Jet Age Museum

Last updated

Jet Age Museum
Gloster Meteor, Gloucestershire Airport, Churchdown - geograph.org.uk - 1069897.jpg
Gloster Meteor at Gloucestershire Airport
Gloucestershire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Gloucestershire
Location Staverton, Gloucestershire
Coordinates 51°53′44″N2°10′29″W / 51.89553°N 2.17475°W / 51.89553; -2.17475
Type Aviation museum
Website http://www.jetagemuseum.org/

The Jet Age Museum is the trading name of the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection, an all-volunteer, charitable organisation dedicated to the preservation of Gloucestershire's aviation heritage. The aviation museum is located on the north side of Gloucestershire Airport, between Gloucester and Cheltenham. It houses a number of aircraft, aero engines, cockpits and other related exhibits. It is themed on the early development of jet aircraft, in particular the role played by the Gloster Aircraft Company and other local firms such as Dowty Rotol and Smiths Industries. The museum is also the custodian of the Russell Adams photographic archive.

Contents

History

The organisation was formed in 1986 and established as a company limited by guarantee.

The museum first opened to the public at the Gloucester Trading Estate, the former Brockworth aerodrome. With the aid of grants and public donations, it began to amass a collection of aircraft. The museum's first significant public opening began with a temporary exhibition in a hangar adjacent to Gloucestershire Airport. This had to close in 2000 after it was announced the former wartime hangar was to be demolished. [1] [2] The aircraft were dispersed to a number of locations in Gloucestershire including, briefly, at the former GAC 'shadow' factory at Bentham. A workshop was established at Brockworth Court and the remaining airframes eventually made their way back to Gloucestershire Airport, where they were placed in open storage. [3] [4] In 2005, an Avro Anson in the collection was sold for restoration. [5]

The museum made a number of unsuccessful bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund to construct a purpose-built facility before finally submitting plans for a building at Gloucestershire Airport. In January 2011 plans were approved for a new building to house the museum's collection. [6] [7] One year later, an agreement was reached for a 45 year lease of the land the building sits on. [8]

The museum opened provisionally from 24 August 2013 and officially in May 2014. [9] [10] A Gloster Meteor was added in 2013 and a Gloster Javelin purchased from RAF Leeming in 2014 was moved to the museum a few months later. [11] [12] [13] With these acquisitions, the museum had a significant number of aircraft on display outside and as a result announced a fundraising campaign for an extension in 2019. [14]

Collection

Aircraft on display

Aircraft cockpits

Aircraft stored or under restoration

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Meteor</span> Britains first jet fighter, 1943–1980s

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only jet aircraft to engage in combat operations during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft began in 1940, although work on the engines had been under way since 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with No. 616 Squadron RAF. The Meteor was not a sophisticated aircraft in its aerodynamics, but proved to be a successful combat fighter. Gloster's 1946 civil Meteor F.4 demonstrator G-AIDC was the first civilian-registered jet aircraft in the world. Several major variants of the Meteor incorporated technological advances during the 1940s and 1950s. Thousands of Meteors were built to fly with the RAF and other air forces and remained in use for several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Javelin</span> British interceptor aircraft

The Gloster Javelin is a twin-engined all-weather interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. It was a T-tailed delta-wing aircraft designed for night and all-weather operations and was the last aircraft design to bear the Gloster name. Introduced in 1956 after a lengthy development period, the aircraft received several upgrades during production to its engines, radar and weapons, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockworth</span> Human settlement in England

Brockworth is a village and parish in the Borough of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Barnwood. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of central Gloucester, 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Cheltenham and 11.5 miles (18.5 km) north of Stroud. The population taken at the 2011 census was 7,387. The population increased to 9,422 at the 2021 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Aircraft Company</span> Aircraft manufacturer in England (1917–1963)

The Gloster Aircraft Company was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1917 to 1963.

Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company, or Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, was a British aircraft manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire</span> 1940s British turbojet aircraft engine

The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is a British turbojet engine that was produced by Armstrong Siddeley in the 1950s. It was the ultimate development of work that had started as the Metrovick F.2 in 1940, evolving into an advanced axial flow design with an annular combustion chamber that developed over 11,000 lbf (49 kN). It powered early versions of the Hawker Hunter and Handley Page Victor, and every Gloster Javelin. Production was also started under licence in the United States by Wright Aeronautical as the J65, powering a number of US designs. The Sapphire's primary competitor was the Rolls-Royce Avon.

The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial is an aviation museum in Elvington, York on the site of the former RAF Elvington airfield, a Second World War RAF Bomber Command station. The museum was founded, and first opened to the public, in the mid 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gate guardian</span> Symbolic guardian at a military facility

A gate guardian or gate guard is a withdrawn piece of equipment, often an aircraft, armoured vehicle, artillery piece, or locomotive, mounted on a plinth and used as a static display near to and forming a symbolic display of "guarding" the main entrance to a site, especially a military base. Commonly, gate guardians outside airbases are decommissioned examples of aircraft that were once based there, or still are.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 56 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 56 Squadron, also known as No. 56 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), nicknamed the Firebirds for their ability to always reappear intact regardless of the odds, is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both the First and Second World Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark Air Museum</span> Aviation museum in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire

Newark Air Museum is an air museum located on a former Royal Air Force station at Winthorpe, near Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, England. The museum contains a variety of aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Norwich Aviation Museum</span> Aviation museum in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk

The City of Norwich Aviation Museum is a volunteer-run museum and charitable trust dedicated to the preservation of the aviation history of the county of Norfolk, England. The museum is located on the northern edge of Norwich International Airport and is reached by road through the village of Horsham St Faith. The museum welcomed its newest exhibit in October 2020 when it received EI-RJN, a 21-year old Avro RJ-85, formerly operated by CityJet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percival Provost</span> 1950 trainer aircraft by Percival

The Percival P.56 Provost is a basic trainer aircraft that was designed and manufactured by British aviation company Percival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Carter (engineer)</span> British engineer

Wilfred George Carter CBE FRAeS was a British engineer, who was the chief designer at Glosters from 1937. He was awarded the C.B.E. in 1947 and was appointed Technical Director of Gloster Aircraft in 1948 remaining on the board of directors until 1954. He continued to serve Glosters for a number of years after his retirement in a consultancy role until 1958. He designed the first British jet aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tangmere Military Aviation Museum</span> Aviation museum in Tangmere, West Sussex

The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is a museum located on the former site of RAF Tangmere, West Sussex. The museum was opened in June 1982. Many aerospace exhibits covering the First World War to the Cold War are on display including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and aircraft engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Aviation Museum</span> Aerospace museum in Port Adelaide, South Australia

The South Australian Aviation Museum, located in Port Adelaide, South Australia, is an aviation museum which displays aircraft, aircraft engines, and rockets of relevance to South Australia, and the history of aviation and the aerospace industry in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum</span> Aviation museum in Dumfries, Scotland

The Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum is a volunteer-operated aviation museum located in and around the World War II-era watch tower at the former RAF Dumfries, located two miles north east of the centre of Dumfries, Scotland, which was in service from June 1940 until 1957, when it closed. The site was sold to a private company in 1960. The museum, founded in 1977 by the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Group, has a collection of aircraft, both civil and military, aero engines, artifacts, and a small, but "ever expanding collection of memorabilia honouring airborne forces."

Royal Air Force Moreton Valence or more simply RAF Moreton Valence is a former Royal Air Force installation located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) southwest of Gloucester, Gloucestershire and 24 kilometres (15 mi) northwest of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.

Richard Walter Walker FRAeS was a British aerospace engineer, and main designer for jet aircraft of Gloster Aircraft Company.

Neill Michael Daunt OBE was a British test pilot; the first person to fly the Gloster Meteor in March 1943, Britain's first production jet aircraft. He was the second person to fly the Gloster E.28/39 "Pioneer" in November 1942. He had many severe accidents that he was lucky to survive, including one for which he had no recollection.

References

  1. ↑ "Air museum's cash plea". BBC. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Jet Age Museum in Gloucester to open later this month". BBC. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Jet museum's funding appeal is taking off". Gloucester Review. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Under Restoration". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Vintage plane back at WWII base". BBC. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Jet Age Museum plans approved for new Gloucester home". BBC. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Jet Age Museum plans agreed for Gloucestershire Airport". BBC. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Jet Age Museum in Gloucester to reopen". BBC. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Jet Age Museum in Gloucester to open later this month". BBC. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Jet Age Museum in Gloucester officially opened". BBC. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Gloster Meteor lifted from Imjin Barracks by helicopter". BBC. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Gloucestershire Jet Age Museum buys Gloster Javelin". BBC. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Gloster Javelin arrives at Jet Age Museum". BBC. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  14. ↑ Wood Sarah (13 February 2019). "Museum aims high with £1 million funding target". Punchline. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "Gloster Gamecock reproduction". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Birth of the jet age: Gloster E28/39". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Gloster Meteor F8 Serial WH3644". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF13 WM366". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Gloster Meteor T7 VW453". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Gloster Meteor T7 Serial WF784". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Gloster Javelin FAW9 Serial XH903". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "Hawker Hurricane V6799 SD-X". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  23. 1 2 3 "Open Cockpits". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "Additional Exhibits". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  25. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Hawker Hunter F.4, s/n XE664 {1} RAF, c/n HABL003007 {1}". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  26. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.2, s/n XW264 RAF, c/n 41H-212003". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - de Havilland-Hawker Siddeley Trident 3B, c/n 2321, c/r G-AWZU". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  28. ↑ "Horsa Cockpit". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  29. ↑ "Armstrong-Whitworth Meteor NF14 Serial WS807". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  30. ↑ "ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRA". Jet Age Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  31. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - English Electric Canberra TT.18, s/n WK126 RN, c/n R3/EA3/6640, c/r N2138J". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "Gloster Gladiator N5914". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "Gladiator". The History Journal. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  34. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Gloster Gladiator II, s/n N5914 RAF, c/n Unknown". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  35. ↑ "Gloster Javelin FAW.4 XA634". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  36. ↑ "Hawker Typhoon Cockpit/Fuselage". Jet Age Museum. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.