Royal Air Force Museum

Royal Air Force Museum, in the United Kingdom, national museum dedicated to the story of flight and aerial warfare, with a special emphasis on the history of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The museum was opened in 1972 in a building formed from two aircraft hangars dating to World War I at the Hendon Aerodrome in northwestern London.

The collection comprises more than 80 different aircraft on display, recovered from many different parts of the world. They include a Sopwith F1 Camel, a replica of a Vickers FB5 “Gunbus,” and a de Havilland DH9A (examples of World War I airplanes); all the principal British and German aircraft of World War II; and a number of prototypes, as well as contemporary military aircraft. There is also a good collection of memorabilia—including uniforms, decorations, and trophies—relating to flying and to key personalities in the history of flight. The art collection includes works by Jacob Epstein, Russell Flint, Laura Knight, Frank Salisbury, and David Shepherd. There is a branch museum (Royal Air Force Museum Midlands) at Cosford, Shropshire, where a large collection of aircraft is kept.

Displays at the Hendon Aerodrome tell the story of aviation and air war mainly through the remarkable collection of aircraft, with special emphasis on the role of the RAF fighter and bomber during World War II. However, there are also displays of early equipment, personalia, dioramas, models, and reconstructions, as well as hands-on opportunities, including a flight simulator for an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon.