Business Details
40 Years
experience
Explore Aviation History at Jet Age Museum
Since our foundation in 1986, we have dedicated ourselves to preserving Gloucestershire's rich aviation heritage for the benefit of the public and local communities. Our mission focuses on preserving the past and inspiring the future by telling stories of the people, places, aircraft, and companies that have made Gloucestershire a major centre of aviation and aerospace development for over 100 years. We operate as a registered charity run exclusively by volunteers, offering free admission while relying on donations to continue our restoration work and building expansion plans. Our knowledgeable volunteers provide visitors with a wealth of background knowledge regarding aviation history and our exhibits.We offer educational opportunities for schools, youth groups, and corporate visitors, while also providing private event hire facilities. Our collection includes aircraft, engines, open cockpits, and historical artefacts, with special features like the Trident and Vulcan cockpit tours. We maintain strong community ties through volunteering opportunities and membership programs. Our facilities include a caf serving refreshments and a shop selling aviation-related merchandise. We operate standard opening hours on weekends with additional special event days throughout the year. Our volunteers are passionate about sharing their lived experiences of flying and engineering with visitors of all ages.
Services
Aircraft Exhibits
Open Cockpit Tours
Educational Visits
Group Bookings
Caf Services
Gift Shop
Event Hire
Volunteering Opportunities
Membership Programs
Donation Support
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- We are a dedicated aviation heritage charity preserving historical aircraft since 1986
- Our volunteer team includes former aviation professionals with specialist knowledge
- We offer unique cockpit experiences with expert-guided tours of historic aircraft
- We provide free public access supported by voluntary donations
- We combine educational value with family-friendly interactive exhibits
Associations and certifications
- Registered Charity No: 297818
- Company Limited by Guarantee No: 2141333
What people say
Knowledgeable volunteers
Interactive cockpit experiences
Free admission
Family-friendly atmosphere
Historical significance
Services
Aircraft Exhibits
Our museum showcases a wide range of historical aircraft and aviation artefacts. Visitors can explore preserved planes including the Vulcan and Trident aircraft. Our exhibits demonstrate Gloucestershire's significant contributions to aviation history from early flight to modern aerospace developments.
Open Cockpit Tours
Experience first-hand the flight decks of historic aircraft through guided cockpit tours. Timed tours of the Vulcan and Trident aircraft allow visitors to climb into the cockpits and learn about their operational history from knowledgeable volunteers with aviation backgrounds.
Educational Visits
We provide educational experiences for schools and youth groups with specialist aviation content. Our volunteer experts deliver tailored information about aircraft engineering and local aviation history. Educational visits can include workshop access and behind-the-scenes restoration insights.
Group Bookings
We accommodate private group visits outside regular opening hours for clubs, businesses, and organisations. Group bookings can include exclusive museum access, guided tours, and combined events. Our facilities cater for educational days, corporate visits, and special interest groups.
Event Hire
Our facilities are available for private events and corporate functions with capacity for up to 80 guests. The venue includes audio-visual equipment, catering support, and aviation-themed surroundings. We provide parking and special event arrangements for celebrations and meetings.
Questions
What are the museum's opening hours?
We are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm, with additional special event days throughout the year.
Is there an admission charge?
Entry is completely free, though we welcome donations to support our preservation work and operations.
What aircraft can I see at the museum?
Our collection includes historic aircraft like the Vulcan bomber, Trident airliner, Meteor NF14, and Gladiator, with regular restoration projects on display.
Are cockpit tours available?
Yes, we offer timed cockpit tours of the Vulcan and Trident aircraft with expert volunteer guides explaining their operational history.
Can I book group visits?
We provide private group visits outside regular hours for clubs, schools, and corporate groups with tailored tour options available.
Is the museum accessible for all visitors?
We strive to accommodate all visitors - please check our website for detailed accessibility information and contact us with specific requirements.
Reviews (6)
Jacksno
Jan 17, 2022
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Well worth a visit, very friendly, helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. Little cafe inside and plenty of parking. Free to visit but we'll worth contributing to the cause
Paul Smith
Nov 08, 2021
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Great discovery! A fascinating insight into Gloucestershires contribution to aviation and more importantly the jet engine. My father was thrilled to find a Meteor 7 there, which he worked on in the RAF. Staffed by volunteers, free entry but donations gladly accepted.
Adriana D'Souza
Sep 24, 2021
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Great day out @Jet Age Museum. Free entry but full of excitement especially for the little ones that can get into several fighter jets cockpits as well as a lovely tour of one of the first airliners cabin and cockpit. Well worth it. And you can either take advantage of the cafe for some refreshments or go for a picnic on the outdoor tables which front the runway. Always exciting on a good weather day with various take-offs and landings.
Em H.
Sep 20, 2021
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Lovely museum. Small but full of volunteers who are happy to talk about their experiences and answer any questions. Little cafe inside too if you fancy a cuppa.
Chani Courtney
Nov 16, 2020
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So well adapted to the new methods of covid. The staff all wore masks but still told stories ans answered questions. The planes were wonderful and the displays about women in the air industry were really enlightening. Wish we had arrived earlier.
Andy Edy
Dec 24, 2018
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Great place to visit, excellent exhibits and friendly volunteer staff. Have always been a huge fan of the Vulcan, so really enjoyed visiting the cockpit. No entry fee but donations accepted, also good little cafe and easy to get to.
