Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Station briefing

About this museum

Also known as / searched as: Boscombe Down Museum · Old Sarum Aviation Museum · Old Sarum Aircraft Collection · Boscombe Down Aircraft Collection

The Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum runs on a single glorious doctrine, quoted verbatim in its own literature: 'if it's got a ladder or steps — jump in.' Twenty-eight cockpits are open, from trainers to fast jets, staffed by volunteers largely drawn from the test-flying world of Boscombe Down itself, who will strap your eight-year-old into an ejection seat and fit the helmet properly.

Listed inventory: 49 airframes.

~50 on charge28 Cockpits, all boardable~8 Complete airframes~4 Trainers

Notable airframes

The Lancaster cockpit reproduction, toured daily
Hunter, Jaguar & Harvard cockpits to occupy

Star of the show

The Lancaster cockpit reproduction tour, and a test-and-evaluation pedigree collection you can physically inhabit rather than admire through rope.

Visitor intel

Old Sarum airfield next door supplies live circuits. Reviewers report planning 90 minutes and surfacing at closing time. Possibly Britain's best museum-per-square-metre.

Visitors liked

“A rather excellent experience curated by enthusiastic, interesting and interested individuals that help bring personal stories about the aircraft to life. Highly recommended.”— Rob Stewart (Sherpa Bear Coaching)
“This is a great place to visit, you can get hands on with most of the exhibits, volunteers are very knowledgeable, there is a cafe at hanger 3 with a discount if you visited museum”— Katie Andrews
“Fantastic collection with the benefit of being able to get up close and Inside the cockpits of British legends. Very relaxed atmosphere and very friendly, knowledgeable staff happy to talk over any subject. Release your inner Maverick, Bader, Gibson or Brown.”— steve wares

Public map reports · excerpted for reference · not reviews collected by this gazetteer

In The Hangar

The collection in profile

22 types held here that we have drawn and built in 3D. Choose one to turn it over, or see all 127 in The Hangar.

Visitor questions

Frequently asked

What are the opening times for Boscombe Down Aviation Collection?

Tue–Sun 10am–5pm (Feb–Oct). Verify current opening times with the museum before travelling.

How much does Boscombe Down Aviation Collection cost?

Adult admission is listed as £13.50. Check the museum's current prices before travelling.

Which aircraft can you see at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection?

The listed collection includes Douglas C-47A Skytrain nose section (42-93510), GAF Jindivik 103A (painted as A92-466) (A92-664), de Havilland Tiger Moth II (G-ANNG), Taylorcraft Auster AOP.5 (MS968), Avro Lancaster B.I cockpit section (PD130). Aircraft move between displays, so confirm current holdings before travelling.

Does Boscombe Down Aviation Collection have parking or a cafe?

Parking is recorded on site; a cafe or restaurant is recorded. Check current facilities with the museum before travelling.

Order of battle

Airframe checklist

Tick them off as you go. Identities are as held in the gazetteer survey — verify against the museum’s own labels if something has moved.

	Type	Identity
	Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.11 (mod) nose section	WD790
	Avro 707A	WZ736
	Avro Lancaster B.I cockpit section	PD130
	BAC One-Eleven 402AP nose section	XX919
	BAE Systems Phoenix UAV	ZJ477
	Beagle B.206Z	XS743
	Bristol Sycamore HR.14 (Mk.3)	WA577
	British Aerospace Hawk T.1 (prototype)	XX154
	British Aerospace Hawk T.1 nose section	XX343
	British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA.2	XZ457
	de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10	WD321
	de Havilland Comet C.2 forward fuselage	XK699
	de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 nose section	XJ476
	de Havilland Tiger Moth II	G-ANNG
	Douglas C-47A Skytrain nose section	42-93510
	English Electric Canberra T.4 nose section	WJ865
	English Electric Canberra U.14 nose section	WH876
	English Electric Lightning F.2A nose section	XN726
	English Electric P.1A	WG763
	GAF Jindivik 103A (painted as A92-466)	A92-664
	Gloster Meteor U.16	WK800
	Hawker Hunter F.1 cockpit section	WT648
	Hawker Hunter F.2 cockpit section	WN890
	Hawker Hunter F.6 nose section	XG290
	Hawker Hunter F.6A	XF375
	Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 nose section	WV910
	Hawker Siddeley Andover CC.2 nose section	XS790
	Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 nose section	XV784
	Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.1 prototype cockpit section	XV148
	Hunting Jet Provost T.4	XR650
	Hunting Jet Provost T.4(P) nose section	XS231
	Hunting Jet Provost T.5P	XS230
	Meggitt Banshee target drone	ZF656
	Meteor Mirach 100/5 target drone	ZJ748
	Northrop Shelduck D.1 (painted as XT005)	XR898
	Panavia Tornado F.2 nose section	ZD936
	Panavia Tornado GR.1	ZA319
	Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2b (replica)	BAPC 332
	SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1	XX734
	SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 nose section	XX761
	SEPECAT Jaguar S prototype nose section	XW560
	SEPECAT Jaguar T.2A	XX145
	Short MATS-B target drone (painted as ZA220)	ZA242
	Supermarine Scimitar F.1 nose section	WT859
	Supermarine Swift F.7 nose section	XF113
	Taylorcraft Auster AOP.5	MS968
	Westland Gazelle HT.3	XW852
	Westland Scout AH.1	XP899
	Westland Wasp HAS.1	XT437

Show all 49 airframes

Inventory last verified 2026-10-08: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6. Aircraft move between sites; report corrections to the compiler.

Visit

Location & contact

Address: Hangar 1 South, Old Sarum Airfield, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6DZ
Phone: 01722 323636
Website: boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk/
Hours: Tue–Sun 10am–5pm (Feb–Oct)
(from your local clock — verify before travel)
Gazetteer: SW-03 · South West England · the situation map