The Helicopter Museum has an extensive collection of rotorcraft operating manuals, technical manuals, technical drawings, books, magazines, brochures, artefacts, film, photographic material, digital media etc collected over many years.

Many of these are unique and invaluable sources of historical data and research, as well as reference for aircraft preservation and restoration work carried out by the museum.

The archive office and air-conditioned storage rooms are housed in a 200 sq.m extension to the Conservation Hangar. The construction in 2008 was partially funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Prior to then material was stored in a variety of locations including a semi-derelict caravan.

The collection has grown considerably over the last 14 years and has become one of the largest collection of rotorcraft archives in the world. The storage racks and shelves have filled up and enlargement of the storage area with additional racks and storage is planned in 2023.

The Museum uses a MODES database system as the Collections Management System. Its software fulfills the UK Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) requirements and it is one of the most popular systems among UK museum and archive professionals.

Volunteers in the Archives Office catalogue details of all the items held into the MODES database so that they can be searched and retrieved.

- If you are researching historic rotorcraft and wish to consult or visit our archives

- or wish to discuss rotorcraft related objects which you possess and would like to be preserved for future generations

then please call the The Museum, on 01934-635227, or contact using the Contact Form.