About us
The Royal Air Force Museum (RAFM) tells the story of British aviation, from early bi-planes to the latest strike-jets. It is based on two sites - Colindale in North London, and Cosford in Shropshire, and is free to visit.
Royal Air Force Museum, London
The Museum is situated on the site of the original London Aerodrome, used for the great Hendon Air Shows between the two World Wars. Five mammoth buildings contain over a hundred aircraft, artefacts, aviation memorabilia, fine art and photographs covering the history of aviation from early balloon flights to the latest jet fighters.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight, the Royal Air Force Museum expanded the site by a third and opened two new exhibition halls.
A Milestones of Flight Exhibition traces the history of the first century of powered flight and some of the most important Royal Air Force aircraft are displayed, along with classics from the USA, Germany, Japan and France.
Once part of the original Grahame-White Aircraft Factory, the building was dismantled and moved to the Museum site and completely restored. In its new position, the Grahame-White Factory truly complements the new Milestones of Flight Exhibition building and the other exhibition halls. The Museum has created a time warp back to the early days of aviation, by featuring many of its oldest aircraft.
Younger visitors are encouraged to experiment with interactive exhibits in the Aeronauts Interactive Centre. An upper floor allows visitors to overlook the Historic Hangars and specially constructed platforms enable visitors to get up close to the aircraft.
Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford
The Museum’s aim is to preserve an important part of Britain’s national aviation heritage and to display it for future generations. At Cosford we have collections of artefacts unique in the world.
The War Plane Collection includes British, German, American, Japanese and Argentinian aircraft, all with an important place in the development of military aviation.
Cosford’s Missile Collection includes unique, early German experimental missiles. The collection charts the history of this type of weapon from early concrete and wooden examples to today’s state-of-the-art technology.
The Transport & Training Aircraft Collection is home to Royal Air Force transport aircraft, which relate the fascinating story of passenger and freight-carrying by air.
The jewel in the Museum’s inventory is undoubtedly the Research & Development Aircraft Collection featuring some of the World’s most exotic aircraft.
There are over fifty Aero Engines on display here too, and a small Vehicle Collection relating to aviation history.