Throughout the cold, dark and wet winter months the team have been very busy sprucing up the exhibits and adding new displays, so that the Wight Aviation Museum (WAM) is now ready for its 2023 Season Opening on Saturday 1st April and Sunday 2nd April 2023.
On Sunday 2nd April, we are pleased to announce that we will have Kay Marriott JP, High Sheriff Isle of Wight as a special guest of the museum to cut the ribbon and formally open the 2023 Season.
Telling the stories of real people
Not only are there displays of aviation and heritage artefacts in the museum, but also importantly we will be telling the stories of real people, such as Robert Lorraine, who was a famous actor and aviator, reputedly, the first person to land an aircraft on the Isle of Wight and also Mary Ellis, the well known Second World War pilot flying Spitfires and many other types of aircraft with the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) and who became Commandant Manager of Sandown Airport for many years.
New displays for the 2023 Season
As well as the existing displays at the museum, which include: The Early Years of Wight Aviation, The Princess Flying Boat (considered to be the largest flying boat ever built, and built by the Island’s famous aviation designers and builders Saunders Roe in Cowes), The Anatomy of a Spitfire, looking at the design and construction of Britain’s most iconic WW2 fighter plane and a large scale model of a Spitfire, to be seen fittingly above the Mary Ellis display, there are some new displays for the 2023 Season.
Ventnor Radar Station – part of the Chain Home
There is a display on Radar History demonstrating how the Ventnor Radar Station was part of the Chain Home which was a vital part of Britain’s defence system during WW2.
There is a Britten-Norman display featuring the BN Islander; Britain’s best selling commercial aircraft and a much improved GKN display (the successors of Saunders-Roe) showing the development of aircraft manufactured on the Island and the parts on modern aircraft still in production today.
A real Skeeter helicopter
By far the largest new display is a real Skeeter helicopter, built by Saunders-Roe in Cowes in the 1950s as a two-seat training and scout helicopter. The WAM Skeeter Team have carefully and accurately restored the helicopter for display.
The museum also offers the opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in a virtual flight around the Island.
Larger displays
One of our larger displays is the fuselage of a Scottish Aviation Beagle Bulldog, which has been creatively converted into a very realistic virtual reality flight simulator which, using the aircraft’s control column, rudder pedals and throttle, allows the visitors the thrill of a virtual flight around the Island.
Black Arrow R3 Rocket
Outside, in the Rocket Garden is the museum’s largest exhibit, a full size replica of the Black Arrow R3 Rocket, which was designed, built and tested at Highdown (near the Needles) on the Isle of Wight.
It successfully launched the Prospero satellite into a low earth orbit in October 1971 from Woomera, Australia. A full size replica of the Prospero satellite can be seen in the Black Arrow Rocket and Space display in the museum.
Find out more
For more information, email 2023 Season Opening to [email protected] or phone or text to 07949 704052 or visit the Website.
News shared by Brian on behalf of Wight Aviation Museum. Ed
