Army Flying Museum – Airscene News

Army Flying Museum Crowdfunding Appeal

The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire has launched its first ever crowdfunding campaign!

The much-loved Museum which recently won the Silver Award for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Beautiful South Awards, installed an Apache AH Mk.1 attack helicopter on permanent display last year, making it the only Museum in the UK that the public can see this formidable aircraft.

The exhibit has been a popular one at the Hampshire Museum, with record visitor numbers achieved in 2024/25 following the installation. However, the Museum now needs to update their popular ‘Helicopters in Action’ audio-visual display. They have been working with the fantastic team at Ay-Pe to create an exciting digital experience that showcases the fascinating development of the Army’s armed and attack helicopters with the Apache front and centre.

The Museum is hoping to raise the funds it needs to make the new display a reality. Half the funds have already been secured, and the Crowdfunding campaign has got off to a great start with a generous donation of £5000 from the Army Air Corps Charity.

Lucy Johnson, Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum said: “It has taken over a decade for the Museum to install an Apache and we are delighted to have been the first museum in the UK to have done so. The next challenge of bringing our audio-visual display up to date and truly showcase the development of these amazing aircraft is really exciting and we can’t wait to see the finished product. We hope that our visitors and supporters will get behind this and help us to achieve our fundraising target and get themselves a limited-edition gift too!”

Members of the public are encouraged to donate online to access some unique rewards designed by Runway25, a business created by Army veteran and former Apache technician, Tom Newey who said: “As a former aircraft technician with 3 Regt AAC, I actually owe my business to the Apache and the opportunities that being part of the AHF gave me. A chance encounter in 2014 led to me starting the business that eventually became Runway25. As a company, we are honoured to be working with the Army Flying Museum to help them raise funds for the display of ZJ224 which is such a special aircraft in AAC history.”

To find out more and support the Museum in their fundraising venture, visit: https://armyflying.com/support-us/army-flying-museum-apache-ah-mk-1-display-fundraiser/

Victory in Europe 80th Anniversary at Army Flying Museum

The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire will be encouraging visitors to join them from the 8^th May to commemorate VE Day 2025.

The Museum will be staging a very special temporary display which will feature Second World War highlights from the Museum’s collection. Visitors will be able to see artefacts and documents that provide a unique insight into Army aviation during the global conflict, along with excerpts from recordings of those who were there. Many of the items in the exhibition will not have been on public display before, therefore offering a unique opportunity to even the most regular of visitors to the Museum.

A stunning soundtrack of words and music will be played in the breathtaking Hayward Hall from the 8^th – 10^th May, giving visitors a chance to remember, commemorate and reflect whilst admiring the amazing aircraft on display.

On Friday 9^th May, the Museum will host a very special talk by Military Historian – Paul Beaver – Middle Wallop in the War Years. Most people know Middle Wallop for its Battle of Britain connection, but its history during the Second World War was varied and fascinating. From flying Poles to American fighters, the airfield had many users in five years of conflict. A great opportunity for visitors to learn some things they may not have known about Wallop!

Local enthusiasts Gramofun, will also be sharing their love of gramophones on the 9^th, bringing a selection of wind-up gramophones and 1940’s records to ensure visitors can hear the music exactly as it would have sounded in the day, with a very special VE80 theme.

With special VE80 activity sheets and a trail for younger visitors to learn more about the Second World War, the Museum hopes to encourage family groups to come and experience all the Museum has to offer.

To encourage visitors into the Museum to commemorate VE80, the Museum are offering a very special one-off entry fee of just £8 on the 8^th May!

To find our more, visit www.armyflying.com

Wallop Wheels & Wings – a Perfect Partnership

The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire are thrilled to announce local company Andover Norton International, have shown their support for the charity’s annual fundraising event Wallop Wheels and Wings, which this year will take place on Saturday 12 July.

The company, which was founded in 1977, is home to the biggest stock of Norton parts worldwide, selling more Norton factory spare parts for Norton Commandos, Dominators and other models, than anyone else in the World. The company are a perfect partnership with the Museum for their fifth Wallop Wheels and Wings event as they look to grow the display and cavalcade of motorcycles in 2025, having already achieved record numbers of car exhibitors for this year’s event.

Karl Smith, Managing Director of Andover Norton International said: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Army Flying Museum for their Wallop Wings and Wheels 2025 event. As a local business based in Andover, who’re connected to a classic British motorcycle brand, it felt like a perfect affiliation.

We can’t wait to attend and showcase some of our own incredible Classic Norton collection and see the vehicles on display on the day.”

The confirmation of support from Andover Norton comes as very welcome news to the Museum as they grow from strength to strength with their packed event programme and record visitor numbers, following their Silver Award for Small Visitor Attraction of the year at the Beautiful South Awards in December.

Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum, Lucy Johnson said: “Wallop Wheels and Wings is our main fundraising event for the charity and now, in its fifth year, we hope it will be bigger and better than ever. It is fantastic to have secured Andover Norton as a sponsor this year to develop the motorcycle element of the event and we are delighted to be working with them and can’t wait to see the array of Norton bikes on display.”

The event will again feature a wide array of classic and super cars, motorcycles and aircraft, to please both aviation and motor enthusiasts, with a small number of air display elements during the day.

For non-enthusiasts, there will be the opportunity to browse the artisan trader village, with over 40 stalls selling a wide range of arts, crafts, food and drink. New to the event this year will be a speaker’s tent for visitors with an avid interest in military history.

Activities for families and children will be in abundance, with mini go-carts, circus skills, pedal planes, mini tanks, face painting and lots of craft and interactive activities to keep little ones busy throughout the day.

For further information or to book tickets, visit https://armyflying.com/what-s-on/events/wallop-wheels-wings-2025/

Army Flying Museum Events 2023

Army Flying Museum

30th January – Chinook Crew ‘Chick’ Lecture – Join Liz McConaghy at 7pm on Monday 30th January, to hear her insightful and personal perspective on war. Her career saw her amass 2 deployments to Iraq and 10 deployments to Helmand Afghanistan in support of Operation HERRICK.

4th – 5th February – The Brick Event – Flying machines made out of lego.

11th February – Living History Saturday – Ham & Jam (a Living History Group depicting various units of the British 6th Airborne Division in World War Two) will be visiting the Museum. Come along and learn about the troops of World War Two.

13th – 17th February – Operation Codecracker – activities with a focus on secret agents, code breaking and great escapes.

18th February – Trainmaster – We are delighted to be hosting Trainmaster in the Museum for a special Half Term event when they will be filling our conference room with a giant hands-on train track, electric trains, and lots of train themed fun.

20th February – D-Day, Arnhem & The Rhine – Join Michael Ashby and Jonathan Walker, either in the Museum or online, at 7pm on Monday 20th February 2023, for a fascinating insight into the experiences of Michael Ashby’s father, Robert, as a Glider Pilot.

27th March – Bomb Group – Hear Mike Peters tell the story of just one ‘Bomb Group’ – the 381st, which crossed the Atlantic in May 1943. Arriving at RAF Ridgewell on the Essex-Suffolk border, its airmen quickly found themselves thrown into the hazardous and attritional air battle raging in the skies over Europe.

25th & 27th May – Model Making – Come and learn how to make and paint plastic models and start a model making hobby. Explore your passion and interest in vehicles, history, fantasy and story-telling. With guidance and resources from Models for Heroes you will take home a model to be proud of to remind you of your visit.

1st July – Wallop Wings & Wheels (not an airshow)

https://armyflying.com/what-s-on/events/