Aviation Groups

Below is a list of associations, heritage centre's and group's with links to the county. If you know of any of the aforementioned that are not listed here, and would like them adding. Then please contact a member of staff.

BBMF Visitor Centre

The BBMF Visitors Centre has welcomed over 350,000 people since it opened offering them the opportunity to see the BBMF aircraft at close quarters and to observe the Flight’s skilled and dedicated technicians working to maintain them in airworthy condition. Visitors are led on a guided tour around the BBMF hangar by knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer guides.

Entry to the exhibition centre, souvenir shop and car park is free there is a charge for guided tours of the hangar, with special rates for groups (including school parties).

The Lightning Association

The Lightning Association was formed in the year following the aircraft’s retirement from RAF service in the spring of 1988. Adrian Campbell, from the aviation video industry, and Squadron Leader "Furz" Lloyd, a Lightning pilot ex-5 Squadron, organised a "Lightning Rally" at Binbrook on 2nd July 1989. The original aims of the Association were 1) To provide a platform for promoting the cause of Lightning preservation and informing members and the air-minded public of developments and 2) To foster communication and a spirit of goodwill between enthusiasts groups with airframes for their mutual benefit.

The Association is run by Chairman Charles Ross, who himself owns XR725, along with the cockpit of XS899.

Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group

The origins of the Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group go back to 1973 when aviation archaeology was just beginning to be recognised as a serious activity as it is today. Recoveries were carried out throughout Lincolnshire, with much emphasis being placed on talking to locals who remembered the incidents.

There aim is to preserve what is now modern history, as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the war, fighting for our freedom, and to remind the young and not so young generations of the aircraft and people that flew during those dark days. There are now several permanent memorial plaques on display in the centre, these go with memorials we have also erected on the crash sites of some of the aircraft we have been involved with.

Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is a family run museum and was set up over 20 years ago. It is now widely seen as a living memorial to the 55,500 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WW2. It holds one of the rarest aircraft, an Avro Lancaster Bomber, in its collection along with many wartime vehicles including a Ford WOT1 Crew Bus, the only one of its kind known in existence.

There is a charge for entry to the centre. This vary's depending on any special events that may be taking place at that time. The car park is free.

Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association

The Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association is a Registered Charity that holds a unique position as the official support Group for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Association was formed from the Lincolnshire Lancaster Committee, which was a small group of people who came together when the Lancaster was moved from RAF Waddington to RAF Coltishall in 1973.

The original aims of the Committee were to ensure that the Bomber would return to Lincolnshire and that a Lancaster would remain in the county for ever as a memorial to the many aircrew who lost their lives whilst based here during World War II.

Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre

The visitor centre contains an abundance of information and displays many artifacts that relate to those flyers, aircrew and ground staff who flew and offered support to the squadron during its presence in Metheringham.

Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre

The Thorpe Camp Preservation Group has set up a Visitor Centre to commemorate those who fought for freedom in World War II based in Lincolnshire. Thorpe Camp was attached to the airfield at Woodhall Spa where Nos. 97, 617 (Dambusters), 619 & 627 Squadrons were based.

There is a small charge for entry to the centre, but the car park is free.

RAF Binbrook (unofficial guide)

RAF Binbrook is a community based forum containing everything you could wish to know about the former RAF base. The forum is the project of Darren Swinn, an avid collector of Binbrook memorabilia, and many of the members on the forum are ex Binbrook service personnel.

It is hoped in the future, that a full website will be added to compliment the forum. This website will contain not only maps, but images and diary's of the base formally known as "Fighter town".

RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection

The RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection was set up in the late 1990s in commemoration of the men and women of Nos. 12 & 626 Squadrons who served at Wickenby during WWII and also Nos. 92 & 93 Maintenance Units who were here from 1945 to 1956. The Collection, which is run by a group of dedicated volunteers is situated in the upstairs of the old Control Tower looking out over two of the original runways which are still in use today.

The collection is made up of memorabilia relating to WWII Wickenby and is also the home of the Wickenby Register Archive which includes Operational Record Books, Flying Log Books, Station Diaries, Casualty Records, stories written by the airmen themselves and an extensive photograph collection and many more interesting documents.