Ulster Aviation Society

Last updated

Ulster Aviation Society
Logo of the Ulster Aviation Society.png
Ulster Aviation Society
Established1968
LocationLong Kesh, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK
Coordinates 54°29′28″N6°06′45″W / 54.4911°N 6.11249°W / 54.4911; -6.11249
TypeAviation museum
ChairpersonRaymond Burrows MBE
Employees0
Nearest parking100 yards (91 m)
Website www.ulsteraviationsociety.org

The Ulster Aviation Society (UAS) is a charitable organisation run entirely by volunteers with a wide interest in aviation, with a focus of "furthering a public interest in the history of aviation". It has a Heritage Collection based at Long Kesh, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. housing around 40 military and civil aircraft and rotorcraft along with vehicles and a large number of related items.

Contents

History

The UAS started in 1968, originally located at Newtownards Aerodrome, and had moved to the disused airfield of RAF Langford Lodge by 1994, [1] occupying buildings including the control tower and half a hangar as their Heritage Centre.

The UAS Wildcat at Newtownards Air Show in 1984 Wildcat, Newtownards Air Show, June 1984 (04).jpg
The UAS Wildcat at Newtownards Air Show in 1984

An early member was Ernie Cromie, who was the society’s chairman from 1982 until handing over to Ray Burrows in 2012, and was awarded the British Empire Medal for his efforts. Cromie and Burrows were keen researchers into aircraft wrecks in Northern Ireland. They would examine records of crashes and, with other interested members of the society, visit the crash sites, often recovering aircraft parts to build their collection. [2] The society's first full airframe, acquired in 1984, was a Grumman Wildcat, known by the Royal Navy as the Martlet, which, with the help of other groups and a British Army helicopter, had been recovered from a nearby lake, Portmore Lough. Its restoration has been slow and painstaking, but was nearing completion in 2024. [3]

The collection moved to Long Kesh in 2005/6, where it occupies the old airfield's only remaining hangars, which, during WW2, were used by Short Brothers for the production of Short Stirling bombers. The huge hangars are scheduled monuments. [4] [5] The society's early years at the new location were dogged by doubts about its lease and use of the site (it is on part of the site of the former Maze prison) [6] [7] but these were resolved in early 2024. [8]

Registered as a charity (registered number NIC100128) in 2014, [9] the society was awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, [10] at which time it had over 670 volunteers. [11] Chairman Ray Burrows was awarded the MBE in the 2020 New Years Honours list, "For services to the Ulster Aviation Society, Heritage Sector and to the community in Northern Ireland". [12]

Current activities

Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZG771 in 1916, gifted to UAS in 2021 Panavia Tornado GR.4 'ZG771' (35593165941).jpg
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZG771 in 1916, gifted to UAS in 2021

In the early 2020s the UAS has been very active, acquiring several new exhibits, especially from the British armed forces. The society has developed a strong relationship with the RAF, with several RAF aircraft having been acquired for no charge, except for transport. [8] The volunteers work on numerous projects, and also are available to guide visitors, encouraging them to sit in cockpits and touch most of the exhibits. For this reason they prefer that the facility is called a collection, avoiding the more formal title of museum. The volunteers take items such as cockpit sections to outside public events, and there are also open days at the Long Kesh site.

As there are no formal staff, casual public walk-in visits are not allowed, and all visitors must pre-book to ensure that volunteers are available and gates and hangars are open. There is no charge for visits, but donations are welcome. [13]

The society has a large collection of aviation-related material, including cockpit sections from a Tornado, a Canberra, and a de Havilland Devon, a restored tail-gun turret, and a Learjet 45 test airframe (built by Short in Belfast). There are also several themed display rooms, a library, and advanced PC-based flight simulators with VR capability and controls for fast jets, helicopters, and propeller aircraft. [14]

Collection

As of January 2025 [14] [15]

Military aircraft
Red Arrows Hawk XX260 in 2002 British Aerospace Hawk T1A, UK - Air Force AN0273444.jpg
Red Arrows Hawk XX260 in 2002
Tucano G-BTUC at the Farnborough Airshow in 1990 G-BTUC Embraer EMB-312 Tucano (cn 312007) Royal Air Force. (5644644890).jpg
Tucano G-BTUC at the Farnborough Airshow in 1990
Gloster Meteor WA634 at Cosford in 2017 Gloster Meteor T7 (Modified) (32892996861).jpg
Gloster Meteor WA634 at Cosford in 2017
IAC Reims Rocket 203 at Baldonnel in 2008 203 Cessna FR.172H Skyhawk 2 Wing 204 Sqdn; Irish Air Corps, Baldonell (3236389635).jpg
IAC Reims Rocket 203 at Baldonnel in 2008
Civil aircraft
Rotorcraft
Bristol Sycamore XJ918 at its previous home in 1990 Bristol Sycamore HR14 (cn 13413, sn XJ918) 1990-05-01 Andre Gerwing Collection ID 017905.jpg
Bristol Sycamore XJ918 at its previous home in 1990
RAF Puma XW222 over Norway in 2006 RAF Puma Helicopter MOD 45146942.jpg
RAF Puma XW222 over Norway in 2006
Other aircraft
Vehicles

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 32 Squadron RAF</span> Royal Air Force flying squadron

No. 32 Squadron Royal Air Force, also written XXXII Squadron Royal Air Force, sometimes abbreviated as No. 32 (TR) Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). No.32 is a current flying squadron which operates in the VIP and general air transport roles. It is based at RAF Northolt in Greater London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Aviation Bulldog</span> British training aircraft

The Scottish Aviation Bulldog is a British two-seat side-by-side training aircraft designed by Beagle Aircraft as the B.125 Bulldog.

Royal Air Force Long Kesh, or more simply RAF Long Kesh, is a former Royal Air Force station at Maze, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Royal Air Force Nutts Corner, or more simply RAF Nutts Corner, is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Crumlin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and 9.2 miles (14.8 km) north west of Belfast.

Langford Lodge Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force station near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Today the airfield is owned by RLC (UK) a subsidiary of RLC Engineering Group which is headquartered in the Isle of Man. Langford Lodge is located on the eastern shores of Lough Neagh and close to RAF Aldergrove/Belfast International Airport and the former RAF Nutts Corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 230 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 230 Squadron Royal Air Force is a Royal Air Force (RAF) flying squadron, currently based at Medicina Lines in Brunei Darussalam, part of British Forces Brunei, operating the Westland Puma HC2. The squadron was previously part of Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG), operating the Puma HC1 there from 1980. Following the drawdown of the British Armed Forces in Germany at the end of the Cold War, the squadron disbanded on 30 April 1992. This was short-lived however, and the squadron reformed at RAF Aldergrove on 4 May 1992, again with the Puma HC1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Hooton Park</span> Former RAF base in Cheshire, England

Royal Air Force Hooton Park or more simply RAF Hooton Park, on the Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire, is a former Royal Air Force station originally built for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 as a training aerodrome for pilots in the First World War. During the early/mid-1930s, it was one of the two airfields handling scheduled services for the Merseyside region. Hooton Park was home to No. 610 Squadron and, post Second World War, to No. 611 and No. 663 (AOP) Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuttleworth Collection</span> Aviation museum in Old Warden, Bedfordshire, England

The Shuttleworth Collection is a working aviation, automotive and agricultural collection located at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Helicopter Museum</span> Museum in Somerset, United Kingdom

The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England, is a museum featuring a collection of more than 80 helicopters and autogyros from around the world, both civilian and military. It is based at the southeastern corner of the former Weston-super-Mare RAF Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air transport of the British royal family and government</span>

Air transport of the British royal family and government is provided, depending on the circumstances and availability, by a variety of military and civilian operators. This includes an Airbus Voyager of the Royal Air Force (RAF), No. 10 Squadron, and the King's Helicopter Flight, which forms part of the Royal Household. Civil aircraft and scheduled commercial flights are also utilised. Historically, the aircraft for British royalty became known as the Queen's Flight or King's Flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 72 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 72 (Fighter) Squadron of the Royal Air Force is a training squadron that is currently based at RAF Valley using the Beechcraft Texan T1 to deliver Basic Fast Jet Training (BFJT).

The North East Land, Sea and Air Museums (NELSAM), formerly the North East Aircraft Museum, is a volunteer-run aviation museum situated on the site of the former RAF Usworth/Sunderland Airport, between Washington and Sunderland, in Tyne and Wear, England. The museum has the largest aviation collection between Yorkshire and Scotland and houses over 30 aircraft and a wide collection of aero engines. The museum also has a small collection of other items such as weaponry, vehicles and other historical exhibits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short SB.4 Sherpa</span> Experimental aircraft in the UK

The Short SB.4 Sherpa was an experimental aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Short Brothers. Only a single example was ever produced.

No. 225 Squadron RAF is a former Royal Air Force squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 502 Squadron RAuxAF</span> Reserve non-flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force that was reformed in September 2013, and is the oldest active reserve squadron, having been formed in 1925. The squadron took park in anti-submarine patrols and bombing sorties in the Second World War.

The South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum (SYAM) is a Volunteer led museum located at Lakeside in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It occupies the former site of the Royal Air Force Station, RAF Doncaster. The museum occupies the last remaining original buildings from RAF Doncaster in the shape of a Bellman hangar, two wooden Air Ministry 'Billet Huts' (Buildings 19 and 21) and various smaller structures. The museum has also erected an more modern ex Air Training Corps Cadet Hut alongside Building 21 to house its World War Two Collection.

No. 660 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was formerly No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

No. 652 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). It was previously No. 652 Squadron RAF, a unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany.

References

  1. ↑ Ellis, Ken (1994). Wrecks & Relics (14th ed.). Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing Limited. p. 249. ISBN   1-85780-025-7.
  2. ↑ Spence, Julie-Ann (20 July 2021). "The sad passing of an aviation legend". Northern Ireland World. National World Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Wildcat FM-1". Ulster Aviation Society. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "The changing face of Maze Long Kesh". MazeLongKesh. Northern Ireland Executive. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Historic Building details HB19/04/030 J". Department for Communities. Northern Ireland Executive. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ulster Aviation Society cancels open day over Maze deadlock". BBC News. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Black, Rebecca (18 November 2016). "Ulster Aviation Society hopes Maze air ambulance deal will end their problems at site". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  8. 1 2 Rainey, Mark (13 July 2024). "The sky's the limit for motivated enthusiasts at the Ulster Aviation Society". NewsLetter. National World Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ulster Aviation Society". The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Awardees". The King's Award for Voluntary Service. dcms.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "UAS awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service". Ulster Aviation Society. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "New Year Honours list 2020" (PDF). GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Visit the UAS". Ulster Aviation Society. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 "UAS Heritage Collection". Ulster Aviation Society. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Ulster Aviation Society Heritage Collection, Long Kesh, NI". North West Air News. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "Red Arrow Hawk Jet donated to Ulster Aviation Society by Royal Air Force". ITV News. ITV Consumer Limited. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  17. 1 2 Ellis, Ken (2002). Wrecks & Relics (18th ed.). Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. pp. 298, 299. ISBN   1-85780-133-4.
  18. ↑ "Fairchild Argus taking shape in Northern Ireland". Key.aero. Key Publishing Ltd. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Aviation Heritage UK Register" (PDF). Air-Britain. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ellis, Ken (2014). Wrecks & Relics (24th ed.). Manchester, UK: Crécy Publishing. p. 330. ISBN   978-085979-1779.
  21. 1 2 Harmsworth, Tony (23 December 2022). "Ulster gets ejection trials Meteor". Key.Aero`. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 Riley, Stephen (30 June 2017). "Ireland's Largest". Key.aero. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Long Kesh, County Antrim, N.I." Demobbed. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ellis, Ken (2024). Wrecks & Relics (29th ed.). Manchester, UK: Crécy Publishing. pp. 311–313. ISBN   9781800353046.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "UK Aviation Museums Guide: County Antrim". Aeroplane. Key Publishing: 117. May 2024.
  26. ↑ "Ulster Aviation Society". LinkedIn. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  27. ↑ Waugh, Brian. "A FRED from Norn Iron". Clutton FRED. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  28. ↑ "Eurowing Goldwing cn EW-22 cr G-MJWS". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  29. ↑ "Short SD-330 G-BDBS". Airliner World: 82. January 2011.
  30. ↑ "Ulster Aviation Society EI-CNG". Facebook. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  31. 1 2 "Displaying Serials in range XZ". UK Serials Resource Centre. Wolverhampton Aviation Group. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  32. ↑ "Aerospatiale SA330E Puma C/N 1157". Helis.com. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

Further reading

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.