Bournemouth Aviation Museum

The great news is it's Christmas but the even greater news is we are now back on line so we can wish all our followers and our friends a very merry Christmas and we hope you all have a great time. Just to let you know we will be closed on Christmas day and Boxing day (in case some of you over indulge 😂🤣) Enoy yourselves and we hope to see you all soon. 👍

I would like to advise our customers that page will be going off line for a while due to "technical issues". Should you have any questions can I ask you to telephone the museum on 01202 473141 between the hours of 10am to 4pm and the volunteers will endeavour to help you out. I will advise when we are up and running again and services will be back to normal. Many Thanks.

It's always great when we get recognition from our customers and our loyal facebook friends. Thank you very much 👍

Had a couple of engines arrive today and I would imagine the locals will remember the Spey that powered the BAC One Eleven 😡 and the bigger engine is a Conway from a VC10. We also had a main undercarriage leg from a VC10 to show the size of it (great opportunity for a picture with the little ones) and our new company transport (although not what we expected 😂) a Mercury Air Tug so we can move things around a lot easier. Suppose we would have to call him "Freddy" 🤣.

Would like to advise everyone that the museum will be shut all day tomorrow, Tuesday 7th November.

Tomorrow. evidently, we are due some very nasty weather therefore we will be closed all day except for some volunteers and contractors. So best to stay indoors 😉.

We knew it would have to happen eventually.😕 From tomorrow 1st November our entry prices will go up to £10 for adults and £5 for children. But with a bigger display area, new exhibits (and more to come), a new well stocked shop and a tea room in the spring we are sure you will still have a great time. 😁👍

Please note our change in closing times from today will be 4pm. Last entry will be 3pm. Thank you.

Our Navy display area is filling up nicely as we have moved the Westland Wasp helicopter and the Hawker Hunter GA11 cockpit into position and we still have room for more 😄. Rather fitting as today is Trafalgar day 👍.

PROJECT CVIX BACK TO BASE will go live tomorrow Saturday 21st October 2023 at 0800 hrs.

On the 27th May 2017, Sea V***n XP924, G-CVIX "FOXY LADY" flew for the last time following landing gear failure at RNAS Yeovilton. Since then, Navy Wings had been endeavouring to restore her back to flight. Sadly, after many hours of work and care on this beautiful aircraft the decision was made to offer her for disposal .
In 2023 "FOXY LADY" will return to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum to be maintained in her current state.
To bring her back will cost £40,000 due to her size and complexity and for this we need your support.
We want the people who love her to become part of her history by donating and maintaining her. Initially, we need the funds to bring her home.
Our CVIX champions names will be placed on the champions board which will be put in the heart of the V***n, you will truly be the heart and soul of her.
You can donate online through our Crowdfunder at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/project-cvix---back-to-base or if you wish to donate cash then please pop into the museum at Merritown Lane, Christchurch, BH23 6BA.

Thank you to Matt Watson for the brilliant photograph.

Exhibit Updates. Our beautiful Lynx helicopter had an airing yesterday and we are still waiting for the spares required to make her even more beautiful. We intend to complete the insides so we can get her open as we know she will be a favourite and the outsides will be completed at a later date. The little Gnat is looking more like a Gnat now the team are working hard to get her finished. "Saucy Sal" has had a fresh coat of paint and is looking a lot better. The model Concorde team have now sorted the engines and, I have been told, engine sound effects will be added soon. They have also been working on a display model of the Islander aircraft (originally produced on the Isle of Wight) and once finished she will be hung up for display.

UPDATE. You may have noticed during your visit a lot of ground and building work going on within the museum. The main update will be our new entrance and shop located within our new extension. It's not finished yet so our well trodden path to the old entrance will continue for a while. Also, our toilets are having a much needed update and, at the moment, the old toilets are closed although we have made alternatives should they be needed 😄and please, do not be put off by the picture enclosed, it's not that bad, you get a brolly and a free newspaper 😂🤣(I am only joking). Seriously, the volunteers are doing a great job and we cannot wait for it all to be fully operational. We do apologize for the mess but think you will agree once it has all been finished it will look a lot better.

Well you may or may not know we have been successful in obtaining the iconic De Haviland Sea V***n XP924/G-CVIX "Foxy Lady". You would have seen her on the airshow circuit until her landing gear refused to come down while she was landing at Yeovilton on 27th May 2017 causing her to land on her belly. A good landing was made and there were no injuries. Foxy is no stranger to Hurn as she was converted to a drone by Flight Refuelling in October 1977 where she was given a red and yellow paint scheme. She then went to De Haviland Aviation in February 1996 (also at Hurn) where she was painted in Red Bull colours, she was later painted as XP924 in her current 899 squadron markings. First flown on the 23rd September 1963 she was retired from active military service in August 1971. The costs to move her to Hurn is colossal and I believe a "go fund" web site will be (or has been) started up. Once I know the details I will pass it on. But at least it will be worth while to see her come home.

CONCORDE. I have been told that the volunteers working on Concorde have now finished and she is now back on display and she looks brilliant. In between, waiting for the paint to dry, they even had time to rebuild a Nieuport first world war fighter. A case of working on the fastest and then the slowest. Well done guys.

Typhoon inbound about 5 to 10 minutes.

RED ARROWS due in tomorrow (Thursday) at 1520, depart 1720, display 1730 return at 1755.

Our extension has been started, we will fill that up in no time and we have even put up the Navy flag.

Dont forget we are having an informal gathering of ex One Eleven (or should I say "pocket rocket") people at the museum today to celebrate 60 years since her first flight this month(which is worrying as I still remember her flying over the house on her first flight 😁). So if you fancy popping in for a cuppa and a chat on our One Eleven ZE432 it will be good to meet you.

Yet another new exhibit arrives at the museum, This time we have a Westland Lynx helicopter which used to be flown by the Royal Navy and, once she has been cleaned up, will be a marvellous exhibit in our Royal Navy display.

Thanks to Paul Swancutt's photo we can confirm that our Hawker Hunter WT722 (G-BWGN) has arrived safely at the museum. She is looking good, Well done all.

BAC ONE-ELEVEN
Where you involved with the One Eleven ?. Perhaps you worked at the BAC factory at Bournemouth ? or were you with one of the airlines that operated the type ?. This August marks the 60th aniversary of the airliners first flight from Bournemouth (20th August 1963).
There will be a get together at Brooklands on 20th August and there will also be a get together here at the museum on the 13th of August. Nothing special, just visit the museum for a chat and a cuppa. It will be good to meet you.

Our first "new" exhibit should be with us shortly. I have no date but have been told "within a week" so give our driver a wave if you see him 😄

Yet another clear out today with the Jet Provost trainer and the little Grumman departing the museum. A few people on our page were asking about other things that maybe suitable for home use and we have a Grumman spinner and a BAC One Eleven nose cone (unused). We have not put a price on these so it's a case "the best offer wins" but be aware the lucky winner will have to arrange pick up within two weeks.

Want to go flying ? Our other volunteers Ralph and Eric have been working very hard behind the scenes to produce an amazing flight simulator based on a Cessna 172 with full 180+ degree views for the experience of training or flying in a real aircraft. You will be accompanied by either a senior simulation specialist, a retired airline pilot or an experienced private pilot. You will go through procedures and operations as they do in the real world and be warned the weather could change as you fly. You can go for a "jolly" just for the experience or, if you are serious, they can take you through all aspects of light aviation and there is even a "ground school" introduction to a level of your choice. They can do group bookings with prior notice and also "out of museum hours", corporate events with light refreshments and can also include a tour of the museum (prices TBA). and gift vouchers can be arranged The minimum age is 14 years accompanied by an adult.
For more information go to [email protected] or pick up a leaflet from the shop.
Eduardo from J P Morgan was so impressed he intends to book real world flying lessons right away.

Please note we offer a virtual experience closely emulating te real world of aviation and training. However, under NO circumstances should this simulator or virtual training be used in a real world flight or flight training application.
For more information

HOT OFF THE PRESS. our volunteer Steve Powell has produced a comprehensive guide to the museum and, as it says on the cover, "Everything you need to know". It can be used as you walk around the exhibits or you can take it home as a souvenir. Cost is only £5.00 and it's well worth it.

The Sea Venom is on the move again today as she is heading for Bruntingthorpe for the museum there where she will be restored.

An update on the Harvard, Jeff and Spike have managed to put the markings on the aircraft now and she is looking a lot better.

We have started a big clear out operation today to make more space (just in case we do not get this extention), and the first thing to go was the BAe 125 business jet wings which were taken away for scrapping. Over the next few weeks other things will be going out the gate or moved. We are having a late spring clean 😁😄

Rumour control have informed me that the RED ARROWS will be landing at Bournemouth at 1324 tomorrow 17th June. They are not displaying but probably in for fuel and other things as I believe they are on there way to Portugal. (alright for some 😂🤣). No departure times.