Sir Frank Whittle (1907–1996), a British mechanical prodigy, created the jet engine. Ian, his son, is a supporter of the Jet Age Museum.
In August 2013, the Jet Age Museum opened its doors, marking the start of a new chapter in the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection’s 30-year existence.
The Gloucestershire Aviation Collection is a business limited by guarantee and a registered charity with roughly 500 members. It was founded in 1986 by a group of people who wanted to preserve Gloucestershire’s aviation history.
Between 1986 and 2013, the organisation persevered, accumulating a one-of-a-kind collection of aircraft and artefacts reflecting the region’s aeronautical history.
By early 2013, fundraising efforts had raised over £300,000, allowing the Museum to begin construction on the first phase of its permanent building.
The organisation is and has always been, totally run by volunteers, with roughly 170 of them willingly donating their time to share their love of aviation with their visitors or to assist behind the scenes.
To build on the Museum’s initial success, the Trustees of the Charity recognised that their facilities needed to be expanded, and planning approval for their Phase 2 building was acquired. This became a reality in 2019, however, it is still in the process of being finished.
A new engineering workshop, more archive and display space, as well as a classroom and audio-visual theatre, are all part of the long-term plan.
They will continue to raise funds to help them attain their goals as quickly as possible.
