A bit about our exhibits
Local aviation history is strongly featured in the Wings Over Coventry gallery on the mezzanine floor of the main hangar, showcasing products from local manufacturers, particularly Armstrong-Whitworth, Armstrong-Siddeley (and successors Bristol-Siddeley and Rolls-Royce, Humber, Alvis and Dunlop.
With one of the City of Coventry’s most famous sons – Sir Frank Whittle – being regarded as the Father of the Jet Age, it is no coincidence that the Museum’s strongest theme is the development of the jet and jet-powered aircraft. The story of the jet is an international one and our range of jet aircraft exhibits reflect that, ranging from the Swedish SAAB J29 Tunnan, Dassault Mystère IVA, the English Electric Lightning, right through to the mighty American McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II.
Aircraft in the spotlight
The incredible variety of designs produced by the British aircraft industry in the 1950s and 1960s is represented at the Museum – from carrier-borne types such as the Hawker Sea Hawk, de Havilland Sea Vixen, Fairey Gannet and Sea Harrier to RAF fighters such as the Vampire, Meteor, Hunter, Javelin and Lightning. The jet bomber force is represented too, most notably by the English Electric Canberra and the huge Avro Vulcan 4-engined nuclear bomber. We also have several military trainers including the American Lockheed T-33, the Polish PZL Iskra and the British Vampire T.11.
