Weston Aviation Exhibition

Included in your Museum admission price is entry to the Weston Aviation Exhibition where inside visitors will find the story of Weston-super-Mare’s famous aviation past.

This is located in the former pilots block from Weston airfield in which there are displays telling the history of the site and flying activities at Weston-Super-Mare.

The site is watched over by our own Bloodhound Mk.2 Missile. Its rocket engines were manufactured by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in their nearby Banwell factory. The missile would clear its launcher at 400mph and reach Mach 2.5 - around 1800mph - 3 seconds after launch.

Learn about

  • The fascinating history of aviation around Weston-super-Mare and watch a video presentation.
  • The pioneer flyers who flew their biplanes and gave displays from the 'Sands' aerodrome on Weston seafront.
  • Weston Airport which was one of the busiest in the country in the 1930's. You could have tea on the terrace and stroll out to the planes for flights across the water to Cardiff, Birmingham, Bournemouth and even on to Paris.
  • The factories by the airfield at Oldmixon and Banwell which made Beaufighter aircraft during WW2
  • The secret Torpedo Development unit based at the airfield which tested torpedoes in the Bristol Channel.
  • The history of RAF Locking which was one of the largest training camps in the country.
  • Bristol Helicopters and Westlands who designed, manufactured and repaired helicopters here at Weston.

 

View the inside of the former control tower via an interactive camera.

Listen to live Air traffic Information from Bristol airport, practice your Morse code, and see live aircraft data on a radar display.

Kids can dress up, and try the PC based WW2 air combat simulator.