VISIT to FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM, YOEVILTON

After a short delay caused by late arrivals due to an accident on the A303, all 13 Questers were gathered and greeted by our guide Nigel.

Our guided tour began with the history of the earliest commitment of the Royal Navy to aviation, both airships and planes in 1911. It was a great advantage to have improved reconnaissance. Landing gear now included floats, and in the early days the planes were catapulted from a warship and recovered after landing in the sea. The world’s first reconnaissance by a fixed wing aircraft was at the battle of Jutland.

Progress was made when merchant ships were fitted with landing decks, and then the Aircraft Carrier evolved before, during and after the WWII, to include steam catapults, armoured and angled decks.

There are 4 display areas covering early planes, those from the WWII including US Corsair  and Hellcats, a Swordfish the type used to disable the German battleship Bismarck, and our Sea Fury.

Later planes with jet engines included the Buccaneer and the Sea Harrier.

Whilst not a plane flown by the Navy, a pre-production Concorde with test instruments is an attraction and was available to visit and observe how very narrow it was. The demise of the Air France plane flying out of Charles de Gaulle was explained, and the RR Olympus 593 engine was on display.

We  could not to forget the part helicopters play in reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and troop support.

Altogether this was a very interesting visit.

Colin Ramsden

Our group of 16 plus our driver, Robert, left Andover on time for the journey to Chichester on a cold January morning. Arriving in good time considering all the road works.

We all had a restorative hot drink at the lovely Cloisters cafe. Then made our way into the Cathedral to meet our 2 guides, Sue and Chris, for a very informative tour of this seat of Christianity. Construction began in 1075! Our tour lasted almost an hour and a half.

The Cathedral boasts uninterrupted side aisles the full length of the building.

The 1530’s Tudor paintings in the South transept are a rare and valuable example of propaganda painting anywhere in the country.

Also the 2 beautiful modern tapestries were really quite stunning. As were the stained glass windows. The south window, dated 1877, showed scenes from both the Old and New Testament. But the window which impressed us all was the Chagall Window from 1978. The strong colours and figures just shone.

We went our own way for lunch. Some of us returned to the Cathedral cafe, whilst others went into the city.

Managed to be all present and correct for our journey home. Arriving back in Andover by 4.30pm after a lovely day out Questing.

Pam Shadick

Questers Highlights Tour of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton at 10:30, on the 25^th of February 2026.

This is a self-drive visit.

A guided tour is only available for groups of 12 or more but is at a cost of £22.00 which is a special Group rate for concessions (over 65 yo). The arrangement would allow up to a maximum of 20 in total as two guides have been scheduled.

The tour takes approximately 11/2 hours, and will feature:-

• An introductory talk on Concord, aspects of the joint venture with the French, including its engines, and access via a staircase at the cockpit end and a walk down the inside to an exit stairway.
• For those that have not been inside a Concord but are used to modern wide-bodied jets this is an interesting experience. This is a pre-production plane and has the instrumentation used during test flights.
• This is followed by a general tour showing the planes used during WW1, WW2 and years after the wars.
• Helicopters both assigned to ships and Air Sea Rescue.
• At the end of the Tour you will be free to visit any other areas not covered by the guided tour.

As this is a self-drive trip, if you need a lift please indicate in your response and I will endeavour to arrange with other members attending.

There is a café on site.

Entrance is by the external stairs to level 1, however if required access can be at ground level by prior arrangement to accommodate wheelchairs. There is a lift inside.

If you wish to come on this trip, please advise ASAP. No money should be paid just now, further details for payment will be advised later.

Any questions please contact Colin Ramsden at wessexfcs@aol.com or 07821 884043.

Colin