The centre is built on the actual footprint of RAF East Kirkby, which served as a home base for 57 and 630 Squadrons during the war.
The resident Avro Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' was built in 1945 and was originally intended for service in the Far East.
The site hosts one of the few surviving original control towers in the UK that is accessible to the public.
During events, the museum operates a restored de Havilland Mosquito fuselage section and other vintage ground equipment.
The museum grounds include an 'airfield garden' of remembrance containing a significant collection of individual memorials to fallen aircrews.
The center's museum hangar houses a collection of wartime transport, including an Austin K2 ambulance and various tractors used for bomb-loading.
The museum remains in private hands, established by the Panton family to honor two brothers who died in the conflict.
Visitors can see a rare example of a functional Type 2367/41 control tower, which retains its original blast walls.
The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is a family-run museum located on the historic RAF East Kirkby airfield, a former Bomber Command base from the Second World War. It is distinct for maintaining a fully operational Avro Lancaster bomber, 'Just Jane', which performs taxi runs on the original concrete runways. The site features an original control tower and numerous restored buildings, including an aircrew locker room and a bomb plotter's room. The collection includes various wartime aircraft, military vehicles, and a significant archive of Royal Air Force history. Visitors can walk through a hangar that still shows evidence of its wartime use, including visible shrapnel damage. The museum operates as a living memorial, emphasizing the experiences of aircrew who served from this location. The runway itself remains largely in its 1940s configuration, providing an authentic sense of scale for heavy bomber operations. The site also serves as a hub for enthusiasts of British aviation engineering and WWII logistics.
The view from the edge of the original runway looking back toward the control tower and hangar.
Check the event calendar for specific dates when 'Just Jane' performs taxi runs, as these are the primary highlight.
Bring sturdy walking shoes, as the site covers a large, open-air airfield area with uneven surfaces.
Visit the control tower early in your stay to orient yourself with the scale of the original airfield operations.
Do not expect a typical indoor, climate-controlled museum experience; much of the site is outdoors and exposed to the elements.
The museum is typically closed on Sundays during the winter season and observes seasonal operating shifts; always check the website for specific event dates.
Respect the memorial areas; avoid touching restricted aircraft components.
