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| Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon |
| Established | 1972 |
| Location | Hendon, London Borough of Barnet |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Publictransit | Colindale tube station |
Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon The Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon is a national aeronautical museum in Hendon, London, dedicated to the history of the Royal Air Force, the development of aviation, and the preservation of aircraft and artefacts from conflicts such as the First World War and the Second World War. The site houses extensive collections of airframes, engines, uniforms, photographs and archives related to notable figures including Albert Ball, Douglas Bader and Amy Johnson, and to formations such as the No. 617 Squadron RAF, Bomber Command, and Fighter Command. As a centre for heritage and research it collaborates with institutions like the National Archives, the Imperial War Museums, and the Science Museum.
The Hendon site occupies land formerly used by Grahame-White, an early aviation company associated with Claude Grahame-White and the Airco era before the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918. The museum was established in 1972 following campaigns by veterans from the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and expanded through partnerships with bodies including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Civil Aviation Authority. Major developments include the opening of the National Cold War Exhibition inspired in part by events such as the Suez Crisis and the technological contest epitomised by the Cold War. The site adapted after changes to RAF Hendon and urban development in the London Borough of Barnet.
Collections span pioneers such as Louis Blériot and Samuel Franklin Cody to jet age innovators like Frank Whittle and Sydney Camm. Aircraft in the collection represent manufacturers including Supermarine, Avro, de Havilland, Hawker, Gloster, Bristol Aeroplane Company, English Electric, Handley Page and Fairey. Key exhibits feature types associated with campaigns including the Battle of Britain—for example aircraft by Vickers-Supermarine—and strategic bombing histories linked to RAF Bomber Command operations and leaders like Arthur Harris. Displays interpret stories connected to aviators such as T. E. Lawrence and Nancy Bird Walton, and to events like the Zepplin raids and the Dunkirk evacuation.
Archival holdings include logbooks, squadron records, technical manuals and personal papers tied to units such as No. 303 Squadron RAF and No. 617 Squadron RAF, alongside photographic collections from photographers linked to Life (magazine) and the Daily Mail. Engine and avionics displays illustrate developments by firms like Rolls-Royce, Armstrong Siddeley, and Rolls-Royce Welland technical projects, while cockpit simulators and reconstruction galleries reference technologies from the Jet Age through the Concorde programme.
The museum complex incorporates historic hangars and purpose-built galleries. Early structures date to RAF Hendon airfield infrastructure contemporaneous with First World War aviation expansion, while modern galleries were commissioned by architects influenced by exhibitions at the Science Museum and the National Maritime Museum. Notable conservation of Grade II buildings and adaptive reuse reflects precedents set in projects like the conversion of Brooklands Museum hangars. The site layout integrates open apron display areas, a conservation workshop visible to visitors, and landscaped approaches aligned with transport links near Colindale tube station.
Educational programmes target schools, family audiences and specialist researchers, offering resources aligned with curricula referencing figures such as John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown. The museum runs trainee conservator apprenticeships in partnership with institutions like the University of Westminster and professional development with bodies such as the British Museum and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Outreach includes loan boxes for schools, digital learning resources inspired by collections at the British Library, and collaborative research projects with universities including Imperial College London.
The site hosts commemorative ceremonies for anniversaries including the Battle of Britain Day and D-Day observances linked to the Normandy landings, as well as specialist events celebrating pioneers such as Amy Johnson and anniversaries of types like the Spitfire and Lancaster. Public air shows are scheduled periodically, featuring historic flight demonstrations, static displays linked to organisations such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and participation from volunteer groups representing units like the Royal Observer Corps. Lecture series attract speakers from institutions such as the Royal Aeronautical Society and the International Bomber Command Centre.
A dedicated conservation and restoration department undertakes airframe repair, corrosion control, structural replacement and fabric covering techniques used on aircraft by makers like de Havilland and Supermarine. Projects have included long-term restorations of examples from the Avro Lancaster lineage and jet types such as the English Electric Lightning and Gloster Meteor. Conservation practice adheres to standards promoted by the Collections Trust and the Institute of Conservation, combining archival research with technical analysis and specialist workshops for composite materials, historical finishes and period avionics.
The museum is accessible from central London via Colindale tube station and local bus services, and is within the London Borough of Barnet. Facilities include galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, a research centre, a café, and a museum shop stocking publications on personalities like Sir Frank Whittle and manufacturers like Hawker Siddeley. Admission, opening hours and accessibility services are published by the institution and coordinated with metropolitan transport planning by bodies such as Transport for London. Parking, guided tours and group booking arrangements accommodate schools, veteran organisations and specialist interest groups.
Category:Aerospace museums in the United Kingdom Category:Museums in the London Borough of Barnet