Royal Air Force Museum Midlands (RAF Cosford)

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About Royal Air Force Museum Midlands (RAF Cosford)

Located at RAF Cosford in the heart of Shropshire, the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands offers a comprehensive and engaging history of aviation, with a special focus on the Cold War. The museum is spread across several large hangars and is home to over 75 historic aircraft.

The jewel in the crown of the museum is the National Cold War Exhibition. Housed in a striking landmark building, this exhibition is the only place in the world where you can see all three of Britain's iconic V-bombers - the Vulcan, Victor, and Valiant - displayed together. It also features a vast collection of other aircraft, tanks, vehicles, and missiles from the period, telling the story of the Cold War in an immersive and innovative way.

Other key areas include the 'War in the Air' hangar, which showcases aircraft from the Second World War, including the world's oldest Spitfire and one of only two surviving Vickers Wellingtons. The 'Test Flight' hangar contains a fascinating collection of experimental and prototype aircraft, many of which were developed in secret, such as the futuristic Bristol 188 and the legendary BAC TSR-2. The museum also provides a home for transport and training aircraft, as well as a dedicated Falklands War exhibition.

With free admission and a range of interactive exhibits and family-friendly activities, the RAF Museum Midlands is a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts and families alike.

Location

Aircraft Collection

Exhibits can change. To avoid disappointment, before visiting, please check the museum website for up-to-date exhibit listings.

• Armstrong Whitworth Argosy T.1 (Cargo transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14 (Night Fighter) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Avro Anson C.19 Series 1 (Medium transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Avro Lincoln B.2/4A RF398 (Heavy bomber) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar)
• Avro Vulcan B.1 (nose section only) (Bomber) - In storage (Cosford reserve collection)
• Avro Vulcan B.2 XM598 (Strategic bomber) Static Display
• Avro York C.1 (Transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• BAC TSR-2 (XR220) (Strike and reconnaissance) Static Display
• Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.6A (“Bravo November”) (Military transport helicopter) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1) (Falklands exhibit)
• Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Boulton Paul Sea Balliol T.21 (Naval trainer aircraft) - In storage (former display item, now off display)
• Bristol Bolingbroke Mk IV (as Bristol Blenheim) (Bomber aircraft) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar) (Restored to Blenheim configuration)
• Bristol Britannia 312 (Transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park) (Civil airliner in RAF markings)
• Bristol M.1C (replica) (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Canadair Sabre F.4 (Fighter / Jet Fighter) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Comper CLA.7 Swift (Light aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina (Maritime patrol aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• de Havilland Chipmunk T.10 (Trainer aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1) (Used by HRH Duke of Edinburgh)
• de Havilland Comet 1XB G-APAS (Airliner) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• de Havilland Devon C.2/2A (Transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (Light bomber / fighter) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar)
• de Havilland Tiger Moth II (Biplane trainer) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar)
• de Havilland Vampire T.11 (Fighter trainer) - In storage (training aircraft, reserve collection)
• de Havilland Venom FB.4 (Fighter-bomber) - In storage (ex-Swiss Air Force, former display)
• Dornier Do 17 Z-2 (Medium bomber) - Under restoration (long-term conservation at Cosford) (Battle of Britain-era German bomber)
• Douglas Dakota C.4 (Military transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• English Electric Canberra PR.9 XH171 (Medium bomber reconnaissance) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• English Electric P.1A (Lightning prototype) (Fighter prototype) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Fairey Delta 2 (Research aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Fieseler Fi 156-C7 Storch (Liaison aircraft) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar)
• Gloster Gladiator Mk I (Biplane fighter) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Gloster Javelin FAW.1 (Fighter jet) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Handley Page Hastings T.5 (Transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Handley Page Victor K.2 (“Maid Marian”) (Aerial refueling tanker) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Hawker “Afghan” Hind (export variant) (Fighter-bomber) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar) (Ex-Afghan Air Force)
• Hawker Hart Trainer (II) (Light bomber trainer) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Hawker Hunter F.6A (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Hawker Hunter FR.10 (Fighter-Reconnaissance Aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Hawker Hunter T.7A (Fighter-trainer aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Hawker Siddeley Andover E.3A (Medium transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Hawker Siddeley Dominie T.1 (Training aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 (Fighter/Attack Aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1) (Falklands exhibit)
• Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 (Fighter-ground attack) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 (Maritime patrol aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Hunting H.126 (Jetlift) (Research aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.3 XM351 (Training aircraft) Static Display - On public display (outside Hangar 1)
• Hunting Percival Pembroke C.1 (Transport/Utility Aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Junkers Ju 88 R-1 (Twin-engine bomber) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar)
• Lockheed C-130K Hercules C.3 (Transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (Maritime patrol aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park) (ex-Royal Netherlands Navy)
• Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop (“Black 6”) (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar) (Luftwaffe, North Africa)
• Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a (Fighter-bomber) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar) (Captured Luftwaffe jet)
• Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U2 (Medium bomber) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar) (Luftwaffe, ex-RAE Farnborough)
• Mignet HM.14 “Flying Flea” (Light sport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Mikoyan MiG-15bis (Fighter jet) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition) (Polish Air Force)
• Mikoyan MiG-21PF (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition) (Hungarian Air Force)
• Miles Magister Mk I (Training aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Saunders-Roe SR.53 (Experimental fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1 XX654 (Training aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Scottish Aviation Jetstream T.1 (Trainer aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC.2 (Utility transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• SEPECAT Jaguar ACT (research aircraft) (Fighter research aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Short Belfast C.1 (“Enceladus”) (Strategic transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition)
• Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV (Military transport helicopter) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition) (USAF special ops helicopter)
• Sopwith 1½ Strutter (replica) (Reconnaissance-bomber aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Sopwith Pup (Biplane fighter) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar) (Royal Naval Air Service)
• Supermarine Spitfire (replica) (Fighter aircraft (replica)) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1) (Non-airworthy replica)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk I (Fighter aircraft) Static Display - On public display (Test Flight hangar)
• Vickers Valiant B.1 (Strategic bomber) Static Display - On public display (National Cold War Exhibition) (Delivered Britain’s first H-bomb test)
• Vickers Varsity T.1 (Transport trainer) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)
• Vickers VC10 C.1K (Strategic transport aircraft) Static Display - On public display (External park)
• Vickers Wellington T.10 MF628 (Maritime Bomber) Static Display - On public display (War in the Air hangar) (Recently restored after decade-long conservation)
• Westland Wessex HC.2 (Utility helicopter) Static Display - On public display (Hangar 1)