Type Aviation museum Phone +44 1293 862915 | Website Official website | |
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Established 1987 (1987), re-opened in 2016 (2016) Location Vallance By-Ways, Lowfield Heath Road, Charlwood, Surrey,
RH6 0BT Address Vallance By-Ways, Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood, Nr. Gatwick RH6 0BT, UK Hours Open today · 9:30AM–3:30PMSaturday9:30AM–3:30PMSunday9:30AM–3:30PMMondayClosedTuesdayClosedWednesdayClosedThursdayClosedFriday9:30AM–3:30PM Similar Archway Theatre, South Yorkshire Aircraft M, Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Newark Air Museum, City of Norwich Aviation Profiles | ||
First public engine runs of lightning f53 671 at gatwick aviation museum
The Gatwick Aviation Museum has a unique collection of British aircraft from the "Golden Age" of British aircraft manufacture. From the end of WWII until the 1970s British aircraft designers produced some of the most innovative and advanced aircraft of the day. From post war to cold war, this museum clearly shows that timeline in aviation terms.
Contents
- First public engine runs of lightning f53 671 at gatwick aviation museum
- Gatwick aviation museum teaser video
- History
- References
One of the attractions of this museum is that some of the aircraft are still capable of running their engines on event days. This is thanks in no small part to the team of volunteer engineers who spend their spare time helping to restore and maintain these amazing machines. The Avro Shackleton MR3 is currently the only aircraft to have run its engines publicly since the museum reopened in 2016, but the English Electric Lightning F.53 is nearing the end of its long restoration and looks set to perform public runs in the not too distant future.
Gatwick aviation museum teaser video
History
Originally started in 1987 as a private collection by local businessman Peter Vallance, the museum became a registered charity in 1999 with the objective of providing awareness of local aviation history and as an educational centre for the general public, particularly for local students and schoolchildren. A close relationship exists between the museum and the Central Sussex College which uses the museum's facilities to provide practical training for the students taking aerospace courses.
The museum has a varied collection of aircraft, aircraft engines and over 500 aircraft models. The museum also has displays and artifacts related to local aviation history particularly Gatwick Airport. Aircraft may run their engines during museum open days.
The museum has been in dispute since July 2011 with Mole Valley District Council concerning planning permission, as despite its co-location with Gatwick Airport, the council has refused permission for a permanent museum site due to a concern over the height of the proposed new building and the location within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Vallance lodged a planning appeal against the decision in January 2012, which was dismissed in June of that year. On 14 January 2013, Vallance died whilst undergoing an operation on his heart. Since that time the museum has been run by a charitable trust set up by Peter to cover this eventuality. The museum, as of 2015, has planning permission approved.
In 2016, the new museum building opened to the public. It houses many of the aircraft formerly kept outdoors. A shop, refreshment area and information on the history of Gatwick Airport can also be found in the building. The museum is now open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.