Sywell Aviation Museum

Sywell Aviation Museum (SAM) is a voluntary, non-profit organisation at Sywell Aerodrome, preserving the history of the aerodrome and Northamptonshire's rich aviation heritage from the early days of flying to the Second World War and beyond.

The museum is housed in Nissen huts that are themselves artefacts - built as bomb fuzing sheds at RAF Bentwaters during WW2 - and expanded with former POW camp huts from Derbyshire. Exhibits include the Paul Morgan Hall (cockpit collection and a complete WW2 Link Trainer), the RAF Hall, the American Hall with the Norton and Blakesley B-17 memorials, the Luftwaffe & Cold War Hall and the Home Front exhibition. Outside, full-size aircraft include a Handley-Page Jetstream G-RAVL, a Hawker Hunter F.Mk.2 and an English Electric Canberra.

Entrance is FREE - the museum relies on donations to cover operating costs and fund new projects. The museum is passionate about encouraging young people into aviation: its Young Aviator Tours have taken over 15,000 children around the museum and aerodrome, and are popular with Beavers, Brownies and Cubs working towards their Air Activities Badge (awarded 'Best Community Project' by the Northamptonshire Museum's Forum). Daytime guided tours for school groups studying the world wars are also available.

Facilities include a small shop selling model kits and books, free WiFi, and step-free access (ramp into the entrance hall and wide walkways). There are no toilets or refreshments inside the museum, but the Aviator Hotel and the Pilot's Mess cafe are just across the car park.

Opening: weekends and bank holiday Mondays from Easter Saturday until the end of September (10:30-16:30), plus Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June to the end of September (12:00-16:00).