Getting there

The museum is located at Elvington, near York -  Link to Google map - and full travel and accommodation is available from the YAM website by following this link: 'Your Visit'

Wheelchair access is available to all displays except the top floor of the Control Tower. Wheelchairs are available on request and there are disabled toilet facilities. For detailed enquiries the museum can be contacted by phone -  (44) (0) 1904 608595 - or can by email: museum@yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

Exhibits and attractions

The museum was formally an RAF bomber base - RAF Elvington - for the duration of the Second World War, and so many of the exhibits are related to the history and theme of its role. Elvington was host to two French Squadrons, No. 346 (Guyenne) and No.347 (Tunisie), and a central piece of the main hanger is a wonderful Hadley Page Hallifax III named 'Friday the 13th' in French insignia.

The theme of bombers and bombing is reinforced by the precence of the 'Air Gunner's Memorial Room', a museum inside a museum dedicated to air gunners hosting a excellent collection of bomber gun turrets. 

However, the base was used subsequent to WW2 as a strategic bomber station, and so maintaining its links with heavy bombers. This is reflected with the inclusion of many jet aircraft from the 'Cold War' era up until the most modern RAF bombers, like the Tornado GR.1 strike aircraft.

The collection is many and varied, including aircraft of all shapes and sizes and types from around the world. These are displayed inside the main hanger hall and dotted around the station.

As well as the aircraft themselves are a number of historic military vehicles, the interesting station buildings themselves and the beautiful Memorial Garden, dedicated to those who lost their lives during the war.

All in all, the museum is a  eclectic collection of sometimes unexpected exhibit, but it's not all military hardware and technology as there are some touching displays which emphasis the human aspect of the base, the aircraft and the history of flight.

General impressions

I had a very enjoyable day at the museum, but what's more my girlfriend found the variety of displays entertaining - more so than the sometimes rather emotionless arrangement of aircraft you get in some indoor museums. There was a real sense that the museum was trying to tell you a story, and not just about the aircraft. Highlight of the visit - which illustrates perfectly the human story - was the wonderfully tranquil Memorial Garden. A very touching part of the museum that both my partner and I appreciated immensely.

Finally, another interesting feature of this museum is the very real impression that this is a 'living repository' of historic artifacts. Throughout the day and around the base one occasionally came across small groups of enthusiasts who were involved with restoration of maintenance work on several of the exhibit. We were very lucky to witness the test running of the massive jet engine on the Hadley Page Victor tanker aircraft by one large conservation group, while elsewhere one solitary enthusiast was undertaking a fascinating overhaul of a Mosquito night fighter!

The Yorkshire Air Museum was a wonderful experience, it wasn't just a 'collection' but a living community - from the chatty 'old geezers' who were glad to relate their experiences, to the oily 'spanner monkeys' tinkering with  complex engineering. It was a excellent day out!

Above: Members of a Victor conservation group work furiously - watched by an appreciative
audience of enthusiasts - to test start one of the aircrafts jet engines. It was worth waiting
for as the noise was like nothing I have ever experienced - truly 'deafening'!

Related links:

The Yorkshire Air Museum website - http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/

My Flickr album of the day (118 photos) - Yorkshire Air Museum gallery