Bristol Aero Collection to leave Kemble home

I just thought I’d pass this on in case anyone is planning to visit the Bristol Aero Collection over the summer. The hangar normally switches to summer opening (Sundays and Mondays) at Easter, but this year will close at the end of May. This is to allow for the packing and relocation of artefacts to Filton, close to the provisional site of the planned heritage centre. Here is the press release:

Bristol Aero Collection to leave Kemble Home – Last Chance for Public Visits

Due to the expiration of the lease on part of Hangar E2 at Kemble Airfield the Bristol Aero Collection will be leaving its home for the past fifteen years later this year. During its time at Kemble the BAC has acquired a growing reputation for its collection of artefacts and archives setting out the achievements and history of 100 years of aviation and associated industries originating from the Bristol Aeroplane Company. BAC has been fortunate to receive the support of a number of companies, organizations and local authorities and in particular from Airbus and BAE Systems without whose generosity Kemble would not have survived.

The day to day operation of Kemble has been undertaken by a very loyal and dedicated group of members and volunteers who will be on hand to welcome visitors when the BAC opens to the public over the whole of the Easter weekend (Good Friday through to Easter Monday) from 10am to 4pm and then every Sunday and Monday until 28th May. The hangar will then be closed to the public to enable the exhibits and archives to be dismantled and prepared for transport to a temporary store.

Discussions are taking place with a view to securing appropriate storage convenient to the heritage site provisionally identified as part of the future of Filton Airfield to which the BAC plans to become a significant contributor.

Access to the hangar is from the A429 north of Malmesbury and admission prices remain unchanged at Adults £5, Concessions £4, Children £2.50, Family Ticket £12.

So you only have a couple of months if you want to see the collection before it goes into store.

Andy