Fleet Air Arm Heroes Record Breakers & Medal Winners Trail

In over 100 years of flying in the Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm has achieved many technological firsts, broken many records, and the bravery of the aircrew has won them many medals, including four Victoria Crosses.

With Captain Eddie and Grubscrew to help you, complete this trail to find out about the record breakers and medal winners on display in the Museum.

As you enter the museum along the Pioneers’ Gallery, take a look at some of the forerunners of aviation, each one record breaking and heroic in their own way.

In 1903, the Wright Brothers made the most important achievement ever in the development of flight - the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft.

Continue down the ramp into Hall 1 to see the Short S.27.

Made by the British Short brothers, the S.27 was the first aircraft used by the Royal Navy. In June 1910, the S.27 achieved the record for the highest flight in Britain.

Have a go … sit in the S.27 seat behind the S.27 aircraft and imagine what it would have been like to fly!

Did you know … a later variant of the S.27, the S.38, also achieved an endurance record in 1911 flying for 4 hours and 58 1/2 minutes, and in 1912 was the first aircraft to take off from a RN ship.

In Hall 1, look for the display case behind the Sopwith Baby ‘Jabberwock’.

In 1915, during WW1, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald ‘Rex’ Warneford, a fearless fighter pilot, won his Victoria Cross when he single- handedly destroyed a German Zeppelin returning from its mission to bomb English cities.

Did you know … He was also awarded France’s highest honour for bravery, the Légion d'honneur.

In the same display case, look for Richard Bell-Davies’ medals

Also in 1915, Squadron Commander (later Vice Admiral) Bell- Davies was awarded the Victoria Cross for the first ever search and rescue by an aircraft. He rescued a fellow pilot whilst under fire and carried him to safety in his single seater-plane.

Opposite the Wessex helicopter ..

Look at this … There is a painting of Bell- Davies rescuing Sub-Lieutenant Smylie .

Find the Lynx helicopter in Hall 1.

The Lynx helicopter served the Royal Navy between 1981 and 2017, primarily serving in the attack/assault, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles.

The Lynx is a very agile helicopter with the ability to perform aerobatic moves.

Did you know … The Westland Lynx holds the official world speed record for a helicopter, flown at 400.87 km/h (249.09 mph) over

In Hall 2, visit the Battle of the Atlantic gallery.

In 1943, during WW2, Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde and his squadron of 6 aircraft took on the German Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine in an attack on three of Hitler’s greatest warships . He and 12 of the 18 aircrew died in the attack and Esmonde was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. The biplane Esmonde flew, nicknamed ‘Stringbag’, was made largely of fabric and aluminium, and was also used in the sinking of Hitler’s largest battleship, Bismarck, in 1941. Question … What is the name of this aircraft?

At the end of Hall 2 you will find the De Havilland Sea Vampire

Captain Eric ’Winkle’ Brown is the most-decorated pilot in the history of the Royal Navy. He achieved several "firsts" in naval aviation and holds many world records:

 487 types of aircraft flown - more than anyone else in history  Most aircraft carrier deck take-offs - 2,407  Most aircraft carrier landings - 2,271  The first landing on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engine aircraft,  The first landing on an aircraft carrier of an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage  The first landing on an aircraft carrier of a rotary-wing aircraft.

On 3rd December 1945, the then Lieutenant Commander Brown became the first pilot to land and take off from an aircraft carrier in a jet aircraft - the Sea Vampire.

Have a go … sit in the Vampire cockpit and imagine what it would have been like to fly. In the Carrier experience, watch the Phantom launch

On 11 May 1969 a Royal Navy Phantom set a new record for flying between New York and London of 4 hours and 46 minutes.

Look at this … Next to the Flight Deck Officer can you see the tyre of the Phantom damaged on landing?

Move into Hall 4 and find the P1127

The P1127 was a prototype for the Harrier. You can also see a Harrier GR9 and Sea Harrier in Hall 4.

The Harrier was the first successful STOVL combat air- craft (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing).

This aircraft can take off without a runway - It can turn its engine outlets to lift or land vertically earning it the nick- name Harrier ‘Jump’ jet.

Have a go … find out how a Harrier flies using the model next to the P1127

Finally in Hall 4 look at the Sea King helicopter

Between 1969 and 2018, the Sea King helicopter was the work horse of the Fleet Air Arm carrying out Search and Rescue (see the Sea King in Hall 1), Anti- Submarine Warfare, Airborne Early Warning and troop transport.

Sea King ZA298, nicknamed King of the Junglies, was a troop carrying version. It served in conflicts all over the world, clocking up 9000 flying hours in her 30 years service. Did you know … ZA298 was shot by an Argentine Sky Hawk in the Falklands, peppered with bullets whilst rescuing women and children in Bosnia, and damaged by a Taliban grenade in Afghanistan.