomb, very significant in this 75th Anniversary
year of this legendary episode of WWII.
The Museum prides itself on being a
dedicated Memorial to the Allied Air Forces and the tranquil
Memorial Gardens provide a peaceful haven to reflect on the
service and sacrifice of so many brave young airmen and women,
from WWI to the present day.
With so much to
see, we have an excellent restaurant in which visitors can enjoy a
tasty meal, snacks and refreshments during their stay with us.
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