Farnborough Air Sciences Museum

WELCOMES YOU

Discover the Cody Flyer

See a full-size replica of the Cody Flyer which made the first powered flight in the UK in 1908

Walk around our aircraft on display outside

Tour our static aircraft including a Harrier – you might even get the chance to sit in it!

(Image: Hawker Hunter T7 WV383)

Take flight in our Simulators

Have a go in one of our simulators – you could be flying a Lightning, Harrier, Concorde or the Cody Flyer.

(Image: Concorde Flight Simulator – located Hall 2)

Explore the history of the Royal Aircraft Factory

See the last aircraft built at Farnborough and discover its range and endurance

(Image: SE5 Manufactured at the Royal Aircraft Factory)

Find out about rocketry at Farnborough

Examine part of a rocket that has actually been in space! It’s a bit bent from when it landed.

(Image: Black Arrow Rocket – located Cody Pavilion)

Discover technology developed at Farnborough

Find out what colour a Flight Data Recorder or Black Box is. (You have probably guessed it’s not black!)

Explore our Architectural Heritage

Explore our building which was originally built as the Army Balloon School. It is where the first seven Royal Flying Corps (later the RAF) Squadrons were formed.

Explore the Museum

The FAST Museum includes a fascinating collection of aircraft, equipment, machinery, photographs, films, reports and books related to Farnborough’s illustrious aviation history.

And there are always enthusiastic experts always on hand to answer your questions!

(FAST is unfortunately unable to offer Work Experience due to the Museum’s limited opening hours).

FAST Museum

Trenchard House
85 Farnborough Road
Farnborough
Hampshire GU14 6TF

Tel: 01252 375050
(Office manned Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays)

Visitor Information

Public opening and everything you need to know to plan your visit to the Museum

GUIDED TOURS

Book a Guided Tour of the Museum on Tuesdays and Thursdays

GALLERIES & COLLECTIONS

Explore our display halls, galleries and collections

FLIGHT SIMULATORS

Experience what it’s like to be a Top Gun pilot, fly concorde and many more!

Aircraft on Display

Full-sized aircraft, sections and cockpits on display outside the Museum.

MUSEUM ARCHIVES

Explore the range of documents, film and photography in our archive.

Venue Hire

A special setting for your meeting or event.
Aircraft also available for film and TV hire.

WHAT’S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

Temporary Exhibits

Black Arrow Rocket

The 4th March marked 50 years since the Black Arrow rocket conducted its first successful flight. Black Arrow would become the first, and currently only, British rocket to carry a British satellite into space when it placed the Prospero science satellite into orbit in 1971.

The UK Space Agency is partnering with FAST and the British rocket launch provider Skyrora to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black Arrow launch and the current success of the UK space sector.

Skyrora brought the first stage of Black Arrow back to the UK from Australia two years ago and has lent it to the FAST museum where it will be on display until March 2023.

Exhibit Details

Zephyr Unmanned Aerial System at Farnborough Air Sciences Museum

Zephyr Unmanned Aerial Observation & Communications Relay

In the Cody Pavilion, suspended over the Cody Flyer, is an unmanned aerial system called Zephyr which was donated by Airbus Space and Defence UK.

The Zephyr first flew approximately 100 years after the Cody Flyer made its first flight in 1908, but where the Cody Flyer’s flight lasted a few seconds the Zephyr can fly for up to 25 days because it is powered by Solar energy, with secondary batteries charged in daylight to power overnight flight.

It has a Wingspan of 25m is made largely of Carbon Fibre, weighs just 75Kg, and uses Lithium Sulphur batteries. Flying at a height of 60,000 ft, it can be fitted with a variety of payloads allowing it to be used for a range of tasks such as maritime surveillance, border security or early warning.

Exhibit Details

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

Reviews

“The perfect day out”

Absolutely adored this museum. The investment in ensuring this part of Farnborough’s history stays in people’s minds is absolutely wonderful. The volunteers were exceptionally helpful, informative and full of decades worth of experience. An added bonus is that some of the static aircraft are also open to visitors to sit in. The perfect day out!

“Awesome aviation and superb science”

What a brilliant little museum! I loved the eclectic mix of aircraft science memorabilia. The enthusiastic staff were on hand to explain everything. The replica of Cody’s airplane was superb and the audio recording of his first flight really brought the exhibit to life.

“A wonderful tour”

What a wonderful tour of the FAST museum in Farnborough. A diamond that is missed by most locals but what a treat. The place is run entirely by volunteers – I was amazed by their knowledge and experience. They made us feel so welcome. We were there for 2 hours but barely skimmed the surface of the heritage they are custodians of.

“Great for all ages”

Easy to find and simple parking. Variety of planes and cockpits outside but the goodies were inside. All those pieces of history flooding my 10 year old’s brain and me like a kid in a sweet shop reading all the info from WW1 to Concorde. The most important factor are the people who volunteer. They are the true spirit of aviation in this museum. I loved it and so did my 10 year old son.

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