The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is located in Shropshire and is situated next to an active airfield.
"The Aerospace Museum at Cosford was opened on 1 May 1979 and was born out of a collection of historic ground instructional airframes on inventory at Royal Air Force Cosford. Other aircraft were added to the collection from the RAF's Reserve Collections of Historic Aircraft scattered about the Country. The Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum took over the management of the collection, under a Ministry of Defence Management Agreement, as a Museum independent of the RAF Museum at Hendon in London, and employed two staff.
The Aerospace Museum was not Government funded directly but enjoyed rent and rates free accommodation on the Station at Royal Air Force Cosford. The Station Commander was responsible for all costs relating to utilities, the maintenance of land and buildings and the conservation of the MOD owned historic aircraft.
The General Manager of the site was responsible for all other running costs and funds were raised from admission fees and profits from shop, café and events.
The Museum continued to grow until 1995 when forward plans indicated that expenditure would overtake income by 1998 if public facilities were not improved and visitor numbers increased.
Applications were made to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and an appeal was launched to build a Visitor Centre in which to accommodate first class public facilities and a conference centre.
In addition, an art gallery, a temporary exhibitions gallery and two other subject galleries were built making in all, a total project value of £3.6m and the new project was opened by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester on 22 June 1998." Source: (
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A plaque to commemorate the opening of the visitor centre by HRH The Duke of Gloucester is located on the wall in the main corridor (opposite the toilets) in the visitor centre.
The plaque is inscribed as follows;
'THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM
COSFORD
VISITOR CENTRE
Opened by
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
on
22 June 1998'
The museum has over 70 aircraft of international importance, housed in three Wartime Hangars and within the National Cold War Exhibition. The world’s oldest Spitfire and a Lincoln Bomber are just two of the highlights in the War in the Air Collection. In Test Flight, there is the TSR2 and Bristol Type 188 constructed from stainless steel. The engine and missile collections in Hangar 1 total over 60 and are arguably one of the finest collections in the world.
In 2007 the £12.5 million National Cold War Exhibition was opened at Cosford by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. This land mark building truly has the ‘wow’ factor with its eye catching architecture and design. A number of the 19 aircraft are suspended in flying attitudes. Iconic cars, models, audio visual hotspots and life-size Russian (Matryoshka) dolls, tell the story of the Cold War in an innovative way. This is the only place in the UK where you can see Britain’s three V Bombers: the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant.
Things to see and do at the museum include; Hangars, Exhibitions and Displays, Virtual Tours, Flight Simulation, 4D Experience, Fun'n'Flight and Conservation Centre.
There are catering facilities and a shop. The museum also hosts special events and offers guided group tours and venue hire.
Opening Hours
10am - 5pm [last admission 4pm] Applies March - October
10am - 4pm [last admission 3pm] Applies November - February
Entrance to the museum is free but there is a charge for car parking.
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His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO.
1997 Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG)
1974 Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is the youngest grandson of King George V and Queen Mary. He practised architecture as a partner of a London firm until he commenced royal duties on behalf of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1972.
The Duke has remained particularly interested in architecture and conservation. He became a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1972, and serves as a commissioner of the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage).
On 8 July 1972,he married the Danish-born Birgitte van Deurs in St Andrew's Church at Barnwell, Northamptonshire; they have three children and six grandchildren. (
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