Which aviation museum do you think has the best website?

Not just photos, but they should also have full histories of the airframes in the collection, as many of the better websites such as NASM do. Unless they do that, allowing researchers to access this data easily, they are not serious museums in my view, merely theme parks for entertainment.

I don’t disagree.

That reminds me of another nice website for a small museum.
http://skagitaero.com

The Skagit museum, just5 north of seattle, is home to a number of airworthy pre-war and immediate post-war GA classic aircraft.
Their site has details, with histories, on each of the aircraft, as well as blogs and restoration, Fly-in and other events.

Good to see a smaller museum with such a nice site…especially since they have aircraft you don’t often see in museums.

I haven’t looked at every museum website, but the NMUSAF’s is very good.
Good photos of all their exhibits, plus historic photos if you take the time to look.

What I don’t like are museums that can’t be bothered topost photos of all their aircraft. Sometimes I just want to check a paint scheme or some detail.
Perhaps they think if you can see them on line you won’t visit?

Not just photos, but they should also have full histories of the airframes in the collection, as many of the better websites such as NASM do. Unless they do that, allowing researchers to access this data easily, they are not serious museums in my view, merely theme parks for entertainment.

Once again thanks everyone as the information and suggestions have been tremendously valuable.

Over the weekend we will be going over final layouts and making the final decisions.

All of the bits and pieces that have been collected are being thrown into the discussion pot.

Thanks again

Tom

I haven’t looked at every museum website, but the NMUSAF’s is very good.
Good photos of all their exhibits, plus historic photos if you take the time to look.

What I don’t like are museums that can’t be bothered topost photos of all their aircraft. Sometimes I just want to check a paint scheme or some detail.
Perhaps they think if you can see them on line you won’t visit?

A few more website thoughts!

One challenge that a lot of websites face is how to meet the needs of the visually impaired in an appropriate way (changeable font sizes etc.), whilst also meeting the requirements of people accessing website via portable / handheld devices (phones, tablets etc.)!

This challenge has a cost implication as does, trying to introduce fully searchable functionality into a website at a late stage in its development. However does search engine technology (G****e etc.) make this so important?

To make websites easier to update should you be looking to use CMS (content management system) software for the whole site? The flip side to this is the possibility of a slightly more rigid / standardised design format.

It may be worthwhile noting that some UK museum websites may also be developing a more ‘samey-feel’ due to the requirements of them trying to meet the requirements of VAQAS / Accreditation.

Finally for now, websites can also benefit from ‘bolt-on’ links like this one to Empedia – and yes before anyone comments NAM is aware that the external Audio link is broken on its website – sorry!

Yes, I probably didn’t express that very well. What I intended to say was it avoids giving so much information that it persuades people who could visit that they don’t need to as they’ve see enough on the website. Paying visitors are, of course, the lifeblood of small non-government-funded museums such as Tangmere.

I do take the point, though, about those who can’t get to the museum and I’d be very interested in any suggestions to improve the service the website can give to that category of “visitor” without falling into the trap mentioned in the first paragraph.

Pete

Tom,
You could do worse than take a look at Tangmere’s new website – http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/

I hadn’t visited that site before, but it IS a really good design.

The search feature even found results for “transom”, which I had spotted in the Artefacts list. Impressed.

Not being a museum curator I don’t have a concern about “virtual tourists”; many of us won’t be able to visit these museums anyway, so putting as much info as possible online is in my opinion a good thing if it causes the museum’s site to become a reference point.

One other request: as on the Tangmere site, please include public transport directions for visiting.

Tom,
You could do worse than take a look at Tangmere’s new website – http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/

It was updated early last year and now has a clean modern look with everything easily accessible. Avoiding the cluttered look of a number of similar sites, it finds the balance between providing the basic information needed by those planning a visit and more detailed information about the aircraft and artefacts for enthusiasts without – as TwinOtter has pointed out – providing a virtual tour. It also has a well-maintained News section which is regularly updated.

A model of how it should be done by small museums, I think.
PP

In terms of user interface, perhaps a public-friendly main site but with a really good search function for the enthusiasts to find info. And not something relying on Google search with ads at the top!

Alternatively, a way to quickly navigate to the relevant “category”. Not a museum site, but Cardiff Airport has an interesting use-case based landing page; four big tiles right in the middle make it quick and simple to drill-down.

Something like that might work for a museum site: Visiting Us, What to Do, About the Exhibits, Museum Blog.

To be honest even I would have drawn the line before that! 😮
(I must be getting old!)

However, thank you for the kind comments, which I will pass to those involved with the NAM site, which is overdue for an upgrade!

It is a difficult balance to get the right amount of detail; IMHO you need just enough information to encourage them to visit, but not too much so that they can do the visit from the comfort of the PC!

I had a similar discussion yesterday whilst looking at how Newark will benefit from the AHL/ACE funded education project – and again the right balance was agreed to be the key aspect of what is eventually provided. 🙂

Time to steal Twin Otters thunder 😀

http://newarkairmuseum.org/

Actually, Newarks is a really good website 😎

The Museum of Army Flying website
www.armyflying.com/
isn’t too bad but it lacks a listing of the major exhibits. However, you get the feel of the exhibition from the themed explanation panels. Whilst aviation enthusiasts might complain about the prominence given to the kiddies play area and restaurant it is the sort of information the general public wants to know.
One big plus point is that the website currently is updated daily.

Thanks for the input

We have a specific demographic, but what I am trying to do is get a better feel for the look.

Agree with most all of your comments and appreciate your input

Tom

Which Aviation Museum websites do you think are best?

Hi Tom,

What’s your target demographic? Casual non-aviation person, informed or aviation nut?

In the first category, I personally find East Fortune’s site awful but a work colleague organising a family trip found it great for hooking-in wife + kids. From their perspective the dynamic layout and lack of airframe info was a positive.

Ulster Aviation site would be aimed at middle category; reasonable amount of info about their exhibits, aimed at groups such as ATC squadrons, ex-servicemen and civic groups; these are the bulk of its organised tours. But is delivered in a terrible Flash interface. Avoid avoid!

Aviation nuts will probably not want any distracting graphics or irrelevant adjectives . RAF Museum site actually has interesting approach; once you push through the glossy, shallow “come visit us” interface there are pages with just lists of documents. Perfect 🙂

Edit: if aiming at the av nut market, do consider adding a list of ancillary / minor exhibits. One of my fondest memories was wandering into a building at Newark ( early 90s ) and discovering all sorts of unlisted goodies like Orange Putter.