boscombe down aviation collection

It was a day trip for work, taking a group of disabled clients. It was a cold day but the staffs warm welcome soon helped us forget about the weather outside. Our guide had been in the RAF for along time so his knowledge was second to none. For each plane he allowed and helped the clients into the pilots seat. He then explained in detail about the plane, including personal stories about flying them.The team were happy to go at our pace and didn't even mind that we had a break for lunch in the middle of the tour. They were very happy to answer any questions we had and had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the planes and helicopters.The whole team could not do enough for the guys, they made them feel total at ease. Not only this but you are encouraged to have a go on the controls, it's a very hands on museum the likes of which I have never seen.I cannot recommend this place enough! Sitting in a jump jet or bomber has been one of the best experiances of a museum ever!

I went with my wife and 12 year old son and we had a great time. The staff have a great knowledge of the planes and you get to sit in the cock pit of most of the planes on display!!

I wish all days out were like this. The volunteers made it with their informing chat. Brilliant. The kids loved getting in all the cockpits.

I visited Boscombe Down with my wife and 5-year old daughter on a cold February Friday. Never have I been so pleasantly surprised by a museum - we had the time of our lives.The museum is located in 2 hangers on an active airfield, and being able to see real light aircraft taking off and landing as we walked up to the buildings just added to the atmosphere.Upon entering we paid £23 for the 3 of us and dived in. Basically the museum consists of about 20 cockpits of British military aircraft from the 1950s to the 80s. You can get into every one and pretend to be a pilot or navigator to your heart's content. All of the original switches, dials and lights are there and knowing you're sitting in the real deal made it such an immersive experience.There are plenty of very friendly volunteers who have either restored or flown the aircraft, so you couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable and interesting bunch of people to talk with.My daughter (and myself and my wife!) sat in every single cockpit and pressed just about every switch in all of them. You can even try on working headsets and we got a great photo of my daughter in a real fight suit and helmet.This is just the type of quirky locally-run hands-on museum that the UK does best and my daughter had the time of her life. We had to drag her away in the end.I can't say this enough - this is far better than any London museum, or Legoland, etc, due to the sheer ability to interact with all of the exhibits for as long as you want, with no queueing, and what exhibits! Whether or not you have an interest in aviation, if you're within 100 miles of Wiltshire come visit this museum, you and your kids will not be disappointed!

Loved this place! Hangars full of real planes (bombers, fighter jets, passenger planes) that you can actually climb into and sit in. Have a play with all the controls and take as long as you like. Very informative guides are around to explain if you need or want more information. This is what a museum should be. I hate flying, so this was by far my favourite experience involving planes. 5 year old daughter was enthralled throughout. Why aren't more museums like this? Beats the hanging planes in the Science Museum any day.The site sits next to a live runway where microlights and small planes take off and land all the time, so you can watch this afterwards too.

A great place for anyone to visit. We had a lots of fun and tried to pilot a plane in a training module. Different kind of planes are open and you can try to climb in and explore. Guides around the place are very helpful and show you which button is doing what. Although most of the planes are out of order, some of them are still in use, and some of them are just making some fun noises for children. And so we liked it :)

We visited this museum by air, landing at old Sarum airfield. This is a great way to go if you are a private pilot or know any! Otherwise the museum is accessible by road, not being far from Salisbury. The museum is set in two old Belfast aircraft themselves a part of Avaition history. It's run by volunteers who are all enthusiastic and friendly. The collection consists of about eight intact aircraft and a large number of aircraft cockpits. What is particularly nice about this museum is that most of the aircraft are open and nearly all the cockpits you can sit in. This is obviously very appealing to children. There is also plenty to see and read about mainly appertaining to boscombe down test flying and old Sarum airfield. Like most museums the length of your visit will depend on how much you study and read but we spend a good two hours in there and could have spent longer.A tip is if you are visiting in winter wrap up warm, there does not seem to be any heating!

If you are in the area and have an opportunity to visit this collection then don't hesitate, especially if you are an aviation enthusiast. Even if you are not (like some members of my family) everyone had a great visit. I was in email contact with Norm for a few months prior to our trip and he had arranged to open just for us!!! How amazing is that???? We spent 2+ hours being shown around the Collection and kids and adults alike were able to climb up and have a look inside many of the planes on site. The work that is being done at Boscombe by incredibly dedicated volunteers is huge and our guide, Norm, was very passionate with a great sense of humor which we all really enjoyed. This was a highlight of our time in Salisbury and we wouldn't have missed this opportunity for the world. Thank you Norm!! PS Do dress warmly.

Despite having lived in the area many years ago, I hadn't heard of this museum until I found it accidentally on Tripadvisor while writing a review for another of Salisbury's attractions. There are a limited number of things to do with small kids in the area, so this museum is a great addition to the region. In total contrast to most museums, the people running it cannot wait for you to get your hands on, in, and all over the exhibits. Almost all the cockpits have ladders up to them, and your kids won't make it more than a step or two up one before somebody appears eagerly insisting they try on a flying helmet and overalls . The printouts of information about the aircraft are a bit tired, but the whole point of this place is that if you ask any of the people that work there you'll probably learn more directly from them than you would reading about the exhibits anyway. The museum is staffed by people that have worked with aircraft for years, and their enthusiasm and interest makes the visit special. Well, actually that's great for the adults. If you're five and six, what makes the visit special is being able to sit at the controls of aircraft after aircraft, flicking switches, opening and closing throttles, rescuing, bombing, radioing, attacking, crashing and shrieking away in absolute joy until grandma's toes turn blue with the cold and your fingers are prised away from the joysticks. We'll be back.

We went here today and it was brilliant we took our 3 children who really enjoyed themselves, and for £23 it was a bargain. Most museums are a nightmare with kids but this one lets your children climb on the aircrafts, press buttons and generally run about. The guides were really fab with the children too, telling them about the planes and showing them what to do. The place is small so you would think that you wouldn't be there for long but it kept our lot entertained for a good hour and a half and would have stayed longer if they could have. Well worth a visit, a real gem!

Stopped by with some friends and children. Behind a slightly unpromising entrance lies a wonderful collection of aircraft and memorabilia. What set this apart was the fact the boys were encouraged to try on flying suits and helmets and hop in and out of the various cockpits - what 12 year old buy doesn't want to know how to start a Harrier?….. The switches work and the HUD lit up they were enthralled.The volunteer staff were knowledgeable, interested and friendly.

Having visited the collection, last week, and having come from Milton Keynes, We found the experience very enjoyable, a very warm welcome from the team. The Flight Simulator experience was very real, and allowing us in some other flight cockpit, which we couldn't get it any where else.This place has Choppers and Rolls Royce Engines as well.Special Thanks to Peter Bryant for his knowledge and the love towards aircraft's. Would love to visit again and would recommend a visit .

Having visited the collection, yesterday, and having come from the North West, I found the experience very enjoyable, not least the warm welcome from a dedicated team. The Link Trainer, one of only three working in the Uk, was a special treat " to fly in" as I have seen these from Wartime photos, in magazine articles. I had always wondered what the experience for trainee Pilots was like. The cockpit experience is alive and well here, and most are complete and have that authentic smell, that people who have been around these aircraft, when they were live, will recognise. My Father was a "Loadie" with D Sqn, circa 1982 -84, so this Museum was especially poignant for me. My Dad passed away in 2008, so Iwas keen to visit.I hope that this organisation goes from strength to strength, and I hope time is kind to those WW1 Belfast Truss hangars.Thankyou for a good experienceSimon Shackleford

BDAC at the Old Sarum Airfield is a definite worth if you enjoy aviation history. There are not many displays but don't get deceived by that. The ones that are in display are quite a treat for old and young alike and the volunteers are very helpful and at the same time leave you to see for yourselves what the controls and switches do without being nosy. There is also a skydive option nearby which we plan to visit during Summer. More signboards near the Beehive roundabout pointing to the exact location will be welcome however for folks taking a bus.

This was the perfect place to visit with a slightly geeky husband and son (8) because they were allowed to clamber in and out of numerous aircraft cockpits and some even had sound effects to make it feel more real. The staff were fantastically friendly and helpful and extremely knowledgable. Lots of written info and photo opportunities for husband and general aeroplane playtime for a keen 8 year old, all adds up to 'happy mum'! All I was missing was coffee and a cake.....and I should have worn something warmer cos aircraft hangars in January are COLD! We will definitely visit again and will try to bring Grandpa along too -he'll love it!