Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Come and sit in fast jet cockpits! Telling the story of flight & flight testing at Boscombe Down We are NOT at Boscombe Down airfield.
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A facinating collection of whole aircraft, cockpits, models and artefacts for aircraft and weapons trials. Many of the cockpits are open for kids of all ages to climb in to. Please note - We are at Old Sarum Airfield on the outskirts of Salisbury.

The loaned Lancaster B1 Special replica PD130 is back in its original spot after attachment of the custom-made nose and ...
05/07/2025

The loaned Lancaster B1 Special replica PD130 is back in its original spot after attachment of the custom-made nose and painting to match the rest of the cockpit section.

The clear acrylic bomb aimer dome has been fixed in place, and the "SABS" stabilising bomb sight - perhaps the last of its type in the world on public display - has been installed into the nose from its original position alongside the cockpit section.

Want to come and walk through this aircraft and sit in Cold War Jets? We're open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-16:00hrs every week!

Come down tomorrow from 10:00AM and support our Stars Appeal - Salisbury District Hospital's Charity day! NHS workers wi...
04/07/2025

Come down tomorrow from 10:00AM and support our Stars Appeal - Salisbury District Hospital's Charity day! NHS workers with their ID get entry at £5 per head, with so many lovely craft stalls available plus lots of Cold War jets to sit in! Come and learn about aircraft production in Salisbury through the Secret Spitfires display, and pioneers of early aviation on Salisbury Plain during WW1.

Special NHS Day at BDAC this coming Saturday, 5th July!NHS staff special admission price of £5 per person when showing I...
30/06/2025

Special NHS Day at BDAC this coming Saturday, 5th July!

NHS staff special admission price of £5 per person when showing ID. There will be refreshments and craft stalls in the Museum to purchase their amazing wares, plus the rest of the Museum to tour around! Come and visit, doors open from 10:00AM.

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BDAC out and about!Last weekend BDAC's Marketing Director & Hawk XX154 owner Chris Hodson took our Harrier GR3 "back hom...
21/06/2025

BDAC out and about!

Last weekend BDAC's Marketing Director & Hawk XX154 owner Chris Hodson took our Harrier GR3 "back home" to Ham Common, Richmond, which is just down the road from where the Harrier was designed & built.

Throughout the day over 200 people viewed and sat in the cockpit, and we hope some of them will travel down to visit us in the hangar at Old Sarum and sit in even more aircraft!

Don't forget we are open tomorrow from 10:00AM. We look forward to seeing you all!

Earlier last week the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection was honoured to be involved in supporting the wreath-laying cere...
15/06/2025

Earlier last week the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection was honoured to be involved in supporting the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the Air Observation Post squadrons that formed at RAF Old Sarum during the Second World War.

The day was very well-attended by ex-AOP personnel including a detachment from 653 Squadron from AAC Middle Wallop with their Apache. Our own Auster MS968, flown by Lt Col Dickie Thrush, is housed in the hangars where the squadron originally formed in June 1942 before going onto great distinction during the Normandy Campaign into the Low Countries during and after D-Day in 1944.

We were privileged to host family members representing Lt Col Thrush at the event and for current serving personnel to learn in great detail the valiant service & sacrifice of the AOP squadrons at RAF Old Sarum and Lt Col Thrush's story flying MS968.

Photos reproduced with kind permission of Spencer Mulholland / Salisbury Journal.

The BDAC restoration team has been working hard over the past few weeks, here is the latest update on the Lancaster nose...
02/06/2025

The BDAC restoration team has been working hard over the past few weeks, here is the latest update on the Lancaster nose section which is to be mated to the fuselage section.

A few weeks ago BDAC was kindly offered an English wheel at a generous price which has been purchased to ensure the sheet metal work can be manufactured in-house. The English wheel has been repainted in a nice pistachio scheme by another of the restoration team, ready for the next workpiece..

Another Bank Holiday you say? That's correct! And we're open as well... Doors open 10:00hrs, final entry 16:00hrs. Come ...
26/05/2025

Another Bank Holiday you say? That's correct! And we're open as well... Doors open 10:00hrs, final entry 16:00hrs. Come and visit us and learn all about Salisbury's aviation history.

TRANSFER OF LIGHTNING P.1A WG763 TO BDAC - A Message from BDAC Project Director John Sharpe. ​On Monday 31 January 2022,...
12/05/2025

TRANSFER OF LIGHTNING P.1A WG763 TO BDAC - A Message from BDAC Project Director John Sharpe.

​On Monday 31 January 2022, English Electric P1A WG763 arrived at Old Sarum from the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

The aircraft, which was owned by the RAF Museum, had been loaned to BDAC as part of Hendon’s policy of sharing its collection with wider audiences. Following a period of negotiation, and recognizing the growth and stature of BDAC, the RAF Museum has generously decided to gift WG763 to BDAC.

​The necessary paperwork was completed on 6 May 2025 and the aircraft has now been added to the Collection’s growing list of assets.

Photo credit - SHPhotographic

Aerojumble - tomorrow! Early bird tickets are selling fast, £15 on the door or if you don't, our normal admission starts...
09/05/2025

Aerojumble - tomorrow! Early bird tickets are selling fast, £15 on the door or if you don't, our normal admission starts at 10:00hrs with standard entry prices.

The tables are all setup for tomorrow! Roll up roll up to buy the latest aviation memorabilia and aircraft part offerings from our stall holders...

Today we remember VE Day and all those who served to protect the freedoms we have today. The below photo was taken of RA...
08/05/2025

Today we remember VE Day and all those who served to protect the freedoms we have today. The below photo was taken of RAF Boscombe Down during wartime.

A clip from yesterday's action from the The Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes and Drums and St Andrews Pipe Band in front of ou...
05/05/2025

A clip from yesterday's action from the The Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes and Drums and St Andrews Pipe Band in front of our hangar - we hope you all enjoy!

Address

Hangar 1 North Old Sarum Airfield
Salisbury
SP46DZ

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441722323636

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