About this museum
Southampton is the Spitfire's home town — R.J. Mitchell designed it here, Supermarine built it here, and the Luftwaffe flattened the factory for exactly that reason. Solent Sky packs the whole regional saga (26 manufacturers between 1910 and 1960) into one hall, with the flying-boat era given proper weight: you can board a Short Sandringham and inspect a bunk-equipped flying hotel from the age when Southampton Water was Britain's runway to the Empire.
Listed inventory: 33 airframes.
Supermarine S.6A N248, the 1929 Schneider Trophy racer from the bloodline that begat the Spitfire — parked beneath its descendant for maximum genetic clarity.
- Supermarine S.6A N248, 1929 Schneider racer
- Short Sandringham "Beachcomber" flying boat
- Spitfire F.24, the final mark
- Saro SR.A/1 — the world’s only jet flying-boat fighter
Museum cat 'Scramble' has a fan club in the reviews. Compact but dense; combine with the city's Spitfire memorial trail.
- “Amazing museum full of real airplanes made nearby. A treasure trove of aviation history. The staff was both knowledgeable and helpful!!!”— Cary B
- “My daughter and I visited today, found the staff knowledgeable and friendly, wonderful displays with rich history, definitely worth a visit!”— Riaan VH
- “Very enthusiastic people running this place. From the outside, you'd never know there were so many airplanes and exhibits inside. It's well worth a visit if you're in the area.”— Colorado Rydes
Public map reports · excerpted for reference · not reviews collected by this gazetteer
Frequently asked
What are the opening times for Solent Sky?
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12–5pm. Verify current opening times with the museum before travelling.
How much does Solent Sky cost?
Adult admission is listed as £14. Check the museum's current prices before travelling.
Which aircraft can you see at Solent Sky?
The listed collection includes Avro 504 J - Replica, Britten-Norman BN-1, de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW Mk.2 - XJ571, de Havilland Tiger Moth, de Havilland Vampire. Aircraft move between displays, so confirm current holdings before travelling.
Does Solent Sky have parking or a cafe?
Parking is recorded on site; a cafe or restaurant is recorded. Check current facilities with the museum before travelling.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Alvis Leonides Major | — | |
| Avro 504 J - Replica | — | |
| Bristol Proteus | — | |
| Bristol Siddeley Orpheus | — | |
| Britten-Norman BN-1 | — | |
| de Havilland Gipsy Major | — | |
| de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW Mk.2 - XJ571 | — | |
| de Havilland Tiger Moth | — | |
| de Havilland Vampire | — | |
| Folland Gnat | — | |
| Gnome Monosoupape | — | |
| Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 - Cockpit section. Modified to resemble Harrier FRS.1 | — | |
| Metrovick Beryl | — | |
| Mignet HM.14 Pou-du-Ciel | — | |
| Napier Gazelle | — | |
| Napier Lion | — | |
| Napier Naiad | — | |
| Napier Sabre | — | |
| Napier Scorpion | — | |
| Rolls-Royce Derwent | — | |
| Rolls-Royce Merlin | — | |
| Rolls-Royce/Continental 0-300 | — | |
| Saro Skeeter (x 2) | — | |
| Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - TG263 | — | |
| Short Sandringham S.25/V - VH-BRC, Beachcomber | — | |
| Slingsby Grasshopper | — | |
| Slingsby Tandem Tutor | — | |
| SUMPAC | — | |
| Supermarine S.6 A - N248 , competed in the 1929 Schneider Trophy | — | |
| Supermarine Seagull - Nose section only | — | |
| Supermarine Spitfire F.24 - PK683 | — | |
| Supermarine Swift - Cockpit section | — | |
| Wight Quadruplane - Replica | — |
Inventory last verified 2026-07-18: source 1. Aircraft move between sites; report corrections to the compiler.
Location & contact
- Address
- Albert Rd S, Southampton SO14 3FR
- Phone
- 023 8063 5830
- Website
- www.solentsky.org/
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12–5pm
(from your local clock — verify before travel) - Gazetteer
- SE-01 on the situation map