The year was 1934, and in England there was a growing realisation that another war with Germany was almost inevitable.
The man in charge at Rolls-Royce, Ernest Hives (later Lord Hives), had decided with a nagging sense of urgency that the company needed to address a growing problem. To make its aero engines as reliable and excellent as possible, Rolls-Royce needed its own comprehensive flight development and test operation, and at the time it simply didn’t have one.
After successful trials of the idea at Stag Lane Aerodrome in London, then at Tollerton near Nottingham, the die was cast. In October 1933 Hives secured the lease of two Belfast hangars on a much larger and more private airfield at Hucknall, nearer the factory in Derby.
Opening in January 1934, the Rolls-Royce Flight Test Establishment went on to lead the world in the flight development of aero engines for the next thirty years, contributing massively to the golden years of British aviation.
Six world firsts
The Merlin Mustang
The world's first conversion of the North American Mustang to take the Merlin engine. On 13 October prototype AL975G makes its first flight, with Captain Ronnie Shepherd at the controls.
Nene in the Shooting Star
The Rolls-Royce Nene becomes the most powerful jet engine in the world. In July a Shooting Star, on loan to Hucknall from the US, is the first single-seat aircraft in the world to test fly it.
The first turboprop
Rolls-Royce creates the world's first turboprop engine, the RB50 Trent. Two are fitted to prototype Gloster Meteor EE227 at Hucknall, which flies for the very first time on 20 September from nearby Church Broughton.
The first jet airliner
Lancastrian VH742 becomes the world's first jet-powered passenger airliner, flying dignitaries and the press to a French air show under Nene turbojet power alone.
The Flying Bedstead
On 3 August Captain Ronnie Shepherd becomes the first pilot ever to free fly the jet-powered vertical take-off and landing Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, known to the public as the Flying Bedstead.
Reverse thrust
Hawker Hunter XF833 becomes the first aircraft in the world to fly with a fully functional reverse thrust system. Designed, built and installed at Hucknall, reverse thrust is now fitted to every turbofan-powered airliner in the world.
The museum today
On 4 April 2025 the Hucknall Flight Test Museum was officially opened in the Grade II listed Wing Hangar, run entirely by volunteers. Come and see the rest of the story for yourself.
A heritage award
The Royal Aeronautical Society has recognised Hucknall with an Aeronautical Heritage Award for the pioneering work carried out here between 1935 and 1971, from Merlin installations to the world’s first jet-powered vertical flight.