Solent Sky Museum showcases the history of aviation in Southampton and Solent area. Geographically this area was the most important area in the country, if not the world, for aircraft experimental and development work between 1908 and the late 1960s, the most famous being the Spitfire. We have 18 aircraft of various types, including the Spitfire and S6b. Our Engine Bay also has a good selection of engines. We welcome people aboard the Sandringham Flying Boat; and why not take a tour onto the flight deck. Or you can imagine that you are flying the Swift or Harrier Jump Jet while sitting in the cockpit.
What an amazing day on Monday, taking Laurie Loveless up in a Spitfire for the adventure of a lifetime! Thanks to Southampton International Airport and Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar for their support. We're giving away FREE TICKETS to fly in a Spitfire to all Southampton residents for next year's flight... Visit Solent Sky for your chance to win! Thanks to Trevor Morecraft for these pictures - check our page for loads more photos from the event!
Coverage of today's prize Spitfire flight on ITV... Tickets for this year's Fly In A Spitfire draw are now available at Solent Sky FREE to all Southampton residents!
A man from Hampshire has fulfilled his "boyhood dream" of flying in a Spitfire after winning a raffle. Laurie Lawless from Hedge End, near Southampton, took to the skies above the city which created the iconic aircraft 83 years ago. The flypast was part of a week of events celebrating Southampton Ai...
Laurie's return from a wonderful flight
Take off
Take off
Laurie Loveless winner watching briefing
Spitfire arriving at Southampton Airport
SPITFIRE FLIGHT FROM SOUTHAMPTON TODAY: Keep an eye on the skies at approximately 12:30 when Solent Sky's first Spitfire Legend flight winner Mr L Loveless takes off from Southampton Airport in a 2-seat Spitfire from Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. If you live in Southampton visit Solent Sky to collect you free ticket for a chance to win a flight in a Spitfire! Please note: There is no public access to the airport to see the Spitfire, but watch the skies around 12:30 to see it in flight.
This article about Solent Sky in Thebigissue's by school students Alfie Wain (13) and Callum Bowers (14) is amazing - thanks for the great review, guys! Saints Foundation
Commemorating the heroes of 1944 #dday75
#DDay75 heroes commemorated at Solent Sky by Steve Alcock.
With the D-DAY Commemorations beginning in Portsmouth, this week saw Spitfires fly over the white cliffs of Dover to Mark the 75th anniversary.
The eyes of the world will be focusing on the naval city as they welcome several heads of state, including US President Donald Trump.
But what part did Southampton play in D-DAY?
To find out we went to look at the history of the Spitfire at the Solent Sky Museum, which was built in the maritime city.
One of our historians Steve Alcock recording interviews with That's TV Solent as part of #Southampton's #DDay75 celebrations this week.
School holidays coming up again! Looks like we'll have to print more quiz sheets for the kids...
Check out this great Solent Sky promo film made by local student Grace Davis!
People visit Solent Sky from far and wide! Today we're welcoming Wallingford U3A.
Beaulieu Motor Museum 100 club visiting Solent Sky Museum this evening
Become a volunteer at Solent Sky and help the next generation learn about our aviation heritage! Contact us at [email protected] - we'd love to hear from you!
Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Trust Collection
So, what have the Boys Club been up to at the museum this week?? After a refurb of the magneto on the ex-Droxford trailer pump, they achieved sufficient spark for a firing! This vintage pump has been a labour of love for the Thursday Crew as they try and get it back to a working order, assisted by copious amounts of tea, some blue language, more than a few plasters and the occasional yelling of BANG! in moments of close delicate work to the mechanism! There’s also a rumour that even our Phil was spotted working......!
This trailer has done sterling service over the years, taking mobile exhibitions around the country. Now with help from our friends at the Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Collection it will have a new lease of life!
Also getting the DIY-SOS treatment at the moment is the new exhibition trailer. Looking forward to seeing the transformation on this! Check in and see the progress 😀
Facebook hive-mind, we need your help! Solent Sky is planning a big project about the Spitfire in 2020. We have in our archive a splendid set of cartoons depicting life in Southampton during the war which we would love to use for the project. Unfortunately we can find no informaition about their origins. Who made them? What publication did they appear in? The top right corner of each page reads 'Chris Buswell' - does anyone know how we can contact him? Additionally, the first two pages of this series are sadly missing! Does anyone have a full set? Any information you can provide will be much appreciated. #southampton #spitfire #history
Another #bankholiday is fast approaching - bring the kids to Solent Sky in #Southampton for cockpits, quizzes and fun!
Precision engineering... ?
Nearly got the engine working, Fingers crossed!
We're not just about aeroplanes at Solent Sky - our workshops are full of weird and wonderful contraptions being made ready for public display!
Volunteers working to restore a WW2 Fire Trailer Pump today
Solent Sky Museum
Solent Sky will be OPEN throughout Easter - bring the family and experience the glamour of flying boat travel, the excitement of Schneider racing seaplanes, and the legend of the Spitfire!
Solent Sky will be OPEN throughout Easter - bring the family and experience the glamour of flying boat travel, the excitement of Schneider racing seaplanes, and the legend of the Spitfire!
Bring the kids to the birthplace of the Spitfire for a fun day with fighter cockpits, quizzes, prizes, and 20 aeroplanes all crammed in one hangar... How did we ever fit them all in?!?
Solent Sky is No.1 for cockpits - where else in the world can you sit in a Harrier jump jet, a Supermarine Swift and Sandringham flying boat all in the same day? Come on down and keep the kids occupied!
We're ready for 17 days of Easter Hols madness - Come and visit Solent Sky and join in the fun!
Pictured are Pat and Roy Osborne who have just selected the winner of the Spitfire Legend draw! We are delighted to announce that the winner of the "Fly in a Spitfire" prize is ticket number 278, Mr L Loveless of Hedge End, Southampton. The winning ticket was drawn on 1st April at 12 noon at Solent Sky Museum. Congratulations to Mr Loveless, and don't worry if you didn't win - the next Spitfire Legend draw will be held soon!
New signs emphasising SOUTHAMPTON'S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE being fitted at Solent Sky today - we're proud to be local and independent!
Our visitors are sometimes inspired to do weird and wonderful things by the aeroplanes they see at the museum - check out this amazing 3-foot-long balloon Spitfire! :D
A Spitfire soaring through the clouds! This one was a nice challenge! 🛩
Great to meet That's Solent TV today to talk about how important the Spitfire is to Southampton's history, and about YOU can fly in a Spitfire too!
Now if you live in Southampton, you've got a chance of a lifetime to fly in a Spitfire!
It's all being put on by the Solent Sky Museum, as they aim to celebrate the city, and one of it's most famous creations!
Are you a Southampton resident? There's only a few weeks left to collect you free ticket to fly in a Spitfire - visit www.spitfirelegend.com for more details!
The best photograph ever taken of a Spitfire cockpit!
Have you got your ticket to fly in a Spitfire yet? All residents of SO postcodes are eligible for our free Fly In A Spitfire prize draw - visit Solent Sky today for your ticket to a dream!
www.spitfirelegend.com
How a Spitfire is made - in the 21st century!
Video by Airframe Assemblies across the water at Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight.
A short video created for the Sandown Airfield Museum, filmed right here at Airframe Assemblies Ltd, showing the detailed work we put into the production of the Spitfire parts we build. All work carried out by our skilled apprentice.
Today is Douglas Bader's birthday. Here is our small tribute to Douglas at Solent Sky:
Kids bored already in half term? Bring them to Solent Sky for a fun-packed time!
All Southampton residents get a free ticket to our FLY IN A SPITFIRE prize draw!
2019 marks 100 years since Supermarine Channels began the world's first international flying boat service from Southampton. This small and simple aircraft was exported around the world and performed a dazzling variety of roles including civil, military, oil prospecting, and the discovery of a previously unknown mountain range!
Don't forget to pick up your free FLY IN A SPITFIRE ticket from Solent Sky this week if you live in a Southampton postcode!
www.spitfirelegend.com
Say hello to Reggie, the Solent Sky mascot! Thanks to everyone who came up with brilliant suggestions for naming him :D
Don't forget to collect your FLY IN A SPITFIRE ticket from Solent Sky if you live in an SO postcode!
www.spitfirelegend.com
Remember: If you live in an "SO" postcode, you are eligible for our free FLY IN A SPITFIRE prize draw!
Pop into Solent Sky today to pick up your ticket to a dream!
www.spitfirelegend.com
SUMPAC - the world's first man powered aircraft - is one of our most interesting and unusual exhibits. Stay tuned for more news on our man powered flight simulator!
The Integration team have been working very closely with the Solent Sky Museum on their new Human Powered Aircraft Simulator. Along with building the nose cone, we enjoy helping out with other points of manufacture.
Alec Proudfoot, Chief Designer of the DaSH Human Powered Aircraft has also been a great contributor to the construction. Last Sunday, a few of our members went down to the museum to see the progress of the simulator and to update them on our progress.
Image: Robert from the Integration team working with the Arudino microcontroller along with Alec Proudfoot
Some of may have noticed Solent Sky has a new mascot to promote our free fly-in-a Spitfire prize for Southampton residents. He needs a name - any suggestions???
www.spitfirelegend.com
Live in Southampton?
FLY IN A SPITFIRE!
This year Solent Sky will give a Southampton resident the ultimate adventure - visit www.spitfirelegend.com for your ticket to a dream!
Get ready: Tomorrow at 10am we're launching our new project - The wait is un-BEAR-able! 😉
Solent Sky has an exciting project this year for all Southampton residents – “Bear” with us while we make our final preparations for launch! (There's a big clue in this picture 😁 )
Albert Rd South
Southampton
SO14 3FR
| Monday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 17:00 |
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Take off
Take off
Spitfire arriving at Southampton Airport
Check out this great Solent Sky promo film made by local student Grace Davis!
If you’ve seen the film Spitfire (2018) here is a chance to meet the team behind the film. Solent Sky Museum has teamed up the National Motor Museum to present an exclusive viewing of the film. Founder and Chairman of ‘British Film Company’, Steve Milne, along with Co-Directors David Fairhead and Anthony Palmer, will present this striking and poignant feature documentary and will be available afterwards to sign the Companion book on the making of the film. Find out more at https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/spitfire/ Images Copyright John M Dibbs Thanks to Elliptical Wing Productions.
Preservation work begins on the world's first man-powered aircraft "SUMPAC" at Solent Sky.
Supermarine Swift arriving at Solent Sky!
It's like witchcraft! 3D scanning artefacts from our Supermarine archive with isodo3d
Where else can you see Morris dancing next to a Sea Vixen? Lots of fun with Wickham Morris on Mayday at Solent Sky!
We invite you to Solent Sky Aviation Museum on 29 November 2017, between 14:00-17:00, for the launch of Michael Smith's amazing new book, Voyage of the Southern Sun. On the same day our new Romance of the Flying Boat Exhibition officially opens.
Have you bought your Spitfire flight raffle tickets yet? Here's last year's winner enjoying his flight of a lifetime! Visit Solent Sky's website for more information on how to get your tickets! http://www.solentskymuseum.org/raffle
Video: Coming Soon to Solent Sky - The Hampshire Fire and Police Exhibition. Check our website for updates on this exciting collection! www.solentskymuseum.org
Hythe Pier Heritage Association - HPHA
Hythe SO45 6AG
