If you into aviation (or not), this is a fantastic place to visit where the heritage centre has a range of historic jets and bombers, where you can actually get inside some of the aircraft! Yes that’s right, you can get in aircraft such as a Harrier, a Hunter and Sea Hawk!
The Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre is located near Cornwall Airport (Newquay) and can be easily found by following signs for RAF ST MAWGAN and approach from the A3059.
With really friendly and most amazing guides that are volunteers at the heritage centre, they are more than happy to assist with any information you require. There is a fully functional ex-Royal Air Force Hardened Aircraft Shelter hanger. There is a flight simulator (flying the Hakwer Hunter), over 1500 model aircraft, the beautiful collection of aircraft and with all this, you’ll have planes taking off and landing next door too from the airport. If you are lucky, you may get visiting aircraft from RAF ST MAWGAN. As soon as we arrived, Ted was lucky enough to get a video of a C130J Hercules (ZH874).
Aircraft at the CORNWALL AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE include:
BAE HARRIER GR3
ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRA T4
ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING F.53
HAWKER HUNTER GA11
HAWKER SEA HAWK FGA6
TORNADO F3 and GR4
VICKERS VARSITY T1
VICKERS VC10 K3
HAWKER HUNTER T8
HAWK T1
BOULTON PAUL BALLIOL T2
and more…
There is also a cafe and lovely gift shop to satisfy everyone.
Special thank you to Martin (guide) who kindly gave us the info regarding the Panavia Tornado GR4. He and the other fellow guides are so enthusiastic and so knowledgable, it’s really makes this place special. Also, because of the age we live in right now, Jason was a really happy chap who took care of the cleaning side of things to keep us all safe. Thanks Jason for subscribing!
It is interesting to know that a few of the aircraft are still owned by the RAF. The Tornado GR4 for example, is used by JARTS (Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron) who practice and rehearse recovery of aircraft. This is vital training in this type of scenario. JARTS are based at MoD Boscombe Down, who come and take the GR4 for training here. Also, the Royal Navy have painted the Hawk black and is no longer in the Red Arrows livery.
For more info, visit their site cornwallaviati...
Date visited: 21.09.21
27 сен 2024
