Skip to main page content (AccessKey S)
 |
 |
Visitor Information: The Concorde Experience |
Regular travellers along the A1 through East Lothian will have seen signs pointing to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune. This is a slight detour well worth taking for anyone with an interest in aviation: all the more so since the launch of the museum's "Concorde Experience" in 2005.
|
||||||||||||
The Museum of Flight is the Scottish National Aviation Museum, and part of the National Museums of Scotland. It occupies the four hangars and a number of other buildings at East Fortune airfield. The museum originally opened its doors to the public on 7 July 1975 and has since gone from strength to strength.
It is now home to a large and impressive collection of over 50 complete aircraft, plus many aero-engines, aircraft parts, models and a large reference library of publications and images. The Museum of Flight also hosts a range of special events and air shows during the year: details are on their web site.
After passing through the museum's new visitor reception building and shop, most visitors begin their visit at the Concorde Experience, housed in Hangar 4. Virtually the whole hangar is given over to the dramatically lit Concorde which made an epic journey from Heathrow to East Fortune by land and sea in 2004. A range of displays give an insight into all aspects of Concorde's development and operation, but for most people it is the aircraft itself which commands attention.
And it's not just the outside of the world's most remarkable aeroplane you can admire. It is possible to purchase Concorde Boarding Passes (see info, right) which give access to the remarkably long and even more remarkably narrow interior. Boarding Passes are booked for a particular time and numbers are limited, to ensure that visitors are able to enjoy the experience to the full. It is advisable to book Boarding Passes in advance.
The Museum of Flight has three other hangars at East Fortune. Furthest from the man entrance and Concorde Experience is Hangar 1. You can't miss it: this is the hangar with the Avro Vulcan and the De Havilland Comet parked outside. Here you find the museum's excellent collection of post-WWII military jets.
 Concorde Passenger Cabin |
|
 Concorde Cockpit |
|
 Concorde |
|
 Avro Vulcan B2A |
Most obvious as you enter is a Lightning F2A used by 92 Squadron at RAF Gutersloh in Germany in the 1970s. But you will also find other aircraft including the Meteor, Harrier and Buccaneer, and a naval collection including the Sea Hawk and Sea Vixen: plus a US Marines Phantom from the Vietnam War.
In Hangar 2 is the museum's collection of commercial passenger aircraft. These include classics like a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, a De Havilland Dove, and a Beech E-18. An earlier generation of aircraft are presented by a De Havilland Dragon and an Avro Anson under going restoration.
The remaining hangar at East Fortune, Hangar 3, houses the museum's reserve collection of aircraft and access is by means of regular guided tours.
East Fortune itself has a history dating back to 1916, when it was used as a base by aircraft defending Edinburgh from attack by Zeppelins. In 1919 the airfield was the point of departure for the R34 airship as it set off on its record breaking return trip over the Atlantic. East Fortune served throughout WWII and in the summer of 1961 served as Edinburgh's airport while the runway at Turnhouse was rebuilt. It has spent the last 25 years as the home of the Museum of Flight.
 Lightning F2A in Hangar 1 |
