Solway Aviation Museum

Solway Aviation Museum A hands-on museum of British aviation focused on the early jet age and Cold War. See pinned post for opening details.
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Solway Aviation Museum is home to a collection of aircraft, aviation artifacts and displays reflecting Britain’s position as a world leader in aircraft design and innovation at the dawn of the jet age. The museum's primary objective is the preservation of our aviation heritage, its display and interpretation. Take a nostalgic journey back to Wartime Cumberland and the men and women of the RAF who

served in WWII. The museum is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who give up their free time to painstakingly restore many of the exhibits. Through their love and knowledge they are preserving aviation history for generations to come. See more at: www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk

We are proud to announce the annual Solway Aviation Museum scale model exhibition! For the first time the event will be ...
23/06/2026

We are proud to announce the annual Solway Aviation Museum scale model exhibition! For the first time the event will be held over two days on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August 2026.

Register your interest with Will Carter at [email protected] who can also answer any queries you might have.

Happy modelling, and maybe see you in 2 months!

Solway Aviation Museum will be one of the organisations taking part in Carlisle's Armed Forces Day celebration in the ci...
22/06/2026

Solway Aviation Museum will be one of the organisations taking part in Carlisle's Armed Forces Day celebration in the city centre on Saturday 27th June between 10am and 4pm. There will be live music provided by the Border Concert Band and a drill competition between the Army Cadets and the Royal Air Force Cadets, offering a chance to see both services on display.

Other organisations represented will include: Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, Cumbria Army Cadet Force, Cumbria Police, Age UK North Cumbria, Carlisle Sea Cadets, RAF Air Cadets, Royal British Legion, Armed Forces Careers Office Carlisle, SSAFA Cumbria branch, Carlisle United Football Club Sports Trust, RAF Spadeadam, the RAF Association, The Military Vehicle Trust and Cumberland Council.

If we ever get our crew bus up the ramps into XB259, it won't be the first Bedford to have been inside a Beverley. These...
21/06/2026

If we ever get our crew bus up the ramps into XB259, it won't be the first Bedford to have been inside a Beverley. These photos from our archive show an Earle's Cement 7 Ton Bedford (S Type?) doing fit trials in September 1953.

You can see where the two halves of the centre wing section join above the vehicle once it's secured in the cargo bay.

Stuck for ideas this father's day? Bring your old man along to Solway Aviation Museum! We're open 1030-1700
21/06/2026

Stuck for ideas this father's day? Bring your old man along to Solway Aviation Museum! We're open 1030-1700

It's a Blackburn Beverley anniversary today! On 20th June 1950 the prototype GAL.60 Universal Freighter (WF320 / G-AMUX)...
20/06/2026

It's a Blackburn Beverley anniversary today! On 20th June 1950 the prototype GAL.60 Universal Freighter (WF320 / G-AMUX) first flew at Brough (image credit: BAE Systems). This would be developed into the Beverley - and a legend was born 😁

The danger with trying to be clever on social media, when you're clearly not clever, is that you'll get banned without w...
19/06/2026

The danger with trying to be clever on social media, when you're clearly not clever, is that you'll get banned without warning.

This is an aviation museum page. Abuse will not be tolerated.

If Facebook wasn't being difficult, you'd be hearing Simple Minds 'Come a Long Way' whilst looking at these before and a...
18/06/2026

If Facebook wasn't being difficult, you'd be hearing Simple Minds 'Come a Long Way' whilst looking at these before and after shots of Spiny Norman and our Avro Vulcan.

A selection of sunset silhouettes taken at Solway Aviation Museum in December 2025 (we were awaiting the arrival of our ...
16/06/2026

A selection of sunset silhouettes taken at Solway Aviation Museum in December 2025 (we were awaiting the arrival of our Sea Harrier).

Which is your favourite image - Sea Prince, Phantom, Lightning, Jet Provost, Meteor or Jaguar

At Solway Aviation Museum we are looking for a couple of 12x12 British military canvas tents to use for two events we ar...
16/06/2026

At Solway Aviation Museum we are looking for a couple of 12x12 British military canvas tents to use for two events we are planning in August. Does anyone know where we might get hold of those? Thanks!

Happy birthday to the Hunting Percival (later BAC) Jet Provost!On 16th June 1954 the first Jet Provost T Mk1, XD674 (pic...
16/06/2026

Happy birthday to the Hunting Percival (later BAC) Jet Provost!

On 16th June 1954 the first Jet Provost T Mk1, XD674 (picture credit: UK Government, Crown Copyright expired) had its maiden flight at Luton. A small batch of JP T Mk1s were ordered for comparative trials against the Piston Provosts at No.2 Flying Training School, RAF Hullavington, and the first student recorded as going solo on the JP was Pilot Officer R T Foster in November 1955.

A production order was placed for an improved variant, the T Mk3, which entered service in June 1959 with a more powerful engine, wingtip fuel tanks, ejection seats and an improved canopy, amongst other things. Our JP (XS209) is a T Mk4, built in 1964 and boasting an even more powerful Viper engine.

Address

Aviation House Carlisle Airport Crosby-on-Eden
Carlisle
CA64NW

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 5pm
Friday 10:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5pm
Sunday 10:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441228573823

Website

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