Wings Museum

About the museum

The Wings Museum was started in 2003 by the brothers Daniel and Kevin Hunt, who had collected relics from old wartime airfields since the late 1970s. It first opened in the former Gas Decontamination Block at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, and later moved into Hangar 9, the first hangar built at the aerodrome in 1934. It became a registered charity at that time.

The museum later moved to Brantridge Lane near Balcombe in West Sussex, where it occupies a large former farm building. It is run by volunteers, is a member of Aviation Heritage UK and is affiliated with the Royal Air Forces Association.

The displays are arranged by theme and focus on the people behind the objects. They include aero engines, airframes, cockpits, gun turrets, uniforms, medals and flying equipment, with sections on the Home Front and the Blitz, Bomber Command, the Battle of Britain, fighters, D-Day and the Eastern Front. Visitors can walk inside the fuselage of a Douglas C-47 Dakota that took part in D-Day. The museum also carries out aircraft restoration, aviation archaeology and aircrew memorial projects.

Highlights

• Douglas C-47 Dakota fuselage that visitors can enter
• Aero engines, airframes, cockpits and gun turrets
• Displays on the Home Front, Blitz and Battle of Britain
• D-Day, Bomber Command and Russian Front exhibits
• Anderson and Morrison shelters

Permanent exhibitions

• The Home Front, the Blitz and the Battle of Britain – Everyday objects, shelters and equipment from civilian life and the air war over Britain.
• D-Day and beyond – Objects from the Normandy landings and the campaign afterwards, including a Dakota transport aircraft fuselage.
• Into the Atom: RAF nuclear cloud sampling 1952 to 1958 – A display on the RAF flights that sampled the clouds from British nuclear tests.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Wings Museum (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

No booking is needed, but gift entry tickets can be bought online. Some special events carry an extra entry charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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 museum says all displays are accessible by wheelchair or ramp, and they are on one level. Staff can help, and a wheelchair is available for disabled visitors to use. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children can sit in a Dakota cockpit, try Morse code, use an old-fashioned telephone, explore an Anderson shelter and use a dressing-up box. Quizzes for different age groups can be downloaded. Children must be supervised closely because the displays show the reality of war, including battle damage.

Getting there & parking

The museum is between the villages of Balcombe and Handcross and about 15 minutes by car from London Gatwick Airport, with easy access from the M23.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a small shop. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are available on site. The museum is not centrally heated and can be very cold in winter.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit