Revised open cockpit situation
(Update 01.01.23)
UPDATE 01.01.23 – with Covid Regulations having eased we have reviewed our Policies, and when volunteers are available we will now aim to have the Varsity, Vulcan, Shackleton & Hastings aircraft back on open cockpit duty. Please remember that if these aircraft are open, there is a small additional charge of £1 per adult and 50p per child. Please call 01636 707170 in advance to check availability. At the present time we sometimes struggle to get volunteers to open these exhibits during the week, but we are having more success at the weekend.
Sometimes we are also able to offer a limited number of our smaller aircraft cockpits for public viewing with the appropriate safety measures.
Now that lots of things require card payments, we have introduced some QR Codes linked to our Just Giving account that allow for online payments to be made - we still accept cash as well!!
The museum relies on its volunteers to open aircraft cockpits and is unable to guarantee that cockpits will be open every day. The cockpits tend to be open more frequently during special event days, details of which are always posted on the news page of the museum website, or via our Twitter feed; BUT WE CANNOT GURANTEE THIS!
To avoid disappointment before travelling to the museum we suggest that you please call 01636 707170 to check what aircraft are likely to be open. Please remember that sometimes during the day that volunteers may need to temporarily close a cockpit to get something to eat or go to the toilet. Also during extreme weather conditions i.e., it is either is very hot, or it is very wet it may be decided to close the aircraft on safety grounds.
Visitors are also reminded that the Beverley cockpit & Firefly CIM in Display Hangar 2 are available for a free unescorted look round every day. Viewing opportunities are also available with the TriStar cockpit in Hangar 2 and the Argosy cockpit in the Small Object Exhibition Hall.
Last year, working in conjunction with its volunteer cockpit openers the museum reviewed its Cockpit Opening Policy.
Having looked at some of the issues of access to a couple of aircraft on site it has been decided to apply a height restriction for access to aircraft like the Vulcan & Buccaneer.
To that effect – Entry to certain aircraft is now dependent on height restrictions as displayed on site.
This will initially apply to the Vulcan and Buccaneer aircraft with their steep access ladders and anyone wishing to pay the additional £1 per person fee to go inside these aircraft (when they are opened by the museum volunteers) will have to be at least 1.00m (one metre) in height.
Please remember that we would be grateful for a small donation in return for access the aircraft. The monies raised from these aircraft admissions will be going towards the aircraft restoration and repainting work that we undertake, plus museum development. It's also worth remembering that cockpit openers are only able to accept cash donations, so we suggest that you try to make sure that you come prepared, for this 'old-fashioned' payment method!!
The Museum Trustees would also like to ensure that - Parents & Carers are reminded that they are responsible for the safety of children and young people in their care whilst on the museum site.
It is hoped these arrangements will simplify questions of whether an individual is allowed to access the aircraft and it follows similar guidelines adopted at other venues around the UK.