Visit RAF Elvington on this Yorkshire Air discovery day and combine a ride in a helicopter with a visit to a museum of flight! This most comprehensive of days out is the perfect choice for aviation fans spanning decades of aviation history and bringing it very much to life.
Yorkshire Air Museum is the country’s largest independent air museum and it’s filled to the rafters with aircraft vehicles and more. It’s in the grounds of former Bomber Base RAF Elvington not very far from the city of York. It’s also home to the Allied Forces Memorial which you will be getting to see from a rather unique angle…
That’s because your discovery day not only includes time to take in all the wonderful exhibits at the museum but also a buzz flight as you get airborne above Yorkshire in a modern executive helicopter taking off from the site.
As you gently lift off from the ground you’ll see how the land lies here at Elvington. It’s pretty much how it was during World War Two with the control tower various hangars and perimeter roads still very much in evidence and it’s amazing to be able to look down on it all including that emotive memorial from your seat in the Bell JetRanger chopper.
Inside the museum is a total revelation. The collection spans the many decades us humans have been obsessed with flying. From the parachute that dates back to 1853 and pre-war trainer planes to Cold War jets like the Mirage and the modern Panavia Tornado you’ll see them all at the Yorkshire Air Museum. There are also Fire & Rescue and support vehicles as well as armoured vehicles for you to discover too.
Immerse yourself in stories of Bomber Command in WW2 read about the pioneers of flight visit the control tower and radio room then take a peak at the air gunner’s collection and the airman’s billet. And as for the archives the Yorkshire Air Museum has an impressive collection of books records documents artefacts and photos that totals over 250 000 items.
And we must mention the museum cafe where you’ll be having your cream tea. It’s just like an authentic NAAFI restaurant that’s to say the Navy Army and Air Forces Institute which was set up by the Government to ensure forces personnel always somewhere to eat a decent meal wherever they were deployed in the world. That still rings true today with delicious breakfasts snacks Sunday lunches and your cream tea being served!
