The Bournemouth Aviation Museum is a fascinating aviation museum located in Christchurch, near Bournemouth, on the south coast of England. The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history of aviation, particularly in relation to the aircraft and aviation heritage of the area. It houses a wide collection of military and civilian aircraft, aviation artifacts, and exhibits that span many decades of aviation history.
Bournemouth Aviation Museum
Merritown Lane
Christchurch
Dorset BH23 6BA
+44 1202 473141
March 1st – Mid-October
- Open Daily 10:00 – 17:00
Mid-October – March
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00
Admission
Gift shop
The Museum is on the B3073 Bournemouth International Airport perimeter road. Follow the Signs to the Airport or Adventure Wonderland.
Aircraft collection
| G-BFZR
XH537 ZE432 XM404 XS177/N G-BWGS/XW310 ZD620 G-PLAH G-BOUT XE856 WT532 ZF582 WS776/K XL164 XG160/U WT722 KF488 XR346 WW450 G-TLET XX763/24 G-OPAS XZ238 XT257 | American AA-5B Tiger
Avro Vulcan B.2MRR (nose) BAC 1-11 Srs 479 (nose) BAC Jet Provost T.3 (nose) BAC Jet Provost T.4 BAC Jet Provost T.5A BAe 125 CC3 BAe Jetstream 3101 Colomban MC-12 Cri-Cri de Havilland D.H.115 Vampire T.11 English Electric Canberra PR.7 (nose) English Electric Lightning F.53 (nose) Gloster Meteor NF.14 Handley Page Victor K.2 (nose) Hawker Hunter F.6A Hawker Hunter GA.11 North American Harvard IIB Northrop MQM-36 Shelduck D.1 Percival Provost T.1 Piper PA-28-161 Cadet SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 Vickers Viscount (nose) Westland Lynx HAS3(ICE) Westland Wessex HAS.3 |
Key Highlights:
- Aircraft Collection: The museum boasts an impressive collection of both military and civilian aircraft. The collection includes various types of aircraft, many of which were significant in the development of aviation. Notable aircraft in the collection include:
- BAC 1-11: A pioneering British airliner,
- Hawker Hunter: A British jet fighter, known for its role in the Cold War.
- Vickers Viscount: A popular British airliner used in the mid-20th century.
- Cockpit Displays: The museum allows visitors to view and even sit in the cockpits of various aircraft, providing a unique hands-on experience of what it was like for pilots in different eras. This includes access to parts of aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter, enabling visitors to explore inside them.
- Aviation Exhibits and Memorabilia: In addition to the aircraft, the museum has a wide range of aviation-related artifacts, including photographs, models, uniforms, engines, and technical equipment. These items help tell the story of aviation history, showcasing the development of aircraft, the contributions of different engineers, and the evolution of air travel and military aviation.
- Restoration Projects: The museum is actively involved in the restoration of aircraft. Some of the aircraft on display are in various stages of restoration, and visitors can often see the work being done to maintain and restore these important pieces of aviation history.
Pictures Rob Vogelaar