Nestled at Gloucestershire Airport (formerly Staverton) on Meteor Business Park, just north of Gloucester city centre, the Jet Age Museum is a treasure trove for aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, families, and curious visitors alike. Also known officially as the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection, this all‑volunteer, charitable museum preserves and showcases the rich legacy of aircraft development in the county—from early biplanes to pioneering jet fighters. The museum tells the story of Gloucestershire’s profound contribution to aviation, particularly through companies such as Gloster Aircraft Company, Dowty Rotol, and Smiths Industries.
With free admission, interactive exhibits, historic cockpits, and a fascinating archive, the Jet Age Museum bridges the past and the future, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Britain’s aerospace history.
Origins and Mission
The Jet Age Museum was founded in 1986 by dedicated volunteers determined to preserve Gloucestershire’s aviation heritage. Over the decades, it evolved into the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection, collecting aircraft, engines, cockpit sections, photographs, and archives linked to local aerospace work.
In 2014, the museum opened its purpose-built facility at Meteor Business Park, under a 45-year lease. The location is deeply symbolic: the site lies near the business park named “Meteor,” as a nod to the Gloster Meteor, a key aircraft in Gloucestershire’s jet history.
Today, the Jet Age Museum is run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations, memberships, and fundraising campaigns. Its mission is simple yet ambitious: to preserve the past and inspire the future, sharing the stories of local aviation pioneers, engineers, pilots, and aircraft that shaped Gloucestershire’s identity and contributed significantly to national aerospace progress.
Where to Visit & Practical Details
The museum is located at:
Meteor Business Park
Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester, GL2 9QL Jet Age Museum+1
Opening Hours:
- Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Additional opening days during school holidays.
Admission:
- Free entry for all visitors
- Suggested donation of £5 for individuals and £10 for families helps support the museum’s activities and restoration projects.
Facilities:
- Café (“Jet & Whittle Café”) serving tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches, with picnic seating outside overlooking the runway.
- Museum shop stocking model aircraft, books, souvenirs, and volunteer-made items.
- Open‑cockpit access – visitors can sit in the cockpits of several iconic aircraft (subject to volunteer supervision).
- Good parking and public transport access; bus route 94 stops nearby.
Aircraft Collection: Jet Legends and Beyond
At the heart of the Jet Age Museum lies its aircraft collection, with a particularly strong focus on Gloster-built planes from the jet‑age era. Some of its most iconic exhibits include:
Gloster E.28/39 (Replica)
This replica represents the first British jet aircraft, powered by Sir Frank Whittle’s revolutionary engine. Its first flight in Gloucestershire marked the true beginning of the jet age.
Gloster Meteor
The museum has several Meteor aircraft on display, including a Meteor F.8 and a Meteor NF.13 (on loan). The Meteor was Britain’s first operational jet fighter, built by the Gloster Aircraft Company, and remains a symbol of wartime jet innovation.
Gloster Javelin
The Jet Age Museum proudly houses a Gloster Javelin XH903, a striking delta-winged jet fighter used by the RAF in the 1950s and 60s.
Early and Historic Aircraft
- Gloster Gamecock: a reproduction of the 1920s biplane fighter, representing Gloster’s early design heritage.
- Gloster Gladiator: a biplane fighter from the 1930s, now under restoration.
- Hawker Hurricane (replica): highlighting Gloster’s wartime manufacturing, as Gloster built thousands of Hurricanes during WWII.
Cockpits and Interactive Displays
- Vulcan Cockpit: A forward cockpit section of the Avro Vulcan bomber enables visitors to step inside and experience the cramped, technical space of a Cold War-era aircraft.
- Biggles Play Plane: A child-friendly cockpit experience designed to ignite imagination in younger visitors.
Engines, Systems & Archive
Beyond full aircraft, the Jet Age Museum’s collection includes a wide array of aero engines, landing gear, and avionics systems—many of which have deep links to Gloucestershire’s aerospace industry.
You’ll find examples of radial piston engines, early turbine and jet engines, and systems built by local companies such as Dowty Rotol (propellers and undercarriages) and Smiths Industries (avionics). These exhibits showcase the technical milestones that put Gloucestershire at the forefront of aviation innovation.
The museum also preserves the Russell Adams photographic archive, a large collection of historic photographs, technical drawings, manuals, and aircrew uniforms. This archive serves as a valuable resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in the social history of aviation in the region.
Education & Events
As a volunteer‑run charitable organisation, the Jet Age Museum places a strong emphasis on education and community outreach. Jet Age Museum School groups, youth clubs, social organisations, and corporate visitors can all book guided tours, educational days or arrangement for special events.
The museum hosts seasonal events, such as cockpit tours (Vulcan and Trident), anniversary celebrations of key flights, Remembrance Day services, and activities for children (“Junior Pilots Wanted”).
Volunteering is central to the Jet Age Museum’s ethos. The team is made up entirely of passionate individuals—from ex‑aviators to historians—who preserve, restore, and share Gloucestershire’s aviation story. Visitors often interact with knowledgeable volunteers, adding a personal touch to the experience.
Significance: Why This Museum Matters
The Jet Age Museum is more than just a collection of old planes. It has special significance because:
- Local Heritage: It celebrates Gloucestershire’s critical role in early jet development. The Gloster Aircraft Company, based near Gloucester, built pioneering aircraft like the E.28/39, Meteor jets, and the Javelin, leaving an indelible mark on aerospace history. Wikipedia
- Educational Resource: With its archive, engines, and cockpit access, the museum is a valuable educational centre for students, engineers, and aviation enthusiasts.
- Volunteer Spirit: Run by volunteers, the museum showcases the power of community passion and dedication.
- Inspiration for Future Generations: By preserving aviation history and providing interactive exhibits, the museum inspires younger visitors to think about science, engineering, and flight.
- Preserving Rare Aircraft: Many of the aircraft and systems on display are rare or unique—such as multiple Gloster Meteor marks and a full Javelin—that are hard to see elsewhere.
Visitor Experience: What to Expect
When you arrive at the Jet Age Museum, you’ll likely be struck first by its location—a hangar-like display hall set against the bustling backdrop of Gloucestershire Airport. Inside, the scale and variety of exhibits are immediately impressive.
Highlights travelers often mention:
- Open cockpits: Sitting in the Vulcan or Trident cockpit is a standout experience. Tours are free but popular, so plan to register on arrival.
- Walk-around jets: You can walk around (and sometimes under) iconic locally-built jets like the Meteor and Javelin.
- Interactive displays: Engine cutaways, landing gear systems, and avionics provide hands-on learning.
- Archive corner: Dive into aviation history via photographs, documents, manuals, and pilot memorabilia.
- Aeroplane watching: Outside, beside a picnic area, you’ll often see private planes taking off from the neighbouring airport runway—great for spotting and photography.
- Cafe and shop: The Jet & Whittle café offers snacks, drinks, and cakes. The shop has models, books, and souvenirs made by volunteers.
Accessibility at the site is well catered for: there is disabled access, baby-changing facilities, and reasonably wide paths.
How It Fits Into the Wider Aviation Landscape
While there are many aviation museums in the UK, the Jet Age Museum is unusual in its local focus and depth. By concentrating on Gloucestershire’s aerospace history, the museum offers a more specialised experience than national establishments. It complements broader institutions such as the RAF Museum or Imperial War Museum, but gives particular insight into the industrial heritage of local aviation giants.
Moreover, the museum helps preserve not just old aeroplanes but the stories of the people who designed, built, and flew them. By maintaining the archive and running public events, it keeps the legacy alive.
Future and Growth
The future looks promising for the Jet Age Museum. Having established its purpose-built base in 2014, the museum continues to expand and restore its collection. A fundraising campaign for extension was launched in 2019 to allow even more exhibits to be displayed indoors and expanded visitor facilities.
Volunteers remain central to its operations, and the museum welcomes donations and memberships to support restoration, education, and outreach. Their long-term vision includes enhancing accessibility, improving archives, increasing educational programmes, and preserving more aerospace artefacts.
Conclusion
The Jet Age Museum is a hidden gem in Gloucestershire, offering an exciting, educational, and deeply personal journey through aviation history. Whether you’re fascinated by the early jet experiments of Sir Frank Whittle, the iconic Gloster Meteor, or the delta-winged Javelin, this museum brings those stories to life. With free admission, a dedicated volunteer team, interactive exhibits, and a passion for preserving Britain’s aerospace heritage, the museum provides a compelling experience for visitors of all ages.
Standing under the wings of historic aircraft or climbing into a cockpit, one cannot help but feel connected to the brave engineers, pilots, and innovators who helped usher in the Jet Age. The Jet Age Museum does more than display technology; it celebrates community, discovery, and the spirit of flight—and continues to inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
