Flying across the Wiltshire border

By Emma Kirkup

Just a few miles from the Wiltshire border, into Hampshire, you’ll find the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop.

The museum is dedicated to the Army’s involvement in flight and includes gliders, planes and helicopters and on a grey December’s day I made a visit to see what there was on offer.

I started off my visit with a trip to the café. Here, there’s a viewing deck area and large windows where you can see the air base and the comings and goings of the various aircraft – mainly helicopters. Unfortunately though I seemed to have picked the time that most of the pilots seemed to be at lunch as well as once I’d entered the museum I could hear the aircraft taking off and landing!

The museum is set in two hangers, on entering the first one there were exhibitions about the early days of flight, about the involvement of the British Army in World War 1 and a variety of aircraft. Some of the aircraft are just for display purposes however there are some that visitors are welcome to touch and climb aboard, including the record breaking Lynx XX153 helicopter. Of course, I had to pose for a photo in it!

Within the museum there are several exhibition areas which showcase the various military campaigns that the British Army have been involved in including activity in Malaysia, Hong Kong, World War 2 and the Falkland’s War. Within these exhibits you not only find information boards but some more personal items including medals or in the case of the Falkland’s area, Argentinian foods that had been kept by some of the army personnel.

Younger visitors will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to try their hands at ‘hovering’ a helicopter, looking in at the 1940s house or visiting the small ball pool area. There is also a zone where you can dress up and climb into one of the helicopters.

There are some hair-raising exhibits in the museum including a very vulnerable looking helicopter that I failed to get the name of and some moving areas which tell of the loss of life that has so often been the case in conflict.

What also struck me was the closeness between this museum and other military parts of Wiltshire. For example, there is an exhibition area of Netheravon Airfield and also one on REME who will be opening their own military museum near Lynham in 2017.

If you are interested in military history or have a love of aviation then you will certainly enjoy a visit here plus it’s a great wet weather activity. I know several members of my family who’ll be keen to go here soon!

The admission fee for the museum is currently £12 for adults but for this you are given an annual pass so you can come back again. There is also fee admission to serving members of the Armed Forces and under 5s – check out the Museum of Army Flying’s website for full terms and conditions.

Being only around 10 miles from Salisbury, it’s an easy day out if you are staying in the area and you could also combine it with other attractions such as The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in the Cathedral Close or Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum.