Fleet Air Arm Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fleet Air Arm Museum

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Established	May 1964 (1964-05)
Location	RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, England
Type	Aviation museum

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is a super cool place where you can explore the history of British naval aviation. This means you'll learn all about planes and helicopters used by the Royal Navy! The museum has a huge collection of military and civilian aircraft, powerful engines, and models of planes and aircraft carriers. You can even see real anchors from famous Royal Navy ships like HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle.

The museum is located at RNAS Yeovilton airfield. This is a real working air base! You can even watch military aircraft, especially helicopters, taking off and landing from special viewing areas. It's about 7 miles (11 km) north of Yeovil and 40 miles (64 km) south of Bristol.

Explore the Museum's Amazing Aircraft

The Fleet Air Arm Museum has lots of exciting things to see. As of summer 2025, there are special exhibits about King Charles's time in the Fleet Air Arm and the 1982 Falklands War. This Falklands exhibit brings together five aircraft that were part of that important event.

Here are some of the aircraft you can see in the Falklands War exhibit:

The museum's main displays are split into four big areas, each with its own theme.

Hall 1: The Start of Naval Aviation

Hall 1 being updated in 2008

This hall shows how naval aviation began, from early airships to fabric-covered biplanes and then to modern jets and helicopters. You can see the front part of a Short 184 8359 plane. This plane was built nearby and even flew in the Battle of Jutland in 1916! It was later damaged during the Second World War when its museum was bombed. It's displayed just as it was found, showing its history.

Here are some of the aircraft in Hall 1:

Hall 2: World War II and Beyond

This hall focuses on the Second World War. There's a special room about Kamikaze pilots, showing a Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka II aircraft and models of Japanese planes. You can also see letters from Kamikaze pilots. Two aircraft from the Korean War are also here. Near the entrance to Hall 3, you'll find models of British aircraft carriers, showing how these huge ships changed over time.

Some of the aircraft in Hall 2 include:

Hall 3: On Board an Aircraft Carrier

A pretend flight deck of HMS Ark Royal

This hall is super cool because it's designed to look like the flight deck of the famous aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal from the 1970s! You enter through a vibrating Wessex helicopter, making you feel like you're really taking off. You can see historic aircraft like the Supermarine Seafire. There are also rooms that look like the ship's "island" (the control tower) with projections, and you can even experience a pretend lift ride to the top of the mock carrier.

Aircraft you can see in Hall 3 include:

Hall 4: Modern Aviation and Concorde

Hall 4 with Concorde 002 and other aircraft

This hall features more modern aircraft, including the amazing Concorde 002!

Here are some of the aircraft on display in Hall 4:

Other Cool Displays to See

Besides the main halls, there are other interesting areas:

• "Barracuda Live - The Big Rebuild": Watch as experts actively restore a Fairey Barracuda plane!
• Battle of Taranto: Learn about a famous World War II event where the Fleet Air Arm played a key role. You can see a Fairey Swordfish here.
• "Merlin Experience": Discover how modern helicopters find submarines underwater.
• "Operation Skua": See how a Blackburn Skua plane was recovered after crashing.
• "Pioneers to Professionals: Women of the Royal Navy": Learn about the important roles women have played.
• "Saved! 100 years of Search and Rescue": This display features three helicopters and even has a fun soft play area for younger kids!
• "Welcome Gallery": The first area you see when you enter.

Aircraft in the Reserve Collection

The museum also has many aircraft that are being restored or are not currently on public display. These are kept in a special building called Cobham Hall. Sometimes, you can get a chance to see them during special open days!

Here are some of the aircraft in the reserve collection:

Engines on Display

A Clerget 9B rotary engine

The museum also has many different aero engines on display throughout the halls. These are the powerful machines that make planes fly!

• Alvis Leonides
• Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah
• Bristol Centaurus
• Bristol Mercury
• Bristol Siddeley BS.100
• Clerget 9B
• Bristol Siddeley Pegasus
• de Havilland Gipsy Major
• de Havilland Gipsy Queen
• Rolls-Royce Avon
• Rolls-Royce Nene
• Rolls-Royce Merlin
• Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593
• Sunbeam Gurkha
• Wright R-1820 Cyclone

What Else Can You Do at the Museum?

Aircraft Restoration Work

The museum has a team that works to restore old aircraft. For example, a Corsair KD 431 was restored and shown in 2006, looking just like it did in 1944! In 2025, they are working on a Fairey Barracuda and a Gloster Sea Gladiator. You can peek into their workshop between Hall 3 and Hall 4 to see them in action!

Museum Archives

The Fleet Air Arm Museum also keeps a huge collection of historical documents and materials about naval aviation.

Visitor Fun and Facilities

A fun children's playground at the museum

The museum has a shop where you can find lots of cool naval-themed items, including books and documentaries. There's also an outdoor adventure playground for kids and two cafés where you can grab a snack or a drink.

Other Aviation Museums

Naval aviation museums around the world

• Australia - Fleet Air Arm Museum (Australia), in Nowra, New South Wales
• Canada - Shearwater Aviation Museum, in Sheerwater, Nova Scotia
• Germany - Aeronauticum, in Nordholz
• India - Naval Aviation Museum (India), in Goa, India
• USA - National Naval Aviation Museum, in Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
• USA - Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, in Lexington Park, Maryland

British military aviation museums

• Army Flying Museum
• Imperial War Museum:
  • Imperial War Museum Duxford and Imperial War Museum North
• REME Museum
• Royal Air Force Museum Cosford and Royal Air Force Museum London

Other related lists

• List of aviation museums
• List of museums in Somerset