History of Aviation at Cosford - Part 4

The Aerospace Museum at Cosford was opened on 1 May 1979 and was born out of a collection of historic ground instructional airframes on inventory at Royal Air Force Cosford. Other aircraft were added to the collection from the RAF's Reserve Collections of Historic Aircraft scattered about the Country. The Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum took over the management of the collection, under a Ministry of Defence Management Agreement, as a Museum independent of the RAF Museum at Hendon in London, and employed two staff.

The Aerospace Museum was not Government funded directly but enjoyed rent and rates free accommodation on the Station at Royal Air Force Cosford. The Station Commander was responsible for all costs relating to utilities, the maintenance of land and buildings and the conservation of the MOD owned historic aircraft.

The General Manager of the site was responsible for all other running costs and funds were raised from admission fees and profits from shop, café and events.