Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection Come and sit in fast jet cockpits! Telling the story of flight & flight testing in the South Wiltshire & Wessex region. 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.

Latest edition of New Bites now available....https://mcusercontent.com/f48ffd11f2e8b5a46f9c0b246/files/21a632d6-3f5a-ccf...
04/09/2026

Latest edition of New Bites now available....

https://mcusercontent.com/f48ffd11f2e8b5a46f9c0b246/files/21a632d6-3f5a-ccf2-2bd7-d654022825a0/NB_32.pdf

02/09/2026

Another installment of Workshop Wednesday!

Here is our Engineering Manager, Andy, talking about the ongoing work with Hawk XX343 following the cockpit section being mated to a donor fuselage and tail section a few weeks ago.

Do you want to be part of our Kings Award-winning team and contribute to preserving Britain's unique aviation heritage? Send us a message to get involved! We'd love to hear from you. 😀

We hope all of our followers are enjoying the long Bank Holiday weekend! How could it get better?! Well, the BDAC shall ...
30/08/2026

We hope all of our followers are enjoying the long Bank Holiday weekend! How could it get better?! Well, the BDAC shall be open tomorrow from 10:00-17:00hrs (16:00 last entry)!

Visit our historic WW1-built hangars here at Old Sarum and learn all about flight and flight test in the South Wiltshire and Wessex region, from early bird aviation pioneers on Salisbury Plain to modern fast jets, and everything in-between! There's something for everyone here..

More info available on our website --> https://boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk/plan-your-visit/

Less than a week to go until our Aerojumble 2026 event, now in it's 14th year! We have a sell-out for stall holders this...
29/08/2026

Less than a week to go until our Aerojumble 2026 event, now in it's 14th year! We have a sell-out for stall holders this year which means there's even more aviation memorabilia, parts, equipment, art and flying clothing available for all our lovely visitors to peruse and purchase!

· Sale of Aviation and militaria items (aircraft parts, instruments, kits, models, books, uniforms you name it).
· Earlybirds access from 08:30.
· Earlybird tickets are available in advance and on the day and cost £15 including entrance to the museum.
· The public allowed access from 10:00am at our normal entry prices.

Link to the Facebook event with all the latest updates is here:

--> https://fb.me/e/66pxmvMRq

We look forward to seeing you all next Saturday at our historic hangars here at Old Sarum Airfield.

26/08/2026

Visit Salisbury's best kept secret, the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection. SP46DZ

It wasn't a great time to take photos due to the lens flare but the volunteer team working on Hunter XF375 have now appl...
24/08/2026

It wasn't a great time to take photos due to the lens flare but the volunteer team working on Hunter XF375 have now applied the first coat of primer onto the fuselage. Further coats will follow along with a final fine sanding before the first coat of paint can go on!

Workshop Wednesday update! The team that is restoring Hawk XX343 have been incredibly busy these past few weeks, and the...
19/08/2026

Workshop Wednesday update!

The team that is restoring Hawk XX343 have been incredibly busy these past few weeks, and the day came yesterday that a donor fuselage was mated to the original cockpit outside our hangar complex. It is envisioned that a donor wing and tail assembly will be installed onto the airframe in due course. Space inside the Museum is now a premium hotter than the London property market..!

With many thanks to Guyatts Metals for their generosity in supporting the ongoing restoration work!

We're open and ready to greet you all to our historic WW1-built Grade-listed hangars here at Old Sarum. Come and experie...
15/08/2026

We're open and ready to greet you all to our historic WW1-built Grade-listed hangars here at Old Sarum. Come and experience the sights, sounds and smells of historic aviation in the Wiltshire and Wessex region. Our last entry today is 15:00hrs.

Today BDAC Remembers the First RFC Casualties of World War One - 12th August 1914. This evening members of BDAC's Royal ...
12/08/2026

Today BDAC Remembers the First RFC Casualties of World War One - 12th August 1914.

This evening members of BDAC's Royal Flying Corps team will pay their respects to Air Mechanic 1st Class Raymond Keith Barlow, 112 years on from his fateful crash at Netheravon and thus sadly becoming the first Royal Flying Corps casualty of World War One, alongside his pilot 2/Lt Robert Skene.

Air Mechanic Barlow's military service record shows that he enlisted for the Royal Flying Corps at Lincoln on 28th August 1912 as an Air Mechanic, and was given the service number 331, a very early recruit. He joined the force at South Farnborough two days later and there he completed his apprenticeship. He was appointed as Air Mechanic 1st Class in July 1913 and served with 3 Squadron, stationed at Netheravon in Wiltshire. ‘Flight’ magazine reports that he was taken up on several flights between January and October 1913 as a passenger with 3 Squadron pilots.

When war broke out in August 1914, 3 Squadron was one of the first four RFC squadrons chosen to be sent to France in support of the British Expeditionary Force. Before setting off on his flight to the front that was soon to prove fatal, Barlow wrote some letters home to his family. The text of a letter to his grandparents was published in the Altrincham, Bowdon & Hale Guardian, 18th August 1914:

‘I believe we are going to the front on Friday August 7th so I am sending you a line to let you know. I am quite satisfied with everything, and do not regret the Corps in the least, as I should have gone out in any case. If I don’t come back it’ll not matter much. A few years make very little difference when all is said. The only thing I regret is I cannot see you before I go. Must conclude now. Trusting we shall meet again. Keith’.

BDAC will continue to commemorate these brave airmen and ensure their legacy is not forgotten.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

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 - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441722323636

Website

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