118 years of living aviation celebrated at Brooklands Museum Fly-In

The roar of aircraft engines overhead returned to Brooklands Museum today as visitors gathered to witness a spectacular Fly-In event – marking an extraordinary 118 years of continuous flying activity at the Brooklands site.

Aircraft began arriving from 10am, landing on the airstrip at Mercedes-Benz World in front of the gathered crowd. The line-up included a mix of historic and modern light aircraft such as the De Havilland Chipmunk, RV7, Van’s RV10, Aviat A-1B Husky, Piper L-4 Cub, Pietenpol Aircamper, Cessna 172, Evector, Sportscruiser Max and Sky Arrow T650 - each bringing a unique story from aviation’s past and present.

Between 12pm and 1pm Brooklands Museum visitors were given the opportunity to go onto the airstrip itself for a rare, close-up experience - meeting pilots, exploring aircraft interiors and connecting directly with the mechanics and their stories of flying. The experience is part of the entry ticket to the Museum on Fly-In days. The day concluded with departures throughout the afternoon, as aircraft took to the skies once more.

At the heart of the event was a powerful reminder that Brooklands is not just a place where aviation history is on display – it’s where it is still made.

Allan Winn, Vice President of Brooklands Museum Trust, said: “This is all about maintaining 118 years of active aviation at Brooklands. Aircraft have been flying from this ground since 1908, making it one of the oldest pieces of land in the world where aviation has continuously taken place.”

He added: “Brooklands was one of the first major flying grounds in the UK. From 1910, some of the earliest flying schools were based here, and more First World War pilots were trained at Brooklands than anywhere else in the country. Over the years, more than 18,600 aircraft made their first flights from this site - more than any other airfield in Europe.

What makes today so special is that we’re not just telling that story - we’re continuing it. Seeing aircraft land, take off, and then allowing people to get up close to them keeps that history alive for new generations.”

Among the pilots taking part was 26-year-old pilot Nathan Robbie DeLorme-Crabb, flying a historic Piper L-4 Cub; an aircraft type originally used for reconnaissance during the Second World War.

He said: “It’s my first time flying into Brooklands, and it’s an absolutely brilliant experience. I actually grew up locally in Walton-on-Thames, so to now be flying into this historic site is a real privilege.

The approach is quite challenging - it’s a short strip with obstacles and a lot of people watching - but that makes it even more rewarding. You’re very aware you’re flying into somewhere incredibly special.”

Reflecting on the aircraft itself, he added: “This Piper L-4 Cub was built in 1943 and served in North Africa. It was used as a spotting aircraft, with a pilot and observer flying over battlefields. It still has many of its original instruments, so you’re flying a real piece of history.

To land it here, on ground where aviation has been happening since 1908, is something quite special.”

He continued: “As you fly in, you can see the original layout of the airfield below - it’s still there, just repurposed. It really brings home the scale of what happened here. It’s incredibly important to keep that history alive and to inspire younger people to get involved in aviation.”

Today’s Fly-In is part of a series of events held throughout the year, ensuring that Brooklands remains a living, breathing centre of aviation - not just a place of preservation, but of participation.

Unlike many aviation museums, Brooklands Museum offers visitors the rare chance to experience both heritage and live flying in one place - connecting past, present and future through the power of flight.

Fly-In events are weather dependent.

Visitors are encouraged to check the Brooklands Museum website for information and updates.

There are three other Fly-In dates coming up over the summer:

·         27 June 2026 (fixed-wing)

·         29 July 2026 (fixed-wing)

·         20 August 2026 (helicopters)