Fleet Air Arm Museum

On this day 1914 HMS Argus was commissioned to the Royal Navy .
Although her keel was laid down in June 1914, it was not until 14th September 1918 that HMS Argus was commissioned into the Royal Navy. She was the first completed flush-deck aircraft carrier in ANY navy that was capable of operating wheeled aircraft. Her design was similar to the carriers we’ve known and loved over the last century. In October 1918, she had trials with a wood and canvas ‘island’ on her flat... deck, the success of which provided data for the final design of HMS Eagle, one of our magnificent inter-war carriers. The ‘island’ of HMS Argus is just visible in this photo.
Visitors to the Fleet Air Arm Museum can enjoy the Carrier Experience, which includes a tour of the far more sophisticated ‘island’ of a Royal Navy carrier in her 1970s heyday.
Find out more and book tickets: https://bit.ly/2CfTrWp
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During WW2, Wrens acted as Despatch Riders getting urgent or confidential communications from A to B. No mobile phones, no texts, no Facebook then. Motorbikes were ideal, for both speed and manoeuvrability, scrambling across countryside and bomb-sites alike.
See our WRNS Despatch Rider in Hall 2 at the FAA Museum at this weekend's Motorfest! Find out more: https://bit.ly/2N7OWCv

Find Somerset Road Safety at Motorfest this weekend and they will tell you, it’s all very well to be able to drive a car, but you also need to be able to carry out basic maintenance checks. WW2 Wrens had to be able to service and repair the RN trucks used at air stations.
Here’s one of our archive photos of a Wren who knows what’s what under the bonnet. And, by contrast, here are some splendid aviators who haven’t a clue how to operate a machine if it doesn’t have wings!
Find out more about Motorfest, 15th & 16th September: https://bit.ly/2N7OWCv

Starlight Cinema proudly presents our special screening of Top Gun at the Fleet Air Arm Museum on the 29th December Watch this iconic film sat amongst fighter jets where you really will feel the "Need for Speed" Entry includes access to view Concorde and fighter jets an hour before the film, then take your seat on the aircraft carrier for this unique experience. Bar, drinks and cinema snacks will be on sale beneath Concorde. Bring your Aviator sunglasses and flight suits!... Tickets have a very limited availability and you cannot purchase on the door for this event. Book online now at www.Starlight-Cinema.co.uk
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Are you as excited as we are for Motorfest this weekend?!
If you’re coming by motorcycle to the Somerset Motorfest at the Fleet Air Arm Museum on 15th& 16th September, you’ll be interested to learn that the Royal Naval Air Service, forerunner of the Fleet Air Arm, was using motorcycles back in 1914 in its Armoured Car Division.
Did you know that the ability to ride and maintain a motorcycle enabled men to start as Petty Officer Mechanics – giving them a pay of 6 shillings a... day, compared with the 2 shillings paid to an Air Mechanic?
Now that is a good a reason as any to tap out a jig as these Petty Officer Mechanics are doing so well in this photograph!
See more motorbikes at Motorfest! Find out more: https://bit.ly/2N7OWCv
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We can cheer up your Monday blues with the knowledge that this weekend is Motorfest!
Don’t try this at home! Two RN motorcyclists prepare to race a Wessex V helicopter. See a Wessex in the FAA Museum’s Search and Rescue exhibition AND fly by Wessex onto our Carrier Experience.
Test your skills on the motorcycle slow riding area or hone your... skills at parallel or bay parking at Motorfest! Find out more: https://bit.ly/2N7OWCv
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The countdown begins to our fantastic weekend event Motorfest! Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th September.
You may find an ice-cream van or a good old-fashioned ice-cream tricycle at events in Somerset. However, during WW2, the Fleet Air Arm put these tricycles to use in training Fighter Direction Officers. Each trike was ridden blind by a Wren and represented an aircraft, which was steered round a grid under orders from a trainee FDO – a bit like playing Battleships. Not so much, ‘Stop me and buy one’, as, ‘Get out of the way!!!!!’ See our WW2 fighter direction trike on display in Hall 2 at the FAA Museum.
Find out more about Motorfest here: https://www.facebook.com/events/456257264 857504/

Have you ever wondered what the oldest item in our collection is? Or the name of the aircraft in Grandpa's old photo?
Now you the perfect opportunity to find out!
... Join us on Thursday 6 September and our team of experts will be available in the exhibition halls to try and help you with your naval aviation questions.
The event is free to attend with a valid Museum ticket and there is no need to book Come along and find our desk in Hall 1.
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Have you made plans yet for this Bank Holiday weekend?
Don't forget about out fantastic offer of two fabulous days out with one special price!
One day of cars and one day of planes! That makes for a fantastic bank holiday weekend!
... Find out more: https://bit.ly/2LnleUo
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Attention rum fans! You still have a chance to win a bottle of our barrel-aged HMS Victory rum worth £50!
Just get your tickets for the Rum & Gin Festival Under Concorde before midnight tonight.
Find out more and buy your tickets here: https://bit.ly/2w6ktt4

Don't forget to buy your tickets to the Rum and Gin Festival under Concorde on the 2 March 2019.
We're giving away a bottle of our barrel-aged HMS Victory rum worth £50 to one lucky winner who buys their tickets before midnight on Sunday 19 August!
Find out more about this amazing event and buy tickets here: https://bit.ly/2w6ktt4

It's National Rum Day! The perfect excuse to have a sip or two of the Navy's signature beverage.
To celebrate, we're giving away a bottle of our barrel-aged HMS Victory rum worth £50 to one lucky winner!
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is buy a ticket for our Rum & Gin Festival Under Concorde before midnight on Sunday 19 August 2018.
... Find out more about this amazing event and buy tickets here: https://bit.ly/2w6ktt4
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Today is the 100th anniversary of the first launch off a Seaplane Lighter. On the 1st August 1918, Lt Stuart Cully achieved the first take off with an aeroplane from a purpose-built sea-going craft - ‘the Seaplane Lighter’. Previous to this date, aircraft had been launched from ships that had been adapted and modified with small take off platforms, but the Seaplane Lighter was the first vessel that the Admiralty had purposely designed to carry and aircraft at sea. These small... unpowered crafts were originally designed to carry a large seaplane and be towed behind a small fast ship such as a destroyer, extending the range of the seaplane before launching. However, the Royal Navy soon discovered that these Lighters could be towed at significantly high speeds through the water (in excess of 20 knots) and began experiments to see if a Sopwith Camel aircraft could be launched from the deck a lighter being towed at speed into a sea breeze. Lt Samson and Lt Cully carried out extensive trials in the Solent and off the coast near Harwich and on the 1st August 1918, Lt Cully perfected the technique required to make a safe take off. This instantly provided new possibilities to enable a Sopwith Camel fighter plane to be operated offshore and launched to intercept German Zeppelins over the North Sea, many, many miles before they could be a bombing threat to Britain. Only ten days later on the 10th August 1918, HMS Redoubt towed Seaplane Lighter H5 out into the North Sea and Lt Cully repeated his towed take-off technique, which resulted in his intercepting and shooting down German Zeppelin L53 from a height of 18,000ft. This single act significantly reduced the Zeppelin threat to Britain. In the year that the Royal Navy is undertaking sea trials of the largest ship it has ever commissioned, the Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, it is fitting to remember where the development of such supersized aircraft carriers began. Seaplane Lighter H21, at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy), is the only complete example of a WW1 Seaplane Lighter known to exist).
This Seaplane can be seen in the Reserve Collections which are open to the public for the Airframe Tours of Cobham Hall - 6 September 2018. Book tickets: https://bit.ly/2vrzB3J
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We are delighted to launch our amazing summer joint ticket with Haynes International Motor Museum - https://www.facebook.com/HIMM.co.uk/
Two fantastic days out, one great value ticket! Get yours now at himm.co.uk
Joint ticket is valid until 1st September 2018.
... Buy tickets here: https://bit.ly/2K7B3hn
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Did you know that in 2019 we celebrate 50 year since the first flight of Concorde?
To mark this important occasion, we're bringing you a Rum & Gin Festival underneath our very own Concorde on 2 March 2019!
Explore Hall 4 as you try out different tipples, enjoy live music, speak with experts, and learn about the history of this incredible machine.
... Tickets are available now. Don't miss out on this very special evening: https://bit.ly/2zwpAro
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Well woth the trip .very good Entrance fee you can see everything up close there is cafe as well .

We just popped in on the way down to Cornwall and I’m glad we did, great museum, brilliant exhibits and friendly staff, well worth the money. Book on line and save 20% on entry tickets.

Visited today with my father, (who has flown on the concorde) and my two sons. Super fun day out for us all. So interesting and well laid out. Lots of interactive things for the kids to do. ( which stops them from touching the displays theyre not meant to!) Also great restaurant with good food reasonably priced. And to eat while the children plays in the fantastic park was a real bonus!

Visited on Thursday 28th June with the U3a and were given a fantastic guided tour by John who gave us full benefit of his wide range of experience whilst serving in the Royal Navy. The tour linked with the wonderful exhibits was very informative and all of our group had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Very good loads to look out and lots of finding this out have two Autistic guys who really enjoyed the day there

Totally amazing place ..... the island tour fantastic ..... the whole experience 10/10

This was only the second time I have visited and I enjoyed it even more than my first time.

The layout , exhibits and guides make sure you have a great time.

The facilities are also of note especially the restaurant.

This is the best air musium I have visited in the UK. Maybe the best in the world!

I use an electric wheelchair and the who place is very accessible. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable too. Also with it being on a live air base there are lots of air craft to spot during your visit.

This is a great place to visit whether you are an avid enthusiast or just a little curious. It’s really well laid out and everything looked ship shape and shiny. Loved the air deck experience and also the views of the runway. There is something here for everyone.

The museum was the best I have been to for a long time. The interactive parts were such fun and the Concord tour and talk was eye opening. I need to return to complete the tour, I arrived midday, and needed more time to get round. Disabled access for a wheelchair user was superb and all the staff were extremely helpful.

Such an amazing place for fun learning and family fun. I have three girls from 3 -7 years in age range and they all had great fun. So many planes to look around and there isn’t ton off places demanding you make a purchase. The best part is in the week day you can get watch helicopters take off for 825 squadron.

One of the best museums in the country. Interesting for all the family and so much for kids to see and do. Love it.

Museum and Food from the restaurant was great hubby and i Had a lovely time

Me and my family visited yesterday. It was an excellent day out my 6 year old absolutely loved it hasn't stopped talking about it. Highly recommend it.

It was brilliant, interesting, fun and exciting, not to be missed. Took my husband and friends to celebrate his birthday he loved it.

I'm a regular visitor though it's a 2-2.5 hour journey, but I always find something of interest. Besides the museum there's nearly always operational flying taking place, with the Wildcats in particular easily visible from the museum.

I love the way they've laid things out here. My favourites....the Restored Corsair, all the helicopters [of course] and if you want to get a glimpse of what it's like to be on an aircraft carrier, they've done a great job. Nice cafe [fraction pricey....but this is to be expected]...friendly staff. Loved it.

I haven't been for a few years and was very impressed the star of the show is now the Harrier GR9 along with the Sea Harrier will definitely recommend a visit

I been there three times now over a period of twenty or so years. Its gets better every time time I go. Took my two grand kids with me and they had a great time.

Great day out, the carrier experience is brilliant, well worth the money

Great day out lots to see cafe was excellent meals great price good play area for kids superb

Great day at the airshow, they even had a large screen TV set up so we didn't miss the match!

Fantastic displays of all things Fleet Air Arm for anyone with an interest in such things. Particularly liked the aircraft carrier simulation.

Fabulous day out. My boys are 7 and 9 and they both had a great time looking at the planes. They enjoyed the air craft carrier experience and loved being able to buy a small reminder from the gift shop.

Excellent, so well presented. Loved the wrns exhibit especially. My husband loved the Concorde exhibit. All the staff we encountered were friendly and very happy to tell us about some of the exhibits.

Excellent!!!!! Really impressed with this place! Definitely worth booking tickets online as works out cheaper and valid for a year if gift aided. Lots to see, very interactive, very child friendly, great outdoor play area. Highly recommend!!

Brought our two sons aged 4 and 7 here today ad a half term treat and they loved every minute (apart from the loud Concorde noise). Well worth a visit

Brilliant day out, concorde was well worth checking out & the carrier experience was good, would definitely go again!

Awesome day out! Cannot believe I climbed aboard Concorde! The tour of the naval ship was fab we all enjoyed! Would highly recommend, a great family day out!

As a mother of 3 boys i get fed up and board of planes, cars, tanks ect. Visiting these types of places when on holiday can get to much. But i loved this place the island/carrier tour was fantastic just wish the helicoptor ride was longer. Well worth the trip

Anyone who is remotely interested in military aviation will love this. A genuinely brilliant tribute to the RNAS & Fleet Air Arm. Only criticism I have is would have liked to have seen a scale model of HMS Hermes (unless I missed it), even it wasn’t strictly an Aircraft Carrier, but the massively important role it made during the Falklands War.

Amazing museum, awesome staff. Shall

Be back down hopefully in the next few months as i need more time! Loved it!

Aircraft carrier mock-up was fantastic. Great place for kids and adults that haven’t grown up!!!

A wonderful experience, so much to see!

A very informative day out. The staff are very friendly and helpful, well worth the journey.

A great museum with plenty to see. Real good facilities also.

We had a lovely trip to the museum, yesterday meeting up with family before Christmas. We took our 20month old twin boys and they absolutely loved it, there were lots of 'oooo wow' and 'a plane a plane' staff were ever so friendly and helpful, and we managed the lifts, and doors with the double buggy apart from one at the end of the aircraft carrier tour, but we managed to get through with the wheel off. We had a lovely lunch in the cafe and the boys loved the outdoor play area. We shall definately be back again as it was a safe environment the boys could explore.

Great day lots to see and do, though the aircraft carrier part in hall three could be better as took abit of time to find out how to actually to take the tour as the signs aren’t really that clear. But part from that well worth a visit on a rainy day

Good museum, not been for years. Well worth a visit. A couple of hours is plenty of time

Enjoyed our visit. The vast majority of which was accessible to my husband on his scooter. The staff were friendly and very helpful and the concession for disabled and their carer is much appreciated. Lots to see and read. Perhaps a few more interactive exhibits would help but overall a really good visit

Well woth the trip .very good Entrance fee you can see everything up close there is cafe as well .

We just popped in on the way down to Cornwall and I’m glad we did, great museum, brilliant exhibits and friendly staff, well worth the money. Book on line and save 20% on entry tickets.

Visited today with my father, (who has flown on the concorde) and my two sons. Super fun day out for us all. So interesting and well laid out. Lots of interactive things for the kids to do. ( which stops them from touching the displays theyre not meant to!) Also great restaurant with good food reasonably priced. And to eat while the children plays in the fantastic park was a real bonus!

Visited on Thursday 28th June with the U3a and were given a fantastic guided tour by John who gave us full benefit of his wide range of experience whilst serving in the Royal Navy. The tour linked with the wonderful exhibits was very informative and all of our group had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Very good loads to look out and lots of finding this out have two Autistic guys who really enjoyed the day there

Totally amazing place ..... the island tour fantastic ..... the whole experience 10/10

This was only the second time I have visited and I enjoyed it even more than my first time.

The layout , exhibits and guides make sure you have a great time.

The facilities are also of note especially the restaurant.

This is the best air musium I have visited in the UK. Maybe the best in the world!

I use an electric wheelchair and the who place is very accessible. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable too. Also with it being on a live air base there are lots of air craft to spot during your visit.

This is a great place to visit whether you are an avid enthusiast or just a little curious. It’s really well laid out and everything looked ship shape and shiny. Loved the air deck experience and also the views of the runway. There is something here for everyone.

The museum was the best I have been to for a long time. The interactive parts were such fun and the Concord tour and talk was eye opening. I need to return to complete the tour, I arrived midday, and needed more time to get round. Disabled access for a wheelchair user was superb and all the staff were extremely helpful.

Such an amazing place for fun learning and family fun. I have three girls from 3 -7 years in age range and they all had great fun. So many planes to look around and there isn’t ton off places demanding you make a purchase. The best part is in the week day you can get watch helicopters take off for 825 squadron.

One of the best museums in the country. Interesting for all the family and so much for kids to see and do. Love it.

Museum and Food from the restaurant was great hubby and i Had a lovely time

Me and my family visited yesterday. It was an excellent day out my 6 year old absolutely loved it hasn't stopped talking about it. Highly recommend it.

It was brilliant, interesting, fun and exciting, not to be missed. Took my husband and friends to celebrate his birthday he loved it.

I'm a regular visitor though it's a 2-2.5 hour journey, but I always find something of interest. Besides the museum there's nearly always operational flying taking place, with the Wildcats in particular easily visible from the museum.

I love the way they've laid things out here. My favourites....the Restored Corsair, all the helicopters [of course] and if you want to get a glimpse of what it's like to be on an aircraft carrier, they've done a great job. Nice cafe [fraction pricey....but this is to be expected]...friendly staff. Loved it.

I haven't been for a few years and was very impressed the star of the show is now the Harrier GR9 along with the Sea Harrier will definitely recommend a visit

I been there three times now over a period of twenty or so years. Its gets better every time time I go. Took my two grand kids with me and they had a great time.

Great day out, the carrier experience is brilliant, well worth the money

Great day out lots to see cafe was excellent meals great price good play area for kids superb

Great day at the airshow, they even had a large screen TV set up so we didn't miss the match!

Fantastic displays of all things Fleet Air Arm for anyone with an interest in such things. Particularly liked the aircraft carrier simulation.

Fabulous day out. My boys are 7 and 9 and they both had a great time looking at the planes. They enjoyed the air craft carrier experience and loved being able to buy a small reminder from the gift shop.

Excellent, so well presented. Loved the wrns exhibit especially. My husband loved the Concorde exhibit. All the staff we encountered were friendly and very happy to tell us about some of the exhibits.

Excellent!!!!! Really impressed with this place! Definitely worth booking tickets online as works out cheaper and valid for a year if gift aided. Lots to see, very interactive, very child friendly, great outdoor play area. Highly recommend!!

Brought our two sons aged 4 and 7 here today ad a half term treat and they loved every minute (apart from the loud Concorde noise). Well worth a visit

Brilliant day out, concorde was well worth checking out & the carrier experience was good, would definitely go again!

Awesome day out! Cannot believe I climbed aboard Concorde! The tour of the naval ship was fab we all enjoyed! Would highly recommend, a great family day out!

As a mother of 3 boys i get fed up and board of planes, cars, tanks ect. Visiting these types of places when on holiday can get to much. But i loved this place the island/carrier tour was fantastic just wish the helicoptor ride was longer. Well worth the trip

Anyone who is remotely interested in military aviation will love this. A genuinely brilliant tribute to the RNAS & Fleet Air Arm. Only criticism I have is would have liked to have seen a scale model of HMS Hermes (unless I missed it), even it wasn’t strictly an Aircraft Carrier, but the massively important role it made during the Falklands War.

Amazing museum, awesome staff. Shall

Be back down hopefully in the next few months as i need more time! Loved it!

Aircraft carrier mock-up was fantastic. Great place for kids and adults that haven’t grown up!!!

A wonderful experience, so much to see!

A very informative day out. The staff are very friendly and helpful, well worth the journey.

A great museum with plenty to see. Real good facilities also.

We had a lovely trip to the museum, yesterday meeting up with family before Christmas. We took our 20month old twin boys and they absolutely loved it, there were lots of 'oooo wow' and 'a plane a plane' staff were ever so friendly and helpful, and we managed the lifts, and doors with the double buggy apart from one at the end of the aircraft carrier tour, but we managed to get through with the wheel off. We had a lovely lunch in the cafe and the boys loved the outdoor play area. We shall definately be back again as it was a safe environment the boys could explore.

Great day lots to see and do, though the aircraft carrier part in hall three could be better as took abit of time to find out how to actually to take the tour as the signs aren’t really that clear. But part from that well worth a visit on a rainy day

Good museum, not been for years. Well worth a visit. A couple of hours is plenty of time

Enjoyed our visit. The vast majority of which was accessible to my husband on his scooter. The staff were friendly and very helpful and the concession for disabled and their carer is much appreciated. Lots to see and read. Perhaps a few more interactive exhibits would help but overall a really good visit