Gatwick Aviation Museum
View plus logo of Hangar at Gatwick Aviation Museum
Gatwick Aviation Museum is located in Surrey
Gatwick Aviation Museum
Location within Surrey
Established1987 (1987), re-opened in 2016 (2016)
LocationVallance By-Ways, Lowfield Heath Road, Charlwood, Surrey, RH6 0BT
Coordinates51°9′10.32″N 0°13′3.74″W / 51.1528667°N 0.2177056°W / 51.1528667; -0.2177056
FounderPeter Vallance
Websitewww.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk

The Gatwick Aviation Museum is located in the village of Charlwood, in Surrey, United Kingdom on the boundary of Gatwick Airport.

History

Originally started in 1987 as a private collection by local businessman Peter Vallance, the museum became a registered charity in 1999[1] with the objective of providing awareness of local aviation history and as an educational centre for the general public, particularly for local students and schoolchildren. A close relationship exists between the museum and the Central Sussex College which uses the museum's facilities to provide practical training for the students taking aerospace courses.[2] On 14 January 2013, Vallance died during heart surgery and, since then, the museum has been run by a charitable trust set up by Vallance to cover this eventuality.[3]

The museum has a varied collection of aircraft, aircraft engines and over 500 aircraft models. The museum also has displays and artefacts related to local aviation history particularly Gatwick Airport. Aircraft on display include the Avro Shackleton MR3, Blackburn Buccaneer S1, English Electric Lightning F.53 and Percival Sea Prince.[4]

In 2016, the new museum building first opened to the public.[5][6] It houses many aircraft formerly kept outdoors although others in the collection, including some noteworthy examples, were disposed of by the trust in 2013.[7] A shop, refreshment area, flight simulator and information on the history of Gatwick Airport can also be found in the building. The museum is open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.[8][9]

Vallance By-Ways airstrip

Vallance By‐Ways was a grass air strip in the grounds of the Gatwick Aviation Museum. The 465 m-long strip was c. 600 m north of and roughly parallel to the main runway at Gatwick Airport.[10]

Aircraft on Display

Outside

The Buccaneer S.1 outside the Gatwick Aviation Museum
The Sea Vixen, Hunter T.7, Harrier GR3 and Lightning F.53.
Accessible Canberra Nose Section

Indoors

Nose Sections/Cockpits

Engines on Display

The General Electric CF6 turbo-fan gas turbine outside the museum.
Some of the engines on display.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Charity Commission".
  2. ↑ "Owner of Gatwick Aviation Museum 'ready to fight' for new buildings". Surrey Mirror. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Gatwick aviation museum plan appeal dismissed". Redhill and Reigate Life. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Museum Website".
  5. ↑ "Planning permission secured for new Gatwick Aviation Museum building in the Green Belt". Bell Cornwell LLP. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Gatwick aviation museum to reopen after its owner died". Sussex World. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "GALLERY: Inside the new Gatwick Aviation Museum in Charlwood". 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "News and Newsletters - Gatwick Aviation Museum". www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  9. ↑ Christy, O'Brien (14 October 2022). "Museum on Gatwick's doorstep that is the perfect place for plane spotting". Surrey Live. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "N116KY : EW/G2011/07/01" (PDF). AAIB. November 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
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