Ulster Aviation Society

About the museum

The Ulster Aviation Society was founded in 1968 by aviation enthusiasts and is run entirely by volunteers. It began at Newtownards Aerodrome, moved in the 1990s to the former RAF airfield at Langford Lodge, and since about 2005 has been based at the former Long Kesh airfield near Lisburn, now known as Maze Long Kesh.

The collection is kept in two Second World War hangars of a type once used for building heavy bombers. It includes more than 50 aircraft and vehicles, among them fast jets such as a Tornado GR.4, a Phantom and a Jaguar, a Red Arrows Hawk, helicopters including the Lynx, Gazelle, Puma, Wessex and Scout, wartime and Shorts-built aircraft, civil and vintage aircraft and engines. Display rooms, an aviation library, seven flight simulators and six VR headsets add to the hangar tours.

The society is a registered charity and won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018. Its aim is to teach the public about the aviation history of Northern Ireland, including the part the region played in making aircraft in the twentieth century. Its education work includes a schools project to build a light aircraft and an archaeological dig for a crashed wartime fighter.

Visits are by pre-booked guided tour only, led by volunteers, and the hangars are unheated.

Highlights

• Two Second World War hangars at Maze Long Kesh
• Tornado GR.4, Phantom, Jaguar and Red Arrows Hawk jets
• Helicopters including the Lynx, Gazelle, Puma and Wessex
• Flight simulators and VR suite
• Volunteer-led tours with a chance to sit in cockpits

Permanent exhibitions

• Aircraft collection – Military jets, helicopters, wartime and civil aircraft and engines displayed in two Second World War hangars.
• Display rooms – Rooms with aviation artefacts and memorabilia alongside the hangars.
• Flight simulators and VR suite – Interactive suites with flight simulators and virtual reality headsets.

Founded

1968

Operated by

Ulster Aviation Society (volunteer-run charity)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Tours for families and small groups of up to 10 people are free and donations are welcomed. Larger groups are charged per person.

Accessibility

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

The car park and hangar floors are wheelchair accessible, although some surfaces inside the hangars may be uneven. Disabled toilets and baby changing are provided.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Family visits are welcome by advance booking. Children under 8 must be closely supervised and the hangars are not suitable at all for very young children. Flight simulators and a VR suite are part of the collection. Baby changing is available.

Getting there & parking

Access is only through Gate 3 at Maze Long Kesh, off Halftown Road; a security attendant at the barrier guides visitors. Satnav postcode BT27 5RF; what3words followers.deleting.kilt.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

There is no catering on site. A tourism listing for the museum mentions a gift shop and free Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The hangars and aircraft can be hired as a filming location, and aircraft and props can be hired for productions. Enquiries go to the society by email.

Plan your visit