About
The Midland Air Museum is an independent aviation museum at Coventry Airport (Baginton), operated by the Midland Air Museum Trust — a volunteer-led charitable organisation dedicated to preserving the history of aviation and its connections to the Coventry and West Midlands area. The museum houses a collection of over 30 historic aircraft and a significant assembly of aero engines, aviation artefacts, and associated material covering British aviation from the biplane era to the supersonic age.
At the heart of the museum's identity is the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre, dedicated to Frank Whittle — the Coventry-born inventor of the jet engine, whose revolutionary invention transformed aviation and changed the world. Whittle was born at Earlsdon, Coventry, in 1907, and despite enormous institutional resistance, patented his turbojet engine in 1930 and flew the world's first jet-powered aircraft on 15 May 1941. The jet engine is one of the defining technological achievements of the 20th century, and its inventor's connection to Coventry makes the Midland Air Museum a site of significant national and international importance in the history of technology.
The aircraft collection spans the full arc of aviation history, from early biplanes and inter-war designs through Second World War types, post-war jet fighters, Cold War aircraft, and more recent civilian and military types. Many aircraft in the collection are rare survivors, preserved through decades of volunteer effort and technical skill. Alongside the aircraft, the museum displays aero engines, cockpit sections, instrumentation, uniforms, personal effects of aviators, and documentary material relating to the history of flight and its connections to the Coventry area.
The museum's location at Coventry Airport connects it directly to a site with its own aviation history — the aerodrome opened in the 1930s and served as a wartime training and operational base before developing as a commercial airport. The sense of operational aviation history associated with the site adds context to the museum's collections and exhibitions.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Wednesday, Thursday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday openings for quietest experience; special event days are busier but more atmospheric
💡 Visitor Tips
- Allow at least two to three hours — the aircraft park, the indoor displays, and the Whittle Jet Heritage Centre together reward an extended visit, and aviation enthusiasts will want considerably longer.
- The Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre is the museum's most significant claim to national importance — allow time to understand the story of Whittle's invention, which is one of the most dramatic and underappreciated technological narratives of the 20th century.
- The Lunt Roman Fort is about 500 metres away — combine both sites in a single day for an extraordinary historical range, from a Roman cavalry fort of 60 AD to Cold War jet aircraft of the 1950s.
- The museum is operated almost entirely by volunteers who are typically highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the collection — engage them in conversation about specific aircraft or the Whittle story for insights you won't find in the display labels.
- Admission prices are estimated — verify current charges on the museum website before visiting. The museum is a charitable trust and admission income directly supports aircraft preservation.
- The outdoor aircraft park is exposed — wear a waterproof in uncertain weather. Many aircraft can be viewed in all conditions, but some access may be limited in very wet or windy weather.
- Check the museum website for special event days (air shows, themed weekends, aircraft maintenance demonstrations) which offer the most animated and atmospheric experience of the collection.
Highlights
Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre
The centrepiece of the Midland Air Museum is the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre — a dedicated gallery celebrating Frank Whittle, who was born in Coventry in 1907 and who invented the turbojet engine, one of the defining technological achievements of the 20th century. Whittle patented his jet engine design in 1930, having conceived the principle while an RAF cadet.
Despite years of official scepticism and inadequate funding, his company, Power Jets Ltd, ran the world's first jet engine on the ground in 1937 and flew the Gloster E.
28/39 experimental aircraft powered by a Whittle engine on 15 May 1941. The Heritage Centre tells this extraordinary story of persistence against institutional resistance and celebrates the man who transformed aviation forever.
Historic Aircraft Collection — Over 30 Aircraft
The museum's outdoor and indoor aircraft collection spans the history of aviation from early biplanes and inter-war designs through to Cold War jets and more recent types, with over 30 aircraft preserved and displayed on site.
The collection is strong in British military and civil aircraft from the post-war era, including several types that are rare survivors in any form. Iconic aircraft such as the Avro Vulcan (the delta-winged V-bomber of the Cold War era), de Havilland Vampire jet trainer, and English Electric Lightning interceptor represent the pinnacle of British aviation engineering.
Many aircraft are displayed in open-air conditions, allowing visitors to walk up close and appreciate their scale and form.
Avro Vulcan — Cold War Delta Bomber
The Avro Vulcan is one of the most visually dramatic aircraft in any collection — a massive delta-winged jet bomber that was the primary nuclear delivery vehicle for the RAF during the Cold War. The Vulcan's distinctive silhouette, massive delta wing, and four buried jet engines made it one of the most recognisable aircraft of the Cold War era.
The Midland Air Museum's Vulcan is one of a relatively small number of surviving examples and a major draw for aviation enthusiasts.
The aircraft can be viewed up close, allowing visitors to appreciate the extraordinary scale and engineering ambition of this Cold War deterrent.
Aero Engine Collection
Alongside the complete aircraft, the museum holds a significant collection of aero engines — the mechanical hearts of aircraft across more than a century of aviation. The engine collection ranges from early piston engines of the biplane era through wartime radial engines, early turbojets of the type pioneered by Whittle, to later turbofan designs.
Each engine type represents a stage in the continuous evolution of aviation propulsion technology.
For visitors with a technical interest in engineering, the engine collection provides an opportunity to study the development of aviation power plants in unusual depth and proximity.
Collections
The Midland Air Museum holds over 30 historic aircraft covering the period from the inter-war era to the late 20th century, with particular strength in British military aircraft from the Second World War, post-war era, and Cold War period. The aircraft collection includes rare survivors of several significant types, including the Avro Vulcan, English Electric Lightning, de Havilland Vampire, and others.
Alongside the aircraft, the museum holds a significant aero engine collection tracing the development of aviation propulsion technology, alongside instruments, uniforms, personal effects, photographs, and documentary material relating to aviation history and Coventry's aviation connections.
The Frank Whittle collection, housed in the dedicated Jet Heritage Centre, is of particular national significance.
Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre
A dedicated exhibition celebrating the life and achievement of Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), Coventry-born inventor of the turbojet engine, including personal artefacts, technical displays explaining the jet engine principle, and the story of the long struggle to bring his invention to fruition.
📍 Whittle Jet Heritage Centre
Historic Aircraft Collection
Over 30 historic aircraft displayed in outdoor and indoor settings, covering British and international aviation from the inter-war period to the late 20th century.
📍 Outdoor aircraft park and indoor hangars
Coventry Aviation Heritage
The story of Coventry's contributions to British aviation through its engineering industries and the history of Coventry Airport at Baginton.
📍 Heritage gallery
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.