Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

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Farnborough Air Sciences Trust
Replica of Samuel Franklin Cody's first powered plane - geograph.org.uk - 1554366.jpg
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust
Established1994 [1]
Location Farnborough, Hampshire, England
Coordinates 51°16′56″N0°45′11″W / 51.2823°N 0.7530°W / 51.2823; -0.7530
Type Aviation museum
Website Official FAST website

The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) museum holds a collection of aircraft (actual and model), satellites, simulators, wind tunnel and Royal Aircraft Establishment-related material. It is based in Farnborough, Hampshire immediately adjacent to Farnborough Airfield on the A325 Farnborough Road.

Contents

Part of the collection is housed in Trenchard House (Building G1 of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment), which includes a library, an archive, and a store. There are aircraft on display, some of which have had significant design and/or development contribution from Farnborough. A collection of wind tunnel models is held in storage, along with documentation and historical records of engineering and technical development. There is also a large collection of plans and drawings relating to the Farnborough and Pyestock sites.

The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00. [2] It is managed by the trustees of FAST while day-to-day running is carried out by volunteers of the FAST Association.

The museum has received praise from the press. In 2009, it featured in both The Times' 'List of the Top 10 Geeky Holiday Spots on the Planet' and The Sun's Kid's Go Free Top 10 Educational Visitor Attractions. [3]

Trenchard House

Trenchard House (Building G1) Building G1.JPG
Trenchard House (Building G1)

Trenchard House was built on the Farnborough site in 1907 as the headquarters of No 1 (Airship) Company of the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers (later No 1 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps). Known then as G1 Building, it is the oldest building on the site.

In 1914 it became the temporary headquarters of Lord Trenchard when he was appointed Officer Commanding the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps. The RFC's first operational squadrons were based in the hangars immediately in front of the building. [4]

The Grade II* listed building has since become the administrative headquarters of FAST. [5]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) - BAE Systems". Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "Rushmoor Borough Council - Farnborough Air Sciences Trust". 11 January 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "Farnborough Air Sciences Trust - Press and Media Page". Airsciences.org.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Trenchard House". Farnborough Air Sciences Trust. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "G1 BUILDING AT THE ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT (1339706)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 April 2015.
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