De Havilland Aircraft Museum

de Havilland Aircraft Museum
Company type	Volunteer-managed museum
Industry	Aviation museum
Founded	1959
Headquarters	London Colney, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Products	Aviation exhibits, historical aircraft preservation
Website	www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk

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The de Havilland Aircraft Museum, which was previously known as the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, operates as a volunteer-managed aviation museum located in London Colney, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

The institution is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the legacy of de Havilland, aiming to educate visitors of all ages about the company’s pioneering role in British aviation technology.

Initially, the museum's collection centered on the original prototype and restoration workshops for the de Havilland Mosquito. It has since expanded to include multiple examples of the de Havilland Vampire, recognised as the world's third operational jet aircraft. This museum stands as the largest in the UK devoted exclusively to a single aircraft manufacturer.

Salisbury Hall

File:Salisbury Hall.jpg

Salisbury Hall

The location has hosted several substantial manor houses dating back to the 9th century. The current Salisbury Hall was constructed around 1668 by James Hoare, a London banker, and holds historical connections to Charles II and Nell Gwynne, who resided in a nearby cottage by the bridge leading to the Hall. Over time, ownership changed hands multiple times, and during the late 19th century, it was occupied by a series of farmers. Around 1905, Lady Randolph Churchill, known then as Mrs Cornwallis West, made Salisbury Hall her home. Her son, Winston Churchill, frequently visited.

In the 1930s, Sir Nigel Gresley of the London and North Eastern Railway lived there. He was notable for designing the A4 Pacific steam locomotives, including Mallard, which still holds the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h). It is thought that the locomotive’s name was inspired by ducks inhabiting the moat around Salisbury Hall.

In September 1939, the de Havilland Aircraft Company established its Mosquito design team within Salisbury Hall. The prototype Mosquito, designated E0234/W4050, was constructed in adjacent buildings beside the Hall; these structures have since been demolished.

Following de Havilland’s acquisition of Airspeed Ltd, a design team led by aircraft designer Hessell Tiltman was formed.^[1] Initially based at de Havilland’s technical school in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Tiltman’s team relocated to Salisbury Hall in London Colney. The Airspeed premises were situated behind Salisbury Hall but have now been demolished. Part of this area is currently occupied by the Geoffrey de Havilland Hangar.

After de Havilland vacated Salisbury Hall in 1947, the property fell into disrepair.^[2]

When retired army major Walter Goldsmith acquired Salisbury Hall, he soon discovered its wartime use by de Havilland. Upon contacting Bill Baird, then head of PR at de Havilland Hatfield, Goldsmith learned that Baird had preserved the original Mosquito prototype at Fiddlebridge stores near Hatfield airfield. Despite earlier suggestions to scrap it, Baird welcomed Goldsmith’s offer to provide a home for the aircraft. Following some initial restoration at Hatfield by de Havilland, Goldsmith took possession of the prototype at Salisbury Hall in 1959.

Prototype Mosquito and Initial Displays

The prototype Mosquito was the inaugural aircraft exhibited at Salisbury Hall, soon accompanied in 1968 by models of the de Havilland Vampire and Venom. In 1970, the museum's holdings grew with another de Havilland Mosquito, generously contributed by Liverpool Corporation after its role in the film Mosquito Squadron.

By 1978, the collection had broadened to include a single-seat Vampire, Sea Venom, Sea Vixen, Chipmunk, and Dove. The museum also received the fuselage of a Mosquito FB6 in 1976, which remains the sole preserved example in Europe of the most prolific sub-variant. Additionally, it safeguards the fuselage of the last surviving square-windowed de Havilland Comet 1, notable as the first jet airliner worldwide.

Subsequent Developments

The supporters' group has played a pivotal role in restoring and maintaining numerous aircraft, beginning with the Chipmunk in 1978. This particular airframe underwent another restoration led by volunteers between 2003 and 2007. Their efforts extended to constructing a hangar for the ex-Liverpool Mosquito in 1980 and completing a full restoration of this aircraft by 1990. The society has also overseen restoration projects on various other models including a Tiger Moth, Hornet Moth, Mosquito 6, Heron, Dove, multiple Vampires, among others.

In 2001, it was identified that the prototype Mosquito required urgent preservation. Restoration efforts were funded through support from BAE Systems and the Heritage Lottery Fund. This extensive conservation was finalized in December 2015, coinciding almost exactly with the aircraft’s 75th anniversary. Presently, it is displayed alongside two other Mosquitos within the Walter Goldsmith Hangar.

January 2016 marked the opening of a new facility initially called the Geoffrey de Havilland Hangar. This building was subsequently renamed the Amy Johnson Hangar following the inauguration of another hangar and now functions as a workshop where visitors can observe volunteers engaged in ongoing museum projects.

The museum unveiled the Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Hangar in February 2020, further expanding its exhibition and workspace capabilities.

Exhibited Aircraft

File:TigerGANRX.JPG

DH.82 Tiger Moth, registration G-ANRX, equipped for crop dusting

File:DH.98 Mosquito Prototype W4050 at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum.jpg

Prototype DH.98 Mosquito W4050 shown inside the main hangar at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in London Colney, United Kingdom

File:CometNose.JPG

Flight deck of a Comet 2

File:De Havilland Aircraft Museum Hertfordshire.jpg

DH.104 Dove 8

Airspeed Horsa I/II BAPC.232 – Fuselage assembled from parts^[3]
British Aerospace 146-100 G-JEAO – Only the fuselage preserved^[4]
Cierva C.24 G-ABLM – Held on long-term loan from the Science Museum^[5]
de Havilland DH.53 Humming Bird J7326 – Only the fuselage remains^[6]
de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth G-ANRX^[7]
de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee LF789 – Fuselage only preserved^[8]
de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth G-ADOT^[9]
de Havilland DH.88 Comet G-ACSR – Replica model^[10]
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Prototype W4050^[11]
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito FB.VI TA122/TW233^[12]
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito TT(B)35 TA634^[13]
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.6 J-1008^[14]
de Havilland DH.103 Hornet VX250 – Tail segment only^[15]
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 8 G-AREA^[16]
de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A F-BGNX – Only fuselage preserved^[17]
de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A G-ANAV – Nose section displayed^[18]
de Havilland DH.106 Comet C.2(R) XK695 – Cockpit segment exhibited^[19]
de Havilland DH.106 Comet 2 – Nose portion on display^[20]
de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ565^[21]
de Havilland DH.114 Heron G-AOTI^[22]
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11 XJ772^[23]
de Havilland DH.125 Series 1 G-ARYCCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5 VV217^[24]
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 6 D-IFSB – Currently loaned to ARG Fishburn^[25]
de Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.4 WR539^[26]
de Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.50 J-1632 ^[27]
de Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.54 J-1790 ^[28]
de Havilland DH.112 Venom NF.3 WX853^[29]
de Havilland DH.113 Vampire NF.10 WM729 – Only the fuselage pod remains^[30]
de Havilland DH.125 Jet Dragon G-ARYA – Cockpit section only^[31]

Aircraft undergoing restoration

de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide G-AKDW^[32]
de Havilland DH.112 Sea Venom FAW.22 XG730^[33]

Engines exhibited

File:Halford Engine Collection (de Havilland Aircraft Museum).jpg

View of the Halford Engine Collection at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum

Piston engines

Gas turbine engines

Turboprop engines

de Havilland H3^[45]

Rocket engines

External links

Template:British Aviation Museums Template:Listed buildings in Hertfordshire

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De Havilland Aircraft Museum

Salisbury Hall

Prototype Mosquito and Initial Displays

Subsequent Developments

Exhibited Aircraft

Aircraft undergoing restoration

Engines exhibited

See also

Notes

Bibliography

External links