Gatwick Aviation Museum

Gatwick Aviation Museum

Fairey Gannet AEW3
Established 1987
Location Charlwood, Surrey
Type Aviation museum
Website http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk
View plus logo of Hangar at Gatwick Aviation Museum

The Gatwick Aviation Museum is an aerospace museum located on the boundary of London Gatwick Airport in the village of Charlwood, Surrey.

History

Originally started in 1987 as a private collection by local businessman Peter Vallance, the museum became a registered charity in 1999 with the objective of providing awareness of local aviation history and as an educational centre for the general public, particularly for local students and schoolchildren. A close relationship exists between the museum and the Central Sussex College which uses the museum's facilities to provide practical training for the students taking aerospace courses.[1]

The museum has a varied collection of aircraft, aircraft engines and over 500 aircraft models. The museum also has displays and artifacts related to local aviation history particularly Gatwick Airport. Aircraft may run their engines during museum open days.

The museum has been in dispute since July 2011 with Mole Valley District Council concerning planning permission, as despite its co-location with Gatwick Airport, the council has refused permission for a permanent museum site due to a concern over the height of the proposed new building and the location within the Metropolitan Green Belt.[2] Peter Vallance lodged a planning appeal against the decision in January 2012,[3] which was dismissed in June of that year. On 14 January 2013 Peter G Vallance died whilst undergoing an operation on his heart. Since that time the museum has been run by a charitable trust set up by Peter to cover this eventuality. The museum as of 2015 now has planning permission approved.[4]

In 2016, the new Museum building opened to the public which houses many of the aircraft formerly kept outdoors. A shop, refreshment area and information on the history of Gatwick Airport can also be found in the building. The Museum is now open to the public every Friday and weekend. [5]

Aircraft

See also

References

  1. "Owner of Gatwick Aviation Museum 'ready to fight' for new buildings". Surrey Mirror. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  2. "Air museum bid refused take off". Crawley Observer. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. "Gatwick Aviation Museum owner lodges planning appeal". Dorking Advertiser. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  4. "Gatwick aviation museum plan appeal dismissed". Redhill and Reigate Life. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  5. "News and Newsletters - Gatwick Aviation Museum". www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-26.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gatwick Aviation Museum.

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Coordinates: 51°9′8″N 0°12′56″W / 51.15222°N 0.21556°W / 51.15222; -0.21556

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