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Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum

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Coordinates: 52°26′08″N 1°23′50″E / 52.4356°N 1.3971°E / 52.4356; 1.3971
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Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
Sea Harrier on display
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is located in Suffolk
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
 Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum shown within Suffolk
OS grid reference  TM309874
Established1972
LocationFlixton, Suffolk, England
Coordinates52°26′08″N 1°23′50″E / 52.4356°N 1.3971°E / 52.4356; 1.3971
TypeAviation museum
Collection sizeApproximately 30,000 items, including 60 aircraft
VisitorsApproximately 40,000 per year
Websitewww.aviationmuseum.net

The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is a museum collection of aircraft and aviation-related artefacts, located near the former RAF Bungay airfield in Flixton in the north of the English county of Suffolk.

Details

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One of the engines from ThrustSSC

First established in 1972 as the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Society,[1] the museum houses a varied array of over 60 complete or partial aircraft, including rarities such as the only complete de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 in private ownership, a flyable replica of the Colditz Cock escape glider, a Vickers Valetta VX580 C.2 and an FMA IA 58 Pucará that was captured by British forces during the Falklands War.[2]

In addition to the aircraft displayed, the museum also houses thematic collections devoted to subjects including the Royal Observer Corps, RAF Bomber Command, RAF Air-Sea Rescue and RAF Coastal Command.[3]

As well as preserving its existing collections, the museum and its members are actively involved in the exploration and study of aircraft crash sites – termed wreckology – in East Anglia. The museum charges no entrance fee and is entirely funded by public donations, corporate sponsorship, and local and European government grants. It employs only one full-time member of staff, with day-to-day maintenance and running of the museum falling largely on the shoulders of a team of volunteers.

Eminent autogyro exponent Wing Commander Ken Wallis had a long association with the museum, dating from shortly after its opening. For many years his Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro, Little Nellie, made famous by its appearance in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, was on display at Flixton. Wallis served as the museum's president until his death in September 2013.

Collection

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Collection:[4]

  • Beagle Terrier VX123
  • Avro Anson VL349
  • BAE Sea Harrier FA.2 ZA175
  • Boeing Stearman FJ801
  • Bristol Sycamore XG518
  • Dassault Mystere 79/EG
  • de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk WB627
  • de Havilland Sea Vixen XJ482
  • de Havilland Vampire T.11 XK624
  • English Electric Canberra T.4
  • English Electric Lightning XG329
  • FMA 1A-58 Pucara A-528
  • Gloster Javelin XH892
  • Gloster Meteor WF643
  • Hawker Hunter XG254
  • Hunting Jet Provost XN500
  • Lockheed T-33 55-4433
  • McDonnell Douglas Phantom XV497
  • MiG-15 623794
  • North American F-100D 54-2196
  • Percival Provost WV605
  • Percival Sea Prince WV605
  • Vickers Valetta VX580
  • Westland Whirlwind XN304
  • Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XR485

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eastern England: Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum". Aviation Museum Guide UK. February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. ^ Eade, Dave. "Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum". Air-Scene UK. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. ^ "About Us". Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Our Aircraft". Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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