Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society

Key Facts

The SWWAPS occupies a small museum housed in a wartime building. Indoor displays and exhibits tell the story of Lasham Airfield, and show items recovered from aircraft crash sites. Gliding activity at the airfield can be viewed from the car park.

In the north-east corner of Lasham Airfield, 6 miles north of Alton, Hampshire. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.30 am to 5.00 pm (or dusk if first).

Free.

Amenities:

Parking, Souvenir shop.

Hunter F.51 E-423 (photo, Allan Barley)	Prentice T.1 VR192 (photo, Allan Barley)
Meteor F.8 WH291 (photo, Allan Barley)	Meteor NF.13 4X-FNA (photo, Allan Barley)

Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society, Lasham Airfield, Alton, Hampshire. Tel: 02392 389944.
SWWAPS, Bob Coles, 8 Barracane Drive, Crowthorne, Berks, RG45 7NU. Website: Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society.

F-104G 22+35 (photo, Allan Barley)	Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV798 (photo, Allan Barley)
Auster AOP.9 XK418 (photo, Allan Barley)	Wessex HAS.3 XM833 (photo, Allan Barley)

Solent Sky

Key Facts

At one time or another, twenty-six aircraft companies were based in and around Southampton. The most famous of these being Supermarine, but they also included Airspeed, Folland and Saunders-Roe. Southampton was also the departure point for Imperial Airways flying boat routes to the Empire and across the Atlantic. The aircraft and displays at Solent Sky illustrate this proud heritage. Dominating the display area is a Sandringham flying boat, which is open for internal inspection, while a Spitfire and Folland Gnat can also be viewed. The walls and upper gallery tell the story of the aviation activities in the area, in a series of informative and well illustrated displays. In mid-2004 the former Southampton Hall of Aviation changed its name to ‘Solent Sky’.

100 yards back from the Canutes Pavilion car park, near Ocean Village, close to the Itchen (toll!) Bridge, in the southern tip of the city. Signposted from the A36. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm; Sundays 12.00 noon to 5.00 pm. Last admissions 4.00 pm. Closed on Mondays except for school and bank holidays. Christmas and New Year: Please check for details.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

Souvenir shop, Facilities for the Disabled.

Sandringham VH-BRC ‘Beachcomber’	Britten Norman BN-1F G-ALZE
Under the Sandringham’s right wing	Under the Sandringham’s left wing

# being built off site.

Note: EB518 Airspeed Oxford V remains; XD596 de Havilland Vampire T.11; XJ476 Hawker Siddeley Sea Vixen FAW.1 nose; XD332 Supermarine Scimitar F.1; XF114 Supermarine Swift F.7 (G-SWIF) are held in store and NOT available for public inspection. Walrus W2718 is currently under restoration.

Solent Sky, Albert Road South, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3FR. Tel: 02380 635830, Fax: 02380 223383. Website: www.spitfireonline.co.uk.

Folland Gnat F.1 XK740	Spitfire F.24 PK683
Saro SR.A1 TG263	Another view of the jet flying boat fighter
Wight Quadraplane N546	Supermarine S.6A N248
Tiger Moth BB807	Avro 504J C4451
The SUMPAC man-powered aircraft

Museum of Army Flying, Photographs

Magister I ‘T9709′	Auster AOP.6 WJ358
Hafner Rotachute III P-5	Auster AOP.5 TJ569
Hafner Rotajeep B-415	Looking down on the Rotajeep
ML Utility Mk.1 XK776	Bell UH-1H AE-409 ’656′
Airspeed Horsa II fuselage	CG-4A Hadrian ’243809′
Slingsby Kirby Kite I ‘G-2-4′	Hotspur II ‘HH268′
UH-1H ’998-8888′	Beaver AL.1 XP822

Museum of Army Flying

Key Facts

Reflecting over 100 years of Army flying, from man-lifting kites and balloons to the present day, the museum displays a collection of over 35 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. The exhibits are portrayed in a series of realistic themed dioramas, including assault glider combat and army flying in the Gulf War. A viewing gallery overlooks the workshop, and views of the busy airfield are also possible.

At Middle Wallop airfield, on the A343 between Andover and Salisbury, Hampshire. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open daily 10.00 am to 4.30 pm, last entry at 4.00 pm.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

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

A view of the main exhibition hall	Sycamore XG502 in the foreground
Lancashire Prospector ‘XM819′	Cessna L-19A 111989

Bell UH-1H Iroquois AE-406 has gone to RAF Valley for use with the SARTU there as an instructional aid.

Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8DY. Tel: 01264 784421, Fax: 01264 781694, e-mail: administration@flying-museum.org.uk, website: Museum of Army Flying.

Skeeter AOP.12 XL813	Gazelle AH.1 ZA737
Sopwith Pup ‘N5195′	Looking down on the Pup
Alouette AH.2 XR232	Bell 47G G-AXKS
Beaver AL.1 XP821	Another view of XP821
Scout AH.1 used as a ‘simulator’	Sioux AH.1 XT108

More photos on the next page

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

The Museum Building (photo, FAST)

Key Facts

The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) was established in 1994 to help preserve, and stimulate interest in, the aeronautical heritage of the former RAE Farnborough site. With Farnborough now in the hands of private developers, the many historic buildings and artefacts on the airfield need to carefully safeguarded. During 2002 FAST moved to this new location to act as an administrative headquarters and visitors centre for the Trust. Tenchard House (the former Balloon School building) was build in 1907 for the Royal Engineers, and later served as the headquarters of the RFC in the First World War. Displayed inside are a large number of aviation-related exhibits, including engines, weapons, equipment and wind tunnel models. A Hawker Hunter guards the entrance outside, while a number of aircraft nose sections provide further interest. The museum was officially opened to the public on 1st October 2003.

On the A325, from Junction 4 on the M3, at Balloon School House, Farnborough. (On the right hand side, just past ‘The Swan’ public house). See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Saturday and Sunday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. FAST posts notices of any changes or temporary closures on their website (see below).

Admission is free, but there are facilities to make donations to FAST, which is a registered charity.

Amenities:

Free parking, toilets and a gift shop. Access for the disabled is limited at the moment, but is being improved.

Hunter T.7 WV383. (photo, FAST)	Hunter F.51 E-402. (photo, FAST)

* on loan
Buccaneer S.2B XX894 has now moved to Bruntingthorpe. Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV795 has been sold to a private owner. BAC 111-510ED (fwd fuselage) G-AVMJ and BAC Jet Provost T.3A XN500 have now left the collection. Sea Harrier ZA195 has moved to Tangmere.

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Trenchard House, 85 Farnborough Road, Hants, GU14 6TF. Tel: 01252 375050. Website: www.airsciences.org.uk, e-mail: info@www.airsciences.org.uk