Name: Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
Rating: 5.0

Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum

Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Tinwald Downs Road, Dumfries, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum is a small independent museum where we are passionate about the history of aviation and our local area. We have a fantastic collection of aircraft, including our Battle of Britain veteran Loch Doon Spitfire, our supersonic Lightning fighter and our wartime assault glider collection.

We are based in the former control tower of the wartime RAF Dumfries which holds a huge collection of memorabilia, as well as one of the finest displays of aero engines in the country. With indoor and outdoor exhibits, plenty of space outside, a 1940’s themed Tea Room and a gift shop, our museum is an excellent way to while away a few hours with the whole family.

Price starts from £9.00 for Adults(18 years and over), £6.30 for Children(5-17 years & under 5s free) and £27.00 for Family(2 Adults and children). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

The Collection: View our extensive collection of aircraft, engines and exhibits, as well as the famous Loch Doon Spitfire.
Airborne Forces: Our Airborne Forces collection is an extensive display telling the story of the use of airborne troops from their inception in World War Two to the present day.The display covers both the development of glider-based assault, which was used extensively in World War Two, and the use of paratroopers, from their role in tactical assaults through to their deployment as part of strategic offensives. The collection includes representation of all the main glider types used in World War Two with original sections of Hotspur and Horsa gliders, a complete Hadrian fuselage and the mock-up of a Hamilcar nose section. There is also an extensive range of artefacts telling the story of the Glider Pilot Regiment and those who were transported to battle in gliders, including the local regiment the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
Aircraft: We have an extensive selection of aircraft to view at the museum, including wartime assault gliders, our film star Trident airliner, supersonic Lightning and Draken fighters, and of course Scotland’s only Battle of Britain veteran Spitfire. Here is a potted history of each of our aircraft.
Engines: Our museum houses one of the finest collections of aero engines in the country. From the famous V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine of the second world war to the Rolls Royce RB211 that powered the airliner that took you abroad, we have engines of all ages and types.Some of our engines have been recovered from aircraft crash sites, and these include our Napier Sabre H24 and Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engines but star of our recovered engine collection is our Bristol Hercules from a Vickers Wellington bomber from RAF Wing, which crashed on approach to RAF Dumfries. The recovery of this engine and what to do with it was the reason for starting our museum.
Home Front: Our Home Front display tells the story of those who stayed at home during the war. There are displays about all manner of civilian occupations and part-time roles, from the Home Guard, Air Raid Wardens and Fire Guard to the Women’s Voluntary Service and Women’s Land Army. We show how people would have lived with recreations of a wartime living room, kitchen, and child’s bedroom, all filled with period objects including furniture, radios, magazines and toys. We tell you about children’s experiences of evacuation, popular pastimes and how they did their bit for the war effort with scrap and paper drives.
Loch Doon Spitfire: The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by RJ Mitchell and his team in the 1930s as an all-metal monocoque fighter for the Royal Air Force. Their biplane fighter aircraft were becoming rapidly obsolete and with German advances in fighter design, it was clear that a new breed of fighter would be required in the approaching war.
RAF Dumfries and the Bomber War: This exhibition is all about our home airfield. In it, we tell the story of the airfield itself, why it was built and the role it would play in WW2. We also tell the story of the people who worked here, both servicemen and women from all over the country as well as civilians working in the repair depots on site. The men and women of the Air Transport Auxiliary are mentioned, as they were constantly delivering and collecting aircraft to our various units on the airfield. We also cover the maintenance units, both for aircraft storage and repair and for material, which were busy throughout the war.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Standard Admission

Adults: £9.00
Children and Concessions: £6.30
Family ticket (2 adults and children) £27.00

Gift Aid Admission

Adults: £10.00
Children and Concessions: £7.00
Family ticket (2 adults and children) £30.00

Pricing URL: https://www.dumfriesaviationmuseum.com/visit/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

We are open Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday throughout the season.
We also open some Bank Holidays (Please check our social media for details)
Doors Open 10:00 with last entry at 16:00

Address: Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Tinwald Downs Road, Dumfries, UK

Post Code: DG1 3PH

Council: Dumfries

County: Dumfries and Gallowa

By Road: From the junction of the A75 with the A701, head north on the A701 for about 0.5 miles. At the roundabout with the Tinwald Downs Road, turn right and follow the road for about 1 mile until you reach the museum on your left.
By Bus: Current government advice is not to use public transport due to the ongoing covid situation. When this changes, take the Number 2 bus from Dumfries town centre to Heathhall. Alight at the junction of Tinwald Downs Road and Downs Way. The museum is a 10-15 minute walk further along Tinwald Downs Road.
By Bike: From Dumfries railway station follow the Caledonian Cycleway towards Heathhall until you reach Tinwald Downs Road. Turn right onto Tinwald Downs Road and continue for about 0.7 miles until you reach the museum on your left.