Museum Donations

Aviation Museum Donations are always gladly received, since a lot of museums are run by volunteer organisations, with little funding but lots of enthusiasm and passion. The great thing with aviation museums that have actual aircraft (as opposed to aircraft models and other artefacts), is that there’s always a story behind each  aircraft on display. Take the Avro Lancaster, at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Upon first glance, it may just look like any other aircraft. But consider that over 7,000 Lancasters were built. As of 2021, fewer than 17 remain and Just Jane is one of them! The aircraft even has a story. Originally built in Lancashire for deployment in the Far East, upon the surrender of Japan in 1945 the aircraft was put into storage in Llandow, until 1952. It was then sold to the French Naval Air Arm, where she flew for 10 years, before heading to New Caledonia (a French territory to the east of Australia), where she was painted white and used for cartography and air sea rescue. The French then presented the aircraft to the Historical Aircraft Preservation Society and in 1965 the aircraft began a long journey from Sydney Australia, over to Biggin Hill. Following a brief residence at Lavenham, the aircraft was put to auction at Blackpool Airport – an airport where members of the AvPay team learned to fly! The aircraft then stood at RAF Scampton as gate guard, the airfield from which the famous Dam Busters of 617 Squadron Flew. It was then purchased and brought to East Kirkby Airfield, where she remains today. Now consider the thousands of stories behind all of the aircraft sitting in aviation museums throughout the world, just waiting to be discovered! Donate to museums you care about on the AvPay Aviation Museum Directory.