Army Flying Museum to celebrate past with Heritage Open Days

Friday, 15 August 2025 06:00

Every September, thousands of volunteers across England organise a wide range of events to celebrate the history and culture of the country, and the volunteer team from the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire is no exception.

The Museum says it is proud to have several knowledgeable and experienced volunteer tour guides who regularly take organised groups on tours of the Museum, charting the history of British Army aviation and regaling visitors with stories of intrigue, personal anecdotes and humour.

Established in 1994, Heritage Open Days takes place from the 12th to the 21st September, and brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life.

To embrace this, the tour guides at the Army Flying Museum have organised two special tours, which will run on the 15th and 20th of September. They are included with the normal Museum entry price and available for any visitor to book.

With their wealth of experience, visitors who have a particular interest in military history won’t fail to be astounded by the breadth of knowledge of the guides, all of whom are retired military personnel or military historians. The tours will take visitors on a journey of reconnaissance, communication and combat, whilst highlighting the story of British Army aviation amongst the stunning exhibits and aircraft on display at the Hampshire Museum.

In addition, on 15th September, tour guide Richard Folkes will introduce a recording of ‘Pegasus Bridge – In Their Own Words’. This very special recording contains precious footage of interviews with key participants of this historic era, with the audience invited to participate in a Q&A session following the screening.

On 20th September, visitors will also have the opportunity to watch a special film by military historian, Paul Beaver – ‘Spitfire Gifts of War’. The film reveals the story behind the Spitfire Fund and of the local people desperate to play their part in beating the Luftwaffe.

In England, Heritage Open Days has expanded and diversified from 701 events at its launch to over 5,000 today, providing countless opportunities for more people to come together and enjoy, often surprising, but always interesting, doorstep discoveries. For more information and to book, visit www.armyflying.com