Worth the hassle of finding Albert Road Southampton (SO14 3FR) and the £6.50 adult admission fee, this charitable status collection reveals much of the proud aviation history of the Solent region.

The headliner is the proximity to Eastleigh and the birth of Spitfire, but there are also connections to Avro, air speed record breaking including what was then thought to be the first sound barrier-breaking run and the emotive flying boats that used to share Solent waters with the grand Cunard Liners from Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth’s era.

Pictorially we have a Folland Gnat of the type often used as an RAF Trainer between 1959-79 and also deployed by earlier Red Arrows squads. You can also see a later mark Spitfire amongst the plethora of other displays and a fine Replica of the Avro 504J trainer, in exposed air frame view.

More information on Solent Sky Museum HERE