Wight Aviation Museum

The Wight Aviation Museum, nestled in a converted hangar at Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight, celebrates over a century of local aviation and aerospace achievement. Its star exhibit is a full-scale replica of the iconic Black Arrow R3 rocket, standing 13 m tall—the only one in the UK displayed vertically.

Inside, visitors can explore:

• WWI–WWII aeronautical history, including the “Anatomy of a Spitfire” display and the inspiring story of Mary Ellis, ATA pilot and airport commandant.
• A majestic Saunders-Roe Princess flying boat—once the world’s largest all-metal flying boat—alongside hovercraft heritage and a CC7 Cushion Craft restoration project.
• A restored Skeeter helicopter and a Scottish Aviation Beagle Bulldog fuselage transformed into a VR flight simulator, offering immersive virtual flights around the island.
• Extensive collections of model aircraft, Concorde test models, and personal archives like the Anne Springman photo collection.

The museum also includes an onsite shop, an “Ops Room” for group events, and is run by passionate volunteers. Entry is free at the time of writing (though donations are appreciated), making it a rewarding, family‑friendly excursion that brings the island’s flying heritage vividly to life.