Fleet Air Arm Museum, they have a Concorde! (Yeovilton Air Arm Museum)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	Yeovilton Air Arm Museum
Date:	07/07/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting, Educational.

Disadvantages: Not Cheap to get in, perhaps a bit boring in parts unless you're especially interested

I have visited this place twice over the years, but both visits occured a considerable few years ago, so I can provide a basic idea about the place, but I appologise if the more specific detail is not present in this review.
The place is located in Yeovilton, Somerset in south West England, and we didn't have too much trouble finding it, although we got slightly confused as to where the car park for the actual museum was, but this was probably just us being illogical.

The site is built around RNAS Yeovilton which is an active airfield of the Royal Navy, and there are viewing areas for the public to watch military aircraft/helicopters take off and land. The actual building is a big industrial looking building, which houses 94 aircraft, mostly these are military, but there some civilian aircraft too including perhaps one of the most popular attractions - The second prototype Concorde.

The building has a gift shop which is aircraft themed, although you buy everything inside from sweets to shark's teeth. Current entry prices are £11 per adult, and £8 per child, with a family ticket costing £35. The exhibits are divided up into several halls, with Hall 1 containing WW1 interwar exhibits, Hall 2 containing WW2 exhibits and a Kamikaze exhibit, Hall 3 has been mocked up to resemble the deck of an aircraft carrier and hall 4 containing Concorde and other experimental British aircraft.

Aside from the four main halls, there are other smaller exhibits, including interactive displays. One of these exhibits is "The Merlin Experience" which I recall well. This is a simulation of a helicopter taking off in terms of noise etc, although obviously you never actually leave the ground. The exhibit explains anti submarine warefare techniques.

Outside the museum, there are 2 cafe's and a childrens play area.

I would say it's quite a good day out, I really enjoyed seeing Concorde, because you can of course actually board the aircraft, see the cockpit and cabin etc I would say History Boffins and Military Aircraft Boffins will enjoy this place most.

Summary: Worth a look!