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Solway Aviation Museum
Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle Airport, Cumbria - geograph.org.uk - 50887.jpg
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Established 1961; 64 years ago (1961)
Location Carlisle Lake District Airport
Irthington
Cumbria
Type Aviation museum

The Solway Aviation Museum is an exciting aviation museum. You can find it at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria, England. It's a great place to learn about airplanes and flying history.

Discover the Solway Aviation Museum

The museum is run by a group called The Solway Aviation Society. Many helpful volunteers work there. The Society is a registered charity. This means it's a non-profit group that uses money from tickets and donations to keep the museum running.

Educational Visits and Exhibits

Besides being open to the public, the museum welcomes school groups. Students can learn about the Second World War. It also helps Scouts earn their Air Activities Badge. After the RAF Millom Museum closed, many of its cool items were moved here. They will be shown when there is enough space.

The museum buildings have many interesting displays. You can see items about flying in Cumbria. There are special exhibits about the Second World War. You can also learn about the Blue Streak missile. Another display shows Martin-Baker ejection seats, which help pilots escape planes in an emergency. The museum also shares the history of the airport itself since the Second World War.

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Avro Vulcan XJ823, a famous bomber plane

Museum History and Growth

The Solway Aviation Museum has been collecting and showing aircraft for many years. It works hard to preserve important planes and aviation items.

Bringing the Blackburn Beverly Home

In April 2024, the museum raised enough money for a special project. They were able to move the only remaining Blackburn Beverly aircraft to the museum. This huge plane was brought from Fort Paull to its new home.

Amazing Aircraft Collection

The museum has a fantastic collection of aircraft. Many of these planes were used by the Royal Air Force or Royal Navy. Each one has its own unique story.

Aircraft Serial Notes
Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823 This Royal Air Force bomber flew into Carlisle Airport in January 1983, after the Falklands War.
BAC Jet Provost T.4 XS209 A Royal Air Force plane used for training pilots.
DH Vampire T.11 WZ515 A Royal Air Force jet.
Gloster Meteor NF.14 WS832 Built by Armstrong Whitworth, this plane was last used for testing in Wales.
English Electric Canberra T.4 WE188 Another Royal Air Force aircraft.
BAC Lightning F.53 ZF583 This plane used to belong to the Royal Saudi Air Force. It is now painted with Royal Air Force markings.
Hawker Hunter F.51 XG190 This aircraft was once part of the Royal Danish Air Force. It is now painted to look like a plane from the Empire Test Pilot's School.
McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 XV406 A Royal Air Force jet that was once displayed at RAF Carlisle.
Percival Sea Prince T.1 WP314 This aircraft was used by the Royal Navy.
SEPECAT Jaguar XX146 A powerful jet aircraft.
Sikorsky Whirlwind HAR.21 WV198 A helicopter used by the Royal Navy.

See also

  • Carlisle Lake District Airport
  • List of aerospace museums
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