Flixton Joins MAHN
The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is pleased to be part of the Military Aviation Heritage Networks (MAHN). We are located on the northern edge of their Southeast Region and form part of the network of Heritage Museums that covers the southeast in an area from ourselves in the north, to Winchester southwest of London and all across the south coast.
Military Aviation Heritage Networks
The MAHN website is a one-stop portal to discover museums and heritage sites devoted to English aviation, and you can find events, news and activities from members of Military Aviation Heritage Networks – organisations that care about aviation heritage, its conservation, display and sustainability. The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is now listed on their extensive website listings
As MAHN put it on their website, “The South East region has a rich array of historic airfields, museums, memorials and aviation sites concerned with aviation history ranging from the earliest experimental aviation projects through to the Cold War and beyond. Many sites are located at airfields used by RAF Fighter Command 11 Group, a section of the RAF formed in 1936 to provide air defence in the run up to the Second World War. The area is best known for its role in the Battle of Britain when it bore the brunt of aerial attacks from the Luftwaffe. Sites include an underground bunker, a historic chapel, a national memorial, control towers and numerous airfields and aircraft hangars featuring priceless collections of aviation heritage that are accessible to the public. The attractions range in size from the six hangars of the RAF Museum in Hendon to smaller, lesser-known sites with unique collections that bring alive a huge range of aviation history. One (Eastchurch) is even on the site of a working prison.”
You will find the larger map of the region and further information @
Military Aviation Heritage Networks Southeast Region
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
Late in 1972, a few local enthusiasts met and decided that steps should be taken to record something of the history of aviation in the Eastern counties and preserve aircraft and artefacts. A society was formed early the following year, and activities commenced; a Nissen hut behind the Flixton post office soon became the base. In May 1976, the (now) museum was officially opened by the late Wing Commander Ken Wallis, who went on to become President.
A larger building was soon required for the growing collection and efforts to find a suitable site on or around the Bungay/Flixton airfield were rewarded when a barn next to the Flixton Buck Inn was offered, along with the use of a meadow for aircraft. When further expansion needs arose, they were met with the purchase in 1984 of almost 8 acres of land from the owners of the Buck Inn, and work commenced on sourcing and erecting buildings and a hangar. The barn was eventually vacated in 1990.
The theme of the collection has grown from the occupation of the airfield by the 446th Bomb Group USAAF, followed briefly by the Fleet Air Arm and then the Royal Air Force, and now to encompass aviation in the East of England.
These broad headings have permitted a very varied collection of aircraft and artefacts to be gathered and displayed, and virtually everything has been donated by visitors.
The collection continues to grow and when appropriate a new building is erected, although unused space is becoming scarce owing to the need to provide for car parking.
In addition to the aircraft and artefacts around the site and largely in the main hangar complex, we have additional themed buildings dedicated to RAF Bomber Command, Royal Observer Corps, Coastal Command/Air Sea Rescue and the 446 Bomb Group.
Located at the heart of East Anglia, and being one of the premier Aviation Museums in the East of England, the museum continues to operate as a charitable organisation with the mission goals of: “To conserve, preserve and promote the history of aviation in East Anglia, whilst providing a fun, family-friendly and interactive museum, promoting education and remembrance of the events of the past.”
For more information on the Museum, the events, sections and contents please visit our main website @
Norfolk & SuffolkAviation Museum
Would You Like To Help
There are a number of ways you can help the museum in these difficult financial times, especially for a volunteer-run charity organisation such as the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. If you wish, you could become a Museum Member by paying a small fee each year, or you could make a one-off donation to help with our running costs.
To become a Museum Member please click on the button below to see the details on our main website.
Click to see how to becomeMUSEUM MEMBER
To make a donation please click the donate button below to be taken to our donations page.
For all other details on the museum please go to our main web page by clicking on the picture below.
