What's Here:

The Fleet Air Arm museum houses a very large and well presented collection of aircraft and memorabilia. Four display halls portray the development of naval aviation from World War I to the Gulf War. The centrepiece of the museum is the 'Carrier' display, in which visitors are 'flown' inside a Wessex helicopter onto the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Here they can examine the aircraft ranged on deck and follow a guided tour of the carrier's 'island' - finishing up at FlyCo where all aircraft operations are controlled. In addition, the 'Leading Edge' gallery contains a Concorde prototype and examples of several post-war research aircraft. Across the road, the newly completed 'Cobham Hall' stores aircraft not currently on display and is open to visitors on a few days each year.
One curious feature of the aircraft display halls is the extremely poor lighting used to illuminate the aircraft. Natural light is almost completely excluded, and replaced by a small number of spot lights aimed at the aircraft. This makes the galleries seem very dark and gloomy. This is especially apparent in the World War Two gallery where virtually all of the aircraft have their wings folded back and are parked so close together that is impossible to step back and appreciate each one without colliding with another aircraft or disappearing into the gloom. Compared to other aviation museums such as Hendon or Cosford, the FAA museum must have some of the worst display lighting in the country.

Location:

On the B3151, south of the A303, north of Yeovil, Somerset. Signposted from the A37/A303 junction. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Opening Hours:

Open daily 10.00 am to 5.30 pm, April to October; Wednesday to Sunday 10.00 am to 4.30 pm November to March, plus Mondays and Tuesdays during school half-term breaks and public holidays. Closed over Christmas. Regular open days for Cobham Hall are held during the year.

Admission:

See official website for details.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled.

Contacts:

Fleet Air Arm Museum, Box D6, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset, BA22 8HT. Tel: 01935 840565, Fax: 01935 842630, e-mail: info@fleetairarm.com, website: www.fleetairarm.com

Concorde 002 dominates the Leading Edge Hall	Another view of Leading edge
Wyvern TF.1 VR137	BAC 221 WG774

List of Aircraft Exhibits:

** under restoration.

In store at Cobham Hall:  Cobham Hall photos

Identity	Type (Real Identity)
XZ499	BAe Sea Harrier FA.2
ZA195	BAe Sea Harrier FA.2
0729	Beech T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor
AE-422	Bell UH-1H Iroquois
G-AZAZ	Benson B.8M Gyrocopter
XK488	Blackburn NA39
XA129	DH Sea Vampire T.22 (cockpit)
WW138	DH Sea Venom FAW.22
'G-ABUL'	DH Tiger Moth [T7291/XL717]
WT121	Douglas Skyraider AEW.1
WV106	Douglas Skyraider AEW.1
G-BGWZ	Eclipse Super Eagle hang-glider
DP872	Fairey Barracuda II (fwd fuselage)
LS931	Fairey Barracuda II (wreckage)
XA466	Fairey Gannet COD.4
100545	Focke-Achgelis Fa 330A-1
WS103	Gloster Meteor T.7
WM292	Gloster Meteor TT.20
VX272	Hawker P.1052
WF219	Hawker Sea Hawk F.1 (tail only)
XB480	Hiller HTE.2
XJ481	HS Sea Vixen FAW.1
XN462	Hunting Jet Provost T.3A
XS574	Northrop Shelduck (target drone)
XW994	Northrop Chuka (target drone)
WP313	Percival Sea Prince T.1
XN332	Saro P.531
XN334	Saro P.531
-	Short S.27 (wings) [BAPC.149]
VV106	Supermarine 510
VX595	Westland Dragonfly HR.5
XW864	Westland Gazelle HT.2
XT176	Westland Sioux AH.1
XT427	Westland Wasp HAS.1
XT778	Westland Wasp HAS.1
XS508	Westland Wessex HU.5
XA864	Westland Whirlwind HAR.1
XG574	Westland Whirlwind HAR.3
XG594/517-PO	Westland Whirlwind HAS.7
XL853	Westland Whirlwind HAS.7

Notes: -

More photos on the next page