YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM Aviation History Museum

 

                               

Tel: (01904) 608595
Fax: (01904) 608246

Website: www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk 
Email: museum@yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

Ever since the Yorkshire Museum held the first open day on 11th August 1985, a significant part of the life of the museum has revolved around the restoration of significant aircraft in the history of British and international aviation.  The majority of this work is undertaken by skilled aviation enthusiasts', who make up our volunteer Aircraft Engineering section.  Many of these are former R.A.F. personnel, from WWII period to the present day.

Perhaps the most famous of all of the restorations credited to the Yorkshire Air Museum is that of the Handley Page Halifax KMk III.  A 20ft fuselage section, used for 40 years as a chicken coop, arrived at the museum in 1986, after having been located on the Isle of Lewis.  After many thousands of man -hours, LV 907 "Friday the 13th" is now complete, both externally and internally, and stands as a lasting memorial to all the Allied aircrews of Bomber Command.  It is to date the only restored example of this aircraft in the world.  The aircraft currently bears French markings on the starboard side, in honour of the 60th Anniversary of the two French Squadrons that operated from Elvington during 1944/5.

With over 40 aircraft listed on the museum's books, the work of Aircraft Engineering is never complete, as ongoing maintenance goes hand in hand with full-scale restoration.  A Blackburn Buccaneer, S.2. XN974, the first production model of this Naval variation of the type, is kept in ground operational condition and run on Elvington airfield at various events during the year.  This is another testament to the skills to be found at this award-winning museum.