The Museum

The museum is housed in the Hucknall Wing Hanger, a rare 20th century Grade 2 listed industrial building, originally constructed in 1944. It was built to provide dedicated ground test facilities for ongoing Merlin and Griffon engine development. The building consists of two test hangars, originally with an aircraft wing section suspended in each. Both hangars are joined by a central blockhouse which provided test control facilities. Engines would be mounted on the articulating wing section for testing in an identical manner to a service aircraft installation, enabling a full range of simulated engine stress tests to be carried out. Visitors can see exhibits relating to both the flight testing that took place at the largely secret Rolls-Royce Hucknall Flight Test Establishment from 1934 to 1971, and the equally important specialist ground testing that continued at Hucknall right up until the early 2000’s.