Solway Aviation Museum

Solway Aviation Museum A hands-on museum of British aviation focused on the early jet age and Cold War. See pinned post for opening details.
(3)

Solway Aviation Museum is home to a collection of aircraft, aviation artifacts and displays reflecting Britain’s position as a world leader in aircraft design and innovation at the dawn of the jet age. The museum's primary objective is the preservation of our aviation heritage, its display and interpretation. Take a nostalgic journey back to Wartime Cumberland and the men and women of the RAF who

served in WWII. The museum is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who give up their free time to painstakingly restore many of the exhibits. Through their love and knowledge they are preserving aviation history for generations to come. See more at: www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk

Today marks the start of Volunteers' Week 2026. At Solway Aviation Museum we are an all-volunteer workforce, from the fr...
01/06/2026

Today marks the start of Volunteers' Week 2026. At Solway Aviation Museum we are an all-volunteer workforce, from the front-of-house staff you meet on your visits, to the aircraft and grounds maintenance teams, the exhibitions and archives staff, the office staff and committee members, all pulling together to ensure we punch way above our weight!

Who would you like to give a particular shout out to? Let us know in the comments!

Did you know that the Sea Prince was part of a family all based on the same design? These adverts are for two stable-mat...
01/06/2026

Did you know that the Sea Prince was part of a family all based on the same design? These adverts are for two stable-mates, the Pembroke and the very plush-looking President. Have you flown in any of this family of aircraft?

76 years ago today, the first prototype of Gloster's Meteor in its night-fighter guise took place. Armstrong Whitworth h...
31/05/2026

76 years ago today, the first prototype of Gloster's Meteor in its night-fighter guise took place. Armstrong Whitworth had the design and production responsibility for this variant of the Meteor, and the prototype (WA456) led to the first flight less than six moths later of Meteor NF11 (WD585). The NF11 was based on the two-seat T7 trainer version of the Meteor, but using the fuselage and tail of the F8 plus the longer wings of the F3. It had an extended nose to house an air intercept radar, and its 20mm cannon were relocated to the outboard wing sections.

Our Meteor (WS832) is an NF14 variant, the first of which flew in October 1953. These boasted an even longer nose, as well as a distinctive bubble canopy. It saw front-line service between 1954 and 1958.

If you're visiting Carlisle Castle for the Cumbria's Museum of Military Life event, do stop by our exhibition trailer an...
30/05/2026

If you're visiting Carlisle Castle for the Cumbria's Museum of Military Life event, do stop by our exhibition trailer and say hi to the team!

A famous visitor dropped by the Solway Aviation Museum roadshow at the Westhoughton RBL 105 year celebrations.
28/05/2026

A famous visitor dropped by the Solway Aviation Museum roadshow at the Westhoughton RBL 105 year celebrations.

The three V-force bombers in comparison with other contemporary Cold War bombers. Which aircraft (singular) featured her...
28/05/2026

The three V-force bombers in comparison with other contemporary Cold War bombers. Which aircraft (singular) featured here would you love to have a flight in? F-111 for me, I'd love to see how it compared to the Tornado.

Our Fairy Gannet ECM6 looking a lot better than when it arrived!See comments for a February 2020 photo.
27/05/2026

Our Fairy Gannet ECM6 looking a lot better than when it arrived!
See comments for a February 2020 photo.

Is there more to the Hawker Hunter than you thought, or less, when you see a cutaway schematic like this? Taken from our...
26/05/2026

Is there more to the Hawker Hunter than you thought, or less, when you see a cutaway schematic like this?
Taken from our archive (Warplane magazine if I recall correctly).

One for all you Jaaaag lovers!
25/05/2026

One for all you Jaaaag lovers!

In September 1954 WZ889, the second Blackburn Universal Freighter (Beverley), was in the static display at the SBAC show...
25/05/2026

In September 1954 WZ889, the second Blackburn Universal Freighter (Beverley), was in the static display at the SBAC show at Farnborough. It was clearly a popular attraction, as these photos from our collection show!

Address

Aviation House Carlisle Airport Crosby-on-Eden
Carlisle
CA64NW

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 5pm
Friday 10:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5pm
Sunday 10:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441228573823

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Solway Aviation Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Solway Aviation Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category