Royal Air Force Museum Cosford

The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands stands on the grounds of RAF Cosford in Shropshire. It is one of two sites run by the national museum, the other being in London. The Cosford site opened in 1979 to display training airframes from the base. Over the years it grew to include developmental aircraft and rare examples such as the only surviving Vickers Wellington. The museum also houses the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, where aircraft are restored for display across both sites. The museum is worth visiting for its important collections and the stories they tell. It holds developmental aircraft that led to the English Electric Lightning and the BAC TSR-2. The National Cold War Exhibition displays V bombers and Cold War artefacts in an 8,000 square metre building designed by Fielden Clegg Bradley. The exhibition was developed by Neal Potter and includes ‘silo theatres’ that recreate Cold War tensions. Visitors can also see the Hunter T.7 once flown by No. 74 Squadron and a gate guard Hunter F.6A that served with the School of Technical Training. A visitor finds several hangars and galleries across the site. Hangar 1 displays aero engines and German World War II missiles. The National Cold War Exhibition building contains Cold War aircraft and themed displays. The Conservation Centre restores aircraft such as the Handley Page Hampden and Dornier Do 17. The museum is reached by public transport via Cosford railway station on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line.