Fleet Air Arm Museum

[EddyBee]

Has anyone been to the Fleet Air Arm museum in Yeovil?
Is it worth a visit?

I’m planning a trip from the Midlands down to the Tank museum in Bovington with my lad (He’s 5 and obsessed with anything military)

We’re borrowing my parents camper van and I thought we could go to the fleet air arm museum on the way down, camp somewhere then head down to Bovington.
If anyone has any any thoughts on the tank museum too that’d be great.

Edited by EddyBee on Saturday 7th September 21:09

[SydneyBridge]

Yeah been a few times and reallly good.
Haynes motor museum also worth a visit, only a few miles away.

Not been to tank museum but monkey world, pretty much next door, is excellent

[speedster986]

I went recently with my children and thought it was good. A Concorde as well as the military aircraft. As said above the Haynes museum is good if in the area.

[junglie]

I have done them both many times with my kids (8 and 6) and they are both fantastic.

Both kid friendly but also interesting for adults. Well laid out, plenty of things to see and do.

Bovington has a live track where you can go out in a tracked vehicle for a small fee.

The FAA museum is based on the RNAS Yeovilton site so you can see aircraft flying if you go during the week.

[Johnnytheboy]

Tank museum is great.

I did my speed awareness course at Yeovilton.

In order to go to the loo during a break you had to walk through the museum. We were instructed - without a trace of humour - not to look at any of the exhibits on the way.

[EddyBee]

Thanks for the replies, the Haynes Museum is a great shout.

Good to see that the FAA is worth a visit.

Unfortunately they tank rides at Bovington aren't running in October half term but it looks like he’s too short for them anyway.
Should be a good few days.

[Tony1963]

Maybe pay your respects at Lawrence of Arabia’s grave too?

[DavieBNL]

The other museum that a lot of folks forget in that neck of the woods is the Royal Signals one at Blandford: https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/
Really interesting visit - and not just a display of antennae and radios! - with the added unusual bonus that you have to gain admisssion to an active military base in the process.

[hantsxlg]

FAA museum is fab. The simulated helicopter flight out to the Ark Royal will be awesome for your son. I can recommend Longthorns campsite which is very close to Bovington.

There is a viewing point for the tank training ground on the road the tank museum is on. Turn right out of the tank museum exit and drive about a mile north and fairly soon after all the buildings the view point is on the right. Worth a stop for 15 min if the army are out teaching the latest batch to drive.

[Wacky Racer]

Yes, FAA museum is well worth a visit.

Allow a full afternoon at least.

Here's my dad, aged nineteen, extreme left, on HMS Formidable in the Pacific in 1943

[Evanivitch]

Fleet Air Arm and the Tank Museum are both fantastic. FAA museum is right next to the airfield so during week you'll definitely see active aircraft moving around.

At Bovington, you need to go to the viewing area during the week at enacted.flag.whistling (what3words) and you'll see everything from CVR(T) to Chally and maybe a glance at the future too. Just mind the spotters with the big lenses.

[egor110]

If there are any big exercises planned on salisbury plain you can see loads of tanks etc in the wild .

[Saleen836]

egor110 said:

If there are any big exercises planned on salisbury plain you can see loads of tanks etc in the wild .

The army were stationed at Knook camp with a LOT of ordnance last week for an exercise on Salisbury Plain, no idea how long they will be there but have seen a fair few Chinooks and Hercules flying around

[egor110]

Saleen836 said:

egor110 said:

If there are any big exercises planned on salisbury plain you can see loads of tanks etc in the wild .

The army were stationed at Knook camp with a LOT of ordnance last week for an exercise on Salisbury Plain, no idea how long they will be there but have seen a fair few Chinooks and Hercules flying around

pretty sure they list the exercises on the range wardens website or on some local salisbury plain page.

[Truckosaurus]

The Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop (just outside Salisbury) is also in the area if you have time.

[BrettMRC]

FAA & Haynes are local to me, both are great. They were, and may still be doing joint entry to both places on a single ticket - which is good value!

There is a lot to see at the FAA museum, so allow plenty of time.

Hawks, Merlins & Wildcats usually active at the base, but less around right now due to deployment on HMS QE. If you are lucky you will get flybys etc from F35s and overflights by F15s, B52s, B2s etc if any exercises are on.

The Sea Fury may be around too, although given the display season will be more or less over thats a slimer chance.

[Saleen836]

BrettMRC said:

FAA & Haynes are local to me, both are great. They were, and may still be doing joint entry to both places on a single ticket - which is good value!

There is a lot to see at the FAA museum, so allow plenty of time.

Hawks, Merlins & Wildcats usually active at the base, but less around right now due to deployment on HMS QE. If you are lucky you will get flybys etc from F35s and overflights by F15s, B52s, B2s etc if any exercises are on.

The Sea Fury may be around too, although given the display season will be more or less over thats a slimer chance.

That deal ended on Sept 2 sadly

[EddyBee]

Some great advice on here thanks.

We’ll probably do the Haynes museum on the day We travel down & camp for the night. Followed by the FAA and then the next day the tank museum.

Any ideas what sort of times they stop the tank training? He’d love to see some in action!

[ceesvdelst]

I think I went to the FAA museum on holiday down there years ago, had some great stuff in there, and was also great being near an active base, loads of things going on.

[lufbramatt]

FAA museum also has the carrier experience which although slightly cheesy would be great for kids- you enter via a "ride" on a Wessex helicopter and end up on a "flight deck" with projected takeoffs and landings. Great place with some really interesting exhibits.

Tank museum I found a bit samey- just halls full of green metal boxes- great if you're a tank geek but maybe a bit dry for a 5 year old. Good gift shop though.