RAF 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.
Museum staff and volunteers are actively engaged in conservation and restoration work; there is also a considerable store of artefacts awaiting urgent treatment. These major projects are expensive and great reliance is placed upon corporate and individual sponsorship for the necessary funding.
Source: RAF Museum Cosford
Information
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford tells the story of man's successes and failures in flying and missile development from the early days of aviation through two world wars to the present day.
It houses one of the largest aviation collections in the UK and one of the world's most comprehensive missile collections. You can examine more than forty different aeroplane engines, from the rotary used in early biplanes, to the jet engine which powers the modern Eurofighter. There is also a small collection of motor vehicles associated with both civil and military aircraft support. The Museum is based around four main hangers:
The story of the Cold War is therefore much larger than one of aviation alone; this national exhibition aims to inform and educate present and future generations about the immense threat posed to world peace and security during this significant period of the 20th century.
The museum's collection of transport and training aircraft consists of some of the largest and smallest machines flown by the Royal Air Force. Most are concentrated in Hangar 1 but others are displayed appropriately in other exhibitions.
Each advance in aircraft technology comes from a great deal of trial and error. InTest Flight you see the aircraft that were built to test a new theory or line of research. Most of these exhibits were produced in secrecy, often utilising components borrowed from other types. These were the machines that helped Britain open new frontiers of flight.
After the invention of the aeroplane as a controlled and powered machine its application by the Military became evident. From 1911, when it was first used in conflict, through the Great War and to the present day the Royal Air Force and its predecessors have operated flying machines in defence of our country and freedom. Explore War Planes.
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