Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum
Having opened in 1975, the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum (N&SAM) has been a popular day out and tourist attraction for many years. Just a couple of miles west of Bungay you’ll find the village of Flixton. But, there are not many villages where you will be greeted by a fleet of aircraft! It’s not hard to find N&SAM there is a Gloster Javelin and De Havilland Sea Vixen parked on the front lawn! Of course, these are just two of the hundreds of exhibits, including over 60 aircraft and cockpits and a whole host related artefacts and memorabilia – over 30,000 items! This really is a fascinating place to visit, whether you have an interest in aviation
history or not. Best of all, it is completely free to enter – though donations are very welcome. Of course, here in East Anglia we have a great history when it comes to World War Two airfields, Norfolk and Suffolk were peppered with airbases and here at N&SAM you will find themed buildings displaying artefacts from the period. There is special attention paid to the 446th Bomber Group who were based at Flixton during in World War Two. In fact, 446 were the longest-term resident at Flixton airfield during the war. Naturally, there are plenty of RAF related items here too as well as the Royal Observer Corps. The museum is run largely by volunteers (there is a single paid member of staff) and the bulk of the maintenance and restoration work on the aircraft and exhibits is carried out by the team of dedicated and passionate volunteers. Over the course of the year N&SAM can expect to see around 40,000 visitors, many of which will be families and school groups and visits. It goes without saying that N&SAM is a big hit with the pupils on the school trips. The team here prepare exciting and
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