Bristol Aero Collection

Type: Museum

Located in a World War II hangar on Kemble airfield, the Bristol Aero Collection is dedicated to the preservation and display of products of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and its sister companies. The Bristol Aeroplane Company was founded in 1910 by Sir George White, a Victorian entrepreneur, whose venture into aeroplane manufacture in Filton, Bristol sprang from his successful tramway and bus companies.

On display are military and civil aircraft ranging from the diminutive Babe of 1919, the cockpit of the “Whispering Giant” Britannia to the Concorde Mock-up of the 1960s and engines from the Pegasus though the Centaurus to the mighty Olympus which powered the Concorde.

Road transport starts with the restored Bristol horse-drawn tram, a 1920 Bristol lorry to a 1970s Bristol double-decker bus in which historic aviation videos can be viewed.

The world’s first twin rotor twin engined helicopter is displayed together with a single rotor Sycamore. Also on display are Bloodhound air defence missiles, Polaris/Chevaline and many air to air, air to ground and ground to air missiles. Space activity is shown with a mock-up of the Giotto and Envisat spacecraft.

Open Easter weekend and then Sundays and Mondays until end October. Open Mondays all year except Christmas and New Year. Last entry 3:30pm.

Opening Times

2012 22/04/2012 - 31/10/2012

2013 10/01/2013 - 18/04/2013

Tickets Information

Road Directions

About 4 miles south west of Cirencester on the A429.