Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre

About the museum

The centre stands on the site of RAF East Kirkby, a Second World War bomber airfield in the Lincolnshire countryside. It was founded by two farming brothers, Fred and Harold Panton, and opened in 1988 as a memorial to Bomber Command. It also honours their eldest brother, Christopher Witton Panton, who was killed when his aircraft was shot down on a raid over Nuremberg in March 1944.

The starting point for the collection was the Avro Lancaster NX611, which Fred and Harold bought when it came up for sale and brought to their land. They first meant to keep it privately, but friends suggested that it be shown to the public. The Lancaster, later named Just Jane, and the restored wartime control tower became the museum's main attractions.

The museum describes itself as one of the largest independent museums in Britain and says it receives no government or lottery funding. Today it is working to return Just Jane to flight and also looks after a Mosquito, which together with the Lancaster is said to make the site the only place where both types can be seen running.

Besides the aircraft, the site has displays on the early bombers, the RAF Escaping Society, civilian life on the home front and a memorial chapel with the names of those lost from the airfield.

Highlights

• Avro Lancaster NX611 Just Jane, which the centre aims to return to flight
• De Havilland Mosquito HJ711 and a running Lancaster on selected days
• Restored wartime control tower
• Memorial chapel naming 848 aircrew and ground crew lost from RAF East Kirkby
• RAF Escape Museum and a Home Front display with an Anderson shelter
• Wartime NAAFI building with café and shop

Permanent exhibitions

• The Hangar – Home of the Lancaster NX611 Just Jane and the Mosquito HJ711, where visitors can get close to the aircraft and see restoration work.
• Control Tower and RAF Escape Museum – The restored wartime control tower and a museum on the RAF Escaping Society, which honours people who helped downed airmen in occupied Europe.
• Home Front – Wartime civilian life including the Home Guard, rationing, a wartime kitchen, the Land Army, evacuation and an Anderson shelter.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Privately owned and run by the Panton family

Visitors per year

approx. 40,000

Admission & discounts

Prices apply on normal opening days and can differ on special event days. Advance booking is not needed on ordinary days but is essential for some larger events. Lancaster and Mosquito taxi rides and tours are separate paid experiences.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre publishes an accessibility statement that can be downloaded from its website. It no longer has wheelchairs for public use, so visitors need to bring their own. Dogs are welcome on a short lead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

The centre offers an education activity day for school groups, a Home Front resource pack and teachers' worksheets. Baby changing is available in the toilets.

Getting there & parking

The centre is just outside the village of East Kirkby on the A155. A page for pilots explains how to fly in.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Food and drink are served in the wartime NAAFI building, which also houses the souvenir shop. Free toilets include a disabled toilet and baby changing.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit