Halifax 'Friday the 13th'
The only complete Halifax bomber in Europe, rebuilt from scattered airframes.
Paul Hermans — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Digital-Designs — CC BY 2.0 · Alan Wilson — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alan Wilson — CC BY-SA 2.0
The only complete Halifax bomber in Europe sits not in London or Paris but in a metal hangar among Yorkshire fields, on a wartime airfield from which Free French squadrons took off for Germany in the last year of the war. The aircraft, named 'Friday the 13th', was pieced together over years from scattered airframes, and on its own it justifies the drive out from York for anyone with a feel for Second World War history. The museum occupies the old RAF Elvington station more or less as it was: the original control tower, the little memorial chapel, and the NAAFI canteen that now serves as the museum cafe. More than forty-five aircraft are spread between the hangars and the grass, among them the vast Victor bomber, a Nimrod, a Harrier, a Tornado and a naval Buccaneer strike jet. Because the site doubles as the Allied Air Forces Memorial, there is a French section telling the story of 346 and 347 Squadrons, which flew from here, a chapter few visitors have heard of. One thing to know before you go: nothing here flies. The aircraft are static, and the closest they come to life is on 'Thunder Days', when several jet engines are run on the ground with a chest-shaking roar, and on occasional cockpit-access events, when you can climb aboard. Both happen on set dates published on the official website. On an ordinary day the museum is a walk among silent metal, wonderful if you love aeroplanes and fairly dull if you do not. Getting there from York is easy by car: fifteen to twenty minutes along the A1079 and Elvington Lane following brown signs, with ample free parking. Bus 36 from central York stops at the museum gate Monday to Saturday but runs infrequently, so do not rely on it if time is tight. Adult entry is GBP 17 online or 18 at the gate, a family ticket 44 online or 48 at the gate, and every standard ticket gives free re-entry for twelve months, useful if you are based in the area for weeks. The site is flat and largely pushchair-friendly, but half of it is outdoors, so Yorkshire rain spoils the visit, and in December and January darkness falls before four, so come early.
The only complete Halifax bomber in Europe, rebuilt from scattered airframes.
Control tower and NAAFI canteen are restored wartime buildings, not replicas, with the memorial chapel beside them.
On set dates the jet engines are run on the ground, the only way to hear these aircraft alive.
Halifax Way, Elvington, York YO41 4AU
If your children love aeroplanes, yes: there is room to run, huge aircraft up close and a cafe, and two hours is enough. If their interest is casual, the National Railway Museum in the city centre is free, closer and more hands-on; start there.
No. Everything is static. The one exception is Thunder Days, when engines are run on the ground without taking off; dates are on the official website, so check before travelling if that is what you are after.