Our purpose is to tell the story of the R.A.F through its people and collections. Our ambition is to ensure that the R.A.F's story endures. Our purpose is to tell the story of the Royal Air Force through its people and collections.
- For our visitors, we make our collections and the RAF story relevant and stimulating
- For current and former RAF personnel and their families, we preserve, honour and share the stories of their service
- For our nation, we help people to understand the impact of the RAF in the world
Our ambition is to ensure that the Royal Air Force's story endures and enriches future generations.
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The Museum occupies two public sites at Colindale in North London, and Cosford in Shropshire, West Midlands. Each site offers a unique experience to the visitor and the exhibits complement each other. Both Museums are free to enter and tell the story of the people who moulded the world of aviation from the daredevil early aviators to wartime heroes and the thousands of ordinary Service men and women who have served in the RAF and whose contribution has shaped the world that we live in today.
Operating as usual
New for London's reopening, behind the barriers tours that explore our collections. Choose between First World War Flying Machines, our Battle of Britain Fighter Four or Cold War Machines. Each tour lasts an hour, charges apply. For further info visit:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/tours/
Watch Lauren Learns History visiting the RAF Museum. She meets a Spitfire pilot ready to scramble, and learns what it was like to be a pilot during the Battle of Britain. Lucky Lauren even gets to sit in a real Spitfire!
And after that, both went to our outdoor playground for a fun time!
Watch Lauren's video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bimzd9KyC6g and have a look at what is waiting for you when you come to visit us later this month! Reserve your place on our website, it's as easy as 1, 2, 3 https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/
Zoom Through History @Museum_Lads @laurenandthestorybox
Ever wondered what life was like as a spitfire pilot in WW2? Ever wondered what a spitfire looks like up close and inside?Ian and I were lucky enough to work...
#OnThisDay in 1936 : RAF Training Command is formed, pooling all the RAF flying and ground training assets in one organisation. RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command were formed a few weeks later.
In 1977 it was absorbed into RAF Support Command.
We have really missed our regular Little Swifts sessions (for children aged 2-5 years) so we thought we’d share a new Little Swifts song and story time video with you.
Enjoy 'the Seahorse and the Starfish'! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwkbCwNWtU0
and last week's video https://t.co/k73VI5QVPb
Get ready for take-off! Both our London and Cosford sites will be reopening to the public at 10:00am on 17 May. Book your free timed entry now by visiting https://t.co/YdU3dyqt0u We can't wait to welcome you back. https://t.co/Siy4oZuH5G
Our NEW outdoor playground at Cosford is ready for take-off!
Following months of closure, the RAF Museum Cosford is preparing to reopen its doors to visitors on Monday 17 May, with the addition of a brand-new family friendly outdoor interactive area. Families visiting the Museum will have the added excitement of an RAF themed playground to explore, along with huge hangars packed full of aircraft.
The Museum has used the closure period to complete work on the outdoor playground, designed to introduce its youngest visitors to the RAF, by inspiring and engaging with them through play. Children and young people who dream of becoming pilots and ground crew alike, can roleplay as they delve into the new bespoke airfield-inspired playground, complete with a mock control tower, mini hangar and even aircraft to climb onboard.
The new playground will offer an interactive RAF experience like no other, from physical training instructor stations, air traffic control, through to refuelling missions. Packed full of interactive activities including audio posts and playful information panels, children and young people can learn about the RAF while they play. Of course, no playground would be complete without a slide and climbing frame, these features have been incorporated into the bespoke Handley Page Victor.
Pre-book your free tickets to test fly our new RAF themed playground from 17 May onwards: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/
The RAF Museum in partnership with Northrop Grumman in the UK is on the lookout for Britain’s brightest STEM students to take part in an exciting new competition to be launched in May, for Year 9 Students.
Each school team will compete against others in a series of STEM challenges posted online, with the chance to win a two-day residential experience at RAF Cosford later this year.
The new STAAR programme will consist of six STEM challenges that will be released over a number of weeks, with each challenge aligned to the national curriculum to form an overall mission.
Students will be part of an elite team called upon to monitor earthquakes and volcanoes, provide aid to citizens, assess the damage to national communications, transport and power and help the elected Government of a UK ally to maintain civil control of the country after a series of natural disasters.
For more info and to sign up your STEM STAARs for this thrilling opportunity please visit: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/search-for-uks-brightest-stem-students/
This year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Lancaster. Our virtual Lancaster Challenge event has seen more than 5,000 participants from around the world using the Challenge as motivation to keep moving during lockdown, to show support for the RAF Museum and to learn more about the Lancaster through our ‘Legacy of the Lancaster’ talk.
With less than a month to go until the Challenge closes on 17 May, the anniversary of the Lancaster’s famous Operation Chastise, better known as the Dambusters Raid, we are taking a look back at not one, not two, but three Lancaster 360 images we have shared over the last year.
Today we are taking you onboard the Avro Lancaster 1 on display in Hangar 5 at the RAF Museum London, with three 360 images for you to explore. Look around the cockpit, rear turret and Bomb Aimer positions.
The Avro Lancaster was arguably the most famous, and certainly the most successful heavy bomber operated by the RAF during the Second World War. It’s impressive performance and excellent flying characteristics soon established its superiority over its rivals. Lancaster’s not only made a major contribution to Bomber Command’s night offensive on Germany, it also assisted in turning the tide of the great land battles of 1944 during tactical daylight operations in the Caen region.
If you missed the ‘Legacy of the Lancaster’ talk when it first aired, you can now view it on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fbdy7_Du1o
If you’re taking part in the Lancaster Challenge, why not join the RAF Museum Virtual Running Group page and hear some of the incredible stories our participants are sharing about their connections to the Lancaster, as they work towards their 80K, 150K and 500K target. https://www.facebook.com/groups/RAFMVirtualRunning
You can learn more about the Lancaster, and other aircraft within our collection on our website www.rafmuseum.org.
Did you know that many of our aircraft have a 'first aid' compartment? They are used for emergencies in case the aircraft has to make an emergency landing and the pilot or crew are injured.
What is in these, I hear you ask. Well, during one of their inspections of the aircraft in the Museum, volunteers Tim Bracey and his colleagues unlocked the panel on our Hawker Tempest TT5.
As part of an annual check, they regularly open panels to check for corrosion and other conservation issues. The panels and hinges are often difficult to open as the screws, fasteners etc can be seized up. But luckily for the volunteers, the Tempest's first aid panel was easy.
Not expecting to find anything, they were surprised to find a small canvas bag inside, attached to the rear of the panel. The kit inside was in perfect condition. The date of the bandages was 1956 and still ready to use. As the #Hawker #Tempest TT5 last flew in 1955, it is probably that it was added later, possibly when the Tempest was being refurbished in 1968. Someone may have found the first aid kit and decided to add it to the aircraft.
Within the bag was an assortment of first aid items – medicines, bandages, burns dressings and scissors in waxed paper, along with a sheet containing details of the contents, their purpose and directions for their use. The panel also gave access to the Tempest’s radio equipment and a view into the rear fuselage.
Tim then went to proceed and look at some German #WW2 aircraft and identified several first aid panels. Have a look at the photographs our amazing volunteers have made of our aircraft.
The #Museum is very empty without you. We cannot wait to welcome you back next month so you can see our aircraft for yourself.
The inaugural Forces in STEM event will take place at the RAF Museum Cosford on 29 September 2021, in partnership with Royal Air Force Youth Engagement Team and supported by Learn by Design.
This interactive day of all things STEM will feature companies and institutions that are innovating, researching, and manufacturing across the STEM spectrum. Exhibitors include Leonardo, Raytheon, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Meggitt, Thales and many more!
Ahead of the event in September, we will be sharing online STEM challenges every fortnight, provided by one of our Forces in STEM exhibitors, for students to complete either at school or at home. These challenges will include an introductory video, an accompanying resource/activity sheet, and finally a solution video.
#ForcesInSTEM - CHALLENGE 1:
Our first STEM challenge provided by Meggitt is now live on our website. Try your hand at building a rocket and achieving lift off! Propel yourselves over to our Forces in STEM page on our website to find out more! https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/schools-and-colleges/forces-in-stem/
Don’t forget to share your challenge progress with us! #ForcesInSTEM
Forces in STEM activities and event is aimed at students in Years 5 & 6 and Years 7 & 8. Visit our website for more info.
Forces in STEM event at RAF Museum Cosford
We have really missed our regular Little Swifts sessions (for children aged 2-5 years) so we thought we’d share a new Little Swifts song and story time video with you. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6sq8y3BR_8
We have really missed our regular Little Swifts sessions (for children aged 2-5 years) so we thought we’d share a new Little Swifts song and story time video with you. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6sq8y3BR_8
The RAF Museum in partnership with Northrop Grumman in the UK is on the lookout for Britain’s brightest STEM students to take part in an exciting new competition to be launched in May, for Year 9 Students.
Each school team will compete against others in a series of STEM challenges posted online, with the chance to win a two-day residential experience at RAF Cosford later this year.
The new STAAR programme will consist of six STEM challenges that will be released over a number of weeks, with each challenge aligned to the national curriculum to form an overall mission.
Students will be part of an elite team called upon to monitor earthquakes and volcanoes, provide aid to citizens, assess the damage to national communications, transport and power and help the elected Government of a UK ally to maintain civil control of the country after a series of natural disasters.
For more info and to sign up your STEM STAARs for this thrilling opportunity please visit https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/search-for-uks-brightest-stem-students/
#RAF #RoyalAirForce #STEM #STAAR #NorthropGrumman #RAFM #RoyalAirForceMuseum #Schools #SchoolsCompetition #TabletAcademy
The RAF Museum in partnership with Northrop Grumman in the UK is on the lookout for Britain’s brightest STEM students to take part in an exciting new competition to be launched in May, for Year 9 Students.
Each school team will compete against others in a series of STEM challenges posted online, with the chance to win a two-day residential experience at RAF Cosford later this year.
The new STAAR programme will consist of six STEM challenges that will be released over a number of weeks, with each challenge aligned to the national curriculum to form an overall mission.
Students will be part of an elite team called upon to monitor earthquakes and volcanoes, provide aid to citizens, assess the damage to national communications, transport and power and help the elected Government of a UK ally to maintain civil control of the country after a series of natural disasters.
For more info and to sign up your STEM STAARs for this thrilling opportunity please visit https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/search-for-uks-brightest-stem-students/
#RAF #RoyalAirForce #STEM #STAAR #NorthropGrumman #RAFM #RoyalAirForceMuseum #Schools #SchoolsCompetition #TabletAcademy
Although our doors are currently closed you can still join us online at 6pm this Thursday for a fascinating free talk by KS Nair on 'The Indian Air Force in the Second World War' For further info, and to book your free place please visit: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-the-indian-air-force-in-the-secon/
Although our doors are currently closed you can still join us online at 6pm this Thursday for a fascinating free talk by KS Nair on 'The Indian Air Force in the Second World War' For further info, and to book your free place please visit: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-the-indian-air-force-in-the-secon/
A statement from our CEO on the passing of our Royal Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh:
It is with great sadness that we learn of the news of the passing of our Royal Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness has been a passionate supporter of the Royal Air Force Museum since its inception in the late 1960s, assisting with our development and visiting us a number of times over the years in both an official and unofficial capacity. Privately HRH was always interested the Museum’s progress and he was a staunch advocate for the Museum publicly, particularly when we needed support for our major projects.
As a Marshal of the Royal Air Force, His Royal Highness guided us with his knowledge, experience and expertise.
Our sadness at this time is shared by people across the globe, as we remember with affection and gratitude the service given by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
If you would like to send a message of condolence to The Royal Family , Buckingham Palace have set up an electronic Book of Condolence at https://www.royal.uk/condolence
Although our doors are currently closed you can still join us online at 6pm today for a fascinating free talk on 'Taming Eagles: Disarming the Luftwaffe, 1945-1948' by Chris Rogers. For further info, please visit: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-disarming-the-luftwaffe/
Although our doors are currently closed you can still join us online at 6pm today for a fascinating free talk on 'Taming Eagles: Disarming the Luftwaffe, 1945-1948' by Chris Rogers. For further info, please visit: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-lecture-disarming-the-luftwaffe/
#ThrowbackThursday to 2005 when actor Colin Salmon, best known for roles in James Bond, Dr. Who and Alien Vs Predator, visited the RAF Museum London for a photoshoot.
Keep a look out each week as we share more #RAFMuseumMemories from both Cosford and London.
#TBT #TT #JamesBond #DrWho #Actor #ActorsLife #RAFMuseum
#ThrowbackThursday to 2005 when actor Colin Salmon, best known for roles in James Bond, Dr. Who and Alien Vs Predator, visited the RAF Museum London for a photoshoot.
Keep a look out each week as we share more #RAFMuseumMemories from both Cosford and London.
#TBT #TT #JamesBond #DrWho #Actor #ActorsLife #RAFMuseum
It’s no secret that the RAF developed their own distinctive language, those who have served will speak it fluently, but how well do you know your RAF Slang? Our weekly guide to understanding #RAFSlang and terminology will help you discover the meaning behind some of the phrases used frequently by the RAF throughout two World Wars, and even to the present day. This week it’s Queen Bee. The de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee, was an unmanned radio-controlled target drone, derived from the wooden fuselage of the DH.60 Gipsy Moth and the wings of the Tiger Moth II.
It’s no secret that the RAF developed their own distinctive language, those who have served will speak it fluently, but how well do you know your RAF Slang? Our weekly guide to understanding #RAFSlang and terminology will help you discover the meaning behind some of the phrases used frequently by the RAF throughout two World Wars, and even to the present day. This week it’s Queen Bee. The de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee, was an unmanned radio-controlled target drone, derived from the wooden fuselage of the DH.60 Gipsy Moth and the wings of the Tiger Moth II.
Grahame Park Way
London
NW9 5LL
The Royal Air Force Museum hosts a unique collection of iconic aircraft at two main sites, Colindale in North London and Cosford near Birmingham in the West Midlands. Admission and Parking to both sites are free, and both sites host throughout the year a series of free family orientated events. For further details, please visit the What's On section of our website www.rafmuseum.org.
| Monday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
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