For decades, there had been an ambition to create a museum to commemorate the achievements of the aerospace industry in Bristol and, over the years, a group of enthusiasts have managed to assemble a collection of the legacy of Bristol-designed aerospace products.
The big push for this first step was the return of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot. Since then, various plans have been hatched to find a home for Concorde on the site where the supersonic airliner was designed, built and tested.
The new museum will enable people of all ages to learn about more than a century of aviation history.
From the earliest days of powered flight to the present day, a tour of the museum showcases over a hundred years of aviation history at Aerospace Bristol.
With apprenticeships at its core and the last Concorde to fly as a star attraction, Aerospace Bristol aims to inspiring the next generation to reach its full potential. The museum tells the remarkable story of Bristol's aerospace heritage and its impact on today's aerospace industry. A story of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things.
Known to this day as a world centre for aerospace design and engineering, Filton is home to world-leading companies such as BAE Systems, Airbus, Renishaw and Rolls Royce.
The museum's latest project was to transport one of the last remaining Type 170 Bristol Freighters from New Zealand to Filton. Designed and manufactured by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, a total of 214 Freighters and their passenger variant, Wayfarer, have been built and used by airlines and air forces around the world. Unfortunately, only 11 complete Freighters have survived to the present day and the one that has returned to Filton is the only one in Europe. The next step is to examine the condition of the Freighter and keep it safe for the near future, when it will eventually be displayed as part of the museum's collection.
The new museum will enable people of all ages to learn about more than a century of aviation history. Interactive exhibits will bring Bristol's rich aerospace heritage to life and tell the fascinating story of the achievements of people, industry and science.
