Aerospace Bristol

Aerospace Bristol is a new £19m aerospace museum and learning centre due to open at Filton, to the north of Bristol, in 2017. The project is being run by the Bristol Aero Collection Trust and will house a varied collection of exhibits as well as Concorde 216, the final Concorde to be built and the last to fly.The nine-acre site on Filton Airfield, Bristol includes two First World War Grade II listed hangars, providing over 5,000 m² of public exhibition space, 1,700m² of indoor learning spaces and workshops, plus over 5,000m² of outdoor learning and testing space. Inside the World War I Grade II listed building, the exhibition will display over 100 years of aviation history through two world wars, exploring the vital role of aircraft in these conflicts, through the drama and technological advances of the space race and on to the modern day.A new building is under construction between the two hangars, to house Concorde 216 and related exhibits, where visitors have the opportunity to enter the Concorde. Its floor space will be around 3,200m², and will feature conference facilities including a lecture room, three meeting rooms and a studio space.Education and learningIt will feature a fully equipped learning centre with specialist facilities for school and youth groups to deliver an inspiring and practical learning programme for schools and develop STEM skills and discover the possibilities of a career in engineering.ExhibitionThe collection contains over 8,000 artefacts. There are several Bristol-built aircraft including Concorde 216, a Bristol Scout, a Bristol Fighter and a Blenheim IV (World War II Bristol Bolingbroke bomber, under restoration), as well as many scaled models. The exhibitions will be themed around the seven different eras of aviation with a separate hangar that celebrates the story of Concorde and its local connection.