Stanford Hall

Key Facts

Housed in the former stable block is a display devoted to aviation pioneer Percy Pilcher. During a demonstration flight at Stanford Hall in September 1899, Pilcher was killed while flying his Hawk hang-glider. Other attractions include the Hall and grounds, and a motorcycle museum.

North-east of Rugby, near Swinford, 6 miles south-east of Lutterworth. Signposted. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm (last entry 5.00 pm), Easter to the end of September.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

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

Stanford Hall, Swinford, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 6DH. Tel: 01788 860250, Fax: 01788 860870, e-mail: enquiries@stanfordhall.co.uk, website: Stanford Hall

Snibston Discovery Park

Key Facts

Set at a former coal mine, the Discovery Park presents Britain’s industrial heritage. Aviation is presented by a Whittle jet engine and an Auster AOP.9 aircraft.

Well signposted off the A511, northwest of Leicester. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily April to September; Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Saturday/Sunday & school holidays 10.00 am to 5.00 pm October to March.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

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

Snibston Discovery Park, Ashby Park, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3LN. Tel: 01530 278444, Fax: 01530 813301, recorded info line 01530 278444 (outside opening hours). website: Snibston

Charnwood Museum

Key Facts

The Auster company was based locally at Rearsby, and so the museum displays the 1956 King’s Cup winning J/1N Alpha. Display boards detail aircraft production at Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd of Loughborough during both World Wars. Many other aspects of local history are also on show.

On the A6 north of Leicester. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 4.30 pm; Sunday 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (summer), 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm (winter).

Free.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop.

View of the museum (photo, Steve Woodhead)	Museum nameplate (photo, Steve Woodhead)

* Aircraft is on loan from Snibston Discovery Park.

Charnwood Museum, Queen’s Hall, Granby Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3DU. Tel: 01509 233754, Fax: 01509 268140. e-mail: charnwood@leics.gov.uk, Official Website

Cold War Jets Collection, Photographs

Seahawk FGA.6 XE327	Valiant B.1 XD875 cockpit
Hunter F.58 ‘XF324′	Harrier T.4 XW270
L-1011 TriStar TP-ABP	Nose of Vulcan B.2 XH537
Lightning F.6 XR728	Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ494
Jaguar GR.1 XZ382	Provost T.1 XF844
Canberra B.6 XH568	Canberra B(I).8 WT333
LET L-410 C5-LET	Lightning F.6 XS904

Cold War Jets Collection

Key Facts

Bruntingthorpe is a former USAF B-47 Stratojet base, and now home to an increasing number of classic British jet aircraft. Resident aircraft include Avro Vulcan XH558, currently undergoing a programme of work to return it to flying condition, and the world’s last airworthy Comet, XS235. Other residents include aircraft operated by the Buccaneer Preservation Society and the Lightning Preservation Group. Many of the aircraft based here are not static exhibits but kept alive with regular engine runs and fast taxi-runs along the (very long) runway. A relatively large collection of aircraft cockpits can also be seen.

Bruntingthorpe Airfield, between the M1 and A50 south of Leicester. Take the M1 to junction 20, A4304 east toward Husbands Bosworth, A5199 (used to be the A50) north toward Leicester. Bruntingthorpe should be signposted on this road. Roughly 3 miles north-east of Lutterworth. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open every Sunday, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, plus open days during the summer.

No current information.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Access for the disabled.

Jet Provost T.3 XN584	Comet 4C XS235

** Spitfire MJ627 crashed at Coventry 1999 and is stored off-site.
% Aircraft up for sale.
Note: Canberra WK163 has been brought by the Air Atlantique Historic Flight and is no longer based at Bruntingthorpe. H.S. Harrier GR.3A ZD668 has been put into storage at Lowestoft. BAC Lightning T.55 nose ZF595 has been sold in the USA. Andover CC.12 XS791 has been sold to a private owner in the Ely, Cambridgeshire, area. Valiant B.1 nose XD875 has moved to Newark Air Museum on loan. Seahawk FGA.6 XE327 has moved to a museum in Germany. Sea Hawk WV795 has moved to the Farnborough Air Sciences Museum. Bulldog T.1 XX669 has moved to 2409 Sqn ATC at Halton. Hunter FGA.9 XE624 has been sold to a private owner. BAC Canberra B.6 (mod) XH568 (G-BVIC) has been dismantled, with some parts sold in USA.

C Walton (Aviation Division) Ltd, Bruntingthorpe Airfield, Bruntingthorpe, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5QS. Tel: 0116 2478030 Fax: 0116 2478031.
For information on open days and special events visit the Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Collection webpage. Beech Restorations

Hunter F.58 J-4091	TS-11 Iskra 1018
Buccaneer S.2B XX900	Super Guppy 201 F-BTGV
Victor K.2 XM715	Close-up of Teasin Tina’s nose

More photographs on the next page.