Museum 50th Anniversary and ROC Day

The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum will be open on Sunday, the 18th of September 2022, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Museum and also the annual Royal Observer Corps Day (ROC Day) at the Museum.

Safeguarding East Anglia’s Aviation Heritage for Half a Century

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Conceived in 1972, the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum (NASAM) celebrates a full fifty years of collecting and caretaking aviation memorabilia in East Anglia in September this year. The original collection was housed in a small shed behind the post office in Flixton on the Norfolk/Suffolk border but, although still in the village, the Museum now needs four large hangars, six other buildings, two workshops and two shipping containers to house the 50,000+ items, the 66 full size aircraft and cockpits and the vehicles for which it is responsible.

Even more remarkable is that the Museum has never charged the public for entry, or parking, in all the time it has been operating. From the original team of six, the Volunteer team has grown to nearly seventy people, each giving time and skills accumulated in the Services, office jobs, teaching and IT to preserve and maintain the Museum’s collection, its buildings and its site – a formidable job in itself.

While many of the complete aircraft on display have been donated by external organisations, particularly the USAF, the RAF and Royal Navy and the Imperial War Museum, a surprising number are owned by individual volunteers. It has always been possible to gain access inside some of these treasures and, with the growth in cockpit numbers and available flight simulator technology, the Museum has made it possible for visitors of all ages to sit in, and ‘fly’ some of these exhibits.

Other buildings on site remember the work of the American 446th Bomber Group, the Royal Observer Corps, the Coastal Command Air Sea Rescue services and Bomber Command. There are many engines on show from early piston types, including many from WWII, to the massive jet turbine from the Harrier; there are missiles and machine guns and the display of ejector seats shows their development from the earliest days of Martin-Baker flight safety technology. Adding the WWII experience on the home front, the hundreds of models of all sizes, the military uniforms and badges and the stories of some of the people involved in East Anglian flight, it becomes quite tricky to fit everything into a single visit. Good job that the on-site NAAFI café can provide sustenance then – and do leave time to visit the shop for an aviation related bargain to suit all pockets.

And remember – all this is for free! Donations are really appreciated though – they’ll keep us going for the next 50 years!

Graham M

What is Happening ??

Because of the mourning period for our late Queen, we are unable to confirm at this time that all of the event participants mentioned below will be able to attend. And as part of that mourning period,

It is planned to hold a two-minute silence

at 1100 hours

to pay our respects to The Queen

For the rest of the events, this is what was planned prior to last week. We are hopeful that these events will still take place in addition to the “Lots to See” below:

Unveiling of a memorial bench for Andrew Gilham
- The land that the museum stands on was originally part of the Gilham farmland
We also have a swing band called Station 366 attending
We will be burying a time capsule
There will be a talk about the ROC
Grand raffle with some nice prizes
Raffle for the children
Tombola for the children
Hoping to have a drawing competition for the children
Name the teddy prize
Possibility of some military vehicles
British Legion stall
Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club with approx. 25 cars
The Sherwood Ranger aircraft will be brought out from storage for the public to see
Waveney Model Flying Club will be attending with demonstrations of the model aircraft
Other stalls

Updates

Stay in touch via our Social Media Pages to keep up to date with any updates to the event and also any other events as they are planned. The various Social Media sites can be viewed by clicking on the button below:

Also, please note that during the period of mourning for our late Queen, and in accordance with the Arts Council Guidelines, we will open as usual on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1000 until 1600.

Go ToSOCIAL MEDIA LIST

When you get here:

Lots to See

Come along and see one of the region’s premier aviation museums at the centre of East Anglia. Enjoy a family day out with lots to do and see. With the museum being free to park and free to enter, this is a reasonable day out and a chance to see a plethora of aviation items. Located on the site can be found; 60+ aircraft and cockpits on display, 1000s of related aviation artefacts from the early 1900s through to more modern times.

In addition to the main hangars, the rooms behind the shop and the outside aircraft exhibits, there are separate buildings dedicated to Coastal Command/Air Sea Rescue, The Royal Observer Corps, RAF Bomber Command and the 446 USAAF Bomb Group.

Provided we have sufficient volunteers on the day, we are aiming to have Aircraft Cockpits Open for you to look inside. There will be an aircraft access charge, but this is through a booklet (cost £5.00), which entitles you to come back and visit those cockpits you did not see on the day. The booklet is valid for 12 months.

Again, provided there are sufficient volunteers available, there will be Flight Simulators to fly and Military Weapons to see (no charge for the Flight Simulators).

We are Family Friendly

With a family-friendly atmosphere, all are welcome. No advance booking is necessary, just turn up on the day.

The on-site shop has both museum and aircraft-related items for sale. Items range in price from “pocket money” upwards, with lots of models and toys for the children. The shop also serves drinks, sweets and ice creams. With picnic tables scattered throughout the site, there is plenty of space to sit, relax and enjoy a refreshment break.

We are Dog Friendly

We have plenty of space for the whole family including the family dog. Dogs are welcome in all areas apart from the shop. We do, however, request you keep your dogs on a leash at all times.

We are Wheelchair Friendly

We are wheelchair friendly in all areas apart from aircraft cockpits.

Visit the NAAFI Café

In addition to the shop serving some refreshments, the NAAFI Café will be open in the main hangar. The NAAFI will be serving hot drinks and light snacks throughout each of the days.

Would You Like To Help

There are a number of ways you can help the museum if you wish to do so. Especially for a volunteer-run charity organisation such as the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. 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 or a Volunteer Member please click on the appropriate button below to see the details on our main website.

Click to see how to becomeMUSEUM MEMBER Click to see how to becomeMUSEUM VOLUNTEER