The Aeroplane Collection at Hooton Park

10/11/2024

Award and accompanying certificate finally arrived at Hooton yesterday 🙂

Aviation Heritage UK
Group of the Year 2024
The Aeroplane Collection

06/11/2024

At the recent Aviation Heritage UK Annual awards, we were awarded Museum/Group of the Year 2024!!

“The Aeroplane Collection’s impressive restoration at Hooton Park of Miles M.38 Messenger Mk.2A G-AHUI, expertly led by Ian Maddock and assisted by Steve Poole and others was declared to be 'finished for the moment' by 18th November 2023 and is believed to be the first example of a Messenger to go on current public display in a UK museum.
Although missing its ‘outer wings’ as the original one-piece 36 foot/11 metre span wing was cut into three many years ago, this 1946 Newtownards-built aeroplane last flew in 1957 and after storage by various preservation organisations, was donated to TAC by The Miles Aircraft Collection in 2002.
Together with TAC’s recent acquisitions of Percival Proctor IV RM169/G-AMVY, Miles M.65 Gemini 1A G-AKEN (donated by Peter Turner) and The Hooton Park Trust’s Comper Swift G-ACGL (delivered on 16/09/2024 on loan from the RAF Museum), this project now enables TAC and Hooton Park to have this country’s best and largest collection of British light aircraft after The Shuttleworth Collection.
Lloyd Robinson, on behalf of TAC, was presented with the award by Martin Withers”

Full list of winners can be found here - https://aviationheritageuk.org/award-winners-2024/

29/10/2024

Well after the last open day of the year all I can say is a massive well done to all involved with helping to run what is turning into a very impressive museum.
Hooton Park is growing every year. I can't believe how much work has gone into Building 16. Feedback from the public has been amazing, everyone I've spoken to has been mighty impressed. It was a very busy day on Sunday and hopefully we can reach more potential visitors next year with some good advertising over winter. So spread the word folks and keep your eyes peeled for our spring open dates.
Here's to the future! 🎉

27/10/2024

Our Percival Proctor IV RM169 - 26th October 2023 versus 26th October 2024

Not bad going given we didn’t start on it until late March/early April!!

12/06/2024

The latest addition to the collection arrived at Hooton Park yesterday - Miles Gemini 1A G-AKEN

It will be displayed as is for the time being, patiently waiting its turn in the restoration queue.

28/04/2024

28/04/2024

Fabulous turnout for our first open day of the year at Hooton Park Hangars. The team have worked very hard over the winter, preparing the second half of building 16 in order to expand the museum and what a great job they've done! The Meteor is looking great, the vampire is up on her undercarriage with the booms attached. The Spitfire is all put together and awaiting her new paint job in the colours of 610 sqdn and numerous other planes and attractions have popped up around the newly set out Hangar. The ladies in the cafe have been extremely busy with refreshments and all the volunteers have done a stirling job providing information and direction throughout the site. Ellesmere Port model boat club have done wonders with their boating lake and drew a big crowd. Over the next year there'll be many more exhibits and attractions added to the museum. We're open last Sunday of each month, 10am - 4pm. Junction 6 M53.

18/03/2024

Fabulous!

13/03/2024

With the April open day looming up (Sunday 28th - Save the date!), work is progressing to get several aircraft assembled. Vampire XD624 has regained its tail booms since the wings were fitted, with the tailplane to follow shortly. Meanwhile Auster G-ARGB/VF635 has had its wings fitted. After some research, we believe this is the first time it has had wings since 1975!

18/02/2024

Good progress on Friday for several projects at Hooton Park including our Vampire T.11 XD624.

https://www.facebook.com/100080136834332/posts/398012859546605/?app=fbl

14/01/2024

Bit more work on building 16 today. Got all the painting done we wanted, next stage is moving the remaining stuff out of the way to sweep and paint the rest. Roll on Opening day in April!

30/10/2023

Last open day of the year at Hooton Park. Weather was kind, lots of visitors and great to catch up with good friends. Every time I come there's more that's been done by our wonderful volunteers. This time the Parker Parasol has wings and the Meteor has all its parts in place ready to be fitted back together. I forgot how big they are 😱 Exciting times ahead for next year when the other side of the Hangar should be finished. More planes to be started for restoration and hopefully we can display our Spitfire too!

19/10/2023

Fabulous little visit to the 'Airworld Aviation Museum' at Caernarfon today. Not big but packed with lots of displays and information. A nice T11 Vampire, a 'Flying Flea' and a wooden Spitfire amongst the static displays an also a 'Slingsby' Glider! Sound familiar? 😁 Lots of ideas about future displays for our own museum 🤔 A lovely cafe at the airport and good views of the Emergency Helicopters coming and going. Most definitely worth a visit.

09/10/2023

So does anyone know what happened to this? Quite interesting to find out!

27/08/2023

Some clips from this months open day.

26/08/2023

What pure joy 😍