Wight Aviation Museum

The Wight Aviation Museum at Sandown Airport celebrates more than 100 years of the Isle of Wight’s aviation history, from biplanes and seaplanes to jet fighters, helicopters, hovercraft and space rockets. It is a registered charity and a charitable company limited by guarantee, run largely by volunteers, and it is a member of Aviation Heritage UK.Exhibits include a full-size Black Arrow rocket and the story of the island’s space rocket industry, an original 1950s Skeeter helicopter, an original 1960s CC7 Cushioncraft, the War over the Wight exhibition, the Richard Holleyman Collection, the Anne Springman Photographic Collection, the island’s biggest model aircraft collection, and displays on the Princess, the world’s biggest all-metal flying boat, and the story of WW2 pilot Mary Ellis. Visitors can also take a virtual flight across the island in the museum’s VR flight simulator.The museum is currently raising funds to bring a rare Spartan three-seat biplane, built on the island in 1932, back from New Zealand for display. It welcomes school and youth group visits, group bookings, and hires out its Ops Room for meetings of up to 20 people and an events space for up to 50.The museum closes over winter and reopens in spring, so check the website for opening dates. Assistance dogs only inside.