A Triumph of Initiative and Vision - 2

By late 1982, however, the A.T.C. Headquarters and Museum buildings, which dated from 1943 were beyond economical repair and the Southampton City Council was approached to save these sibling organisations with a building and land at Albert Road South (near the Solent dockside). The commendable efforts of the A.T.C. and the importance of the Museum to Southampton were duly recognised by the City Council and Hampshire County Council and the English Tourist Board (who gave substantial capital grants) when in 1983 they agreed to underwrite the cost of a new and permanent building not only to house the original Museum but also to take a larger brief to cover the whole of the impressive history of Solent aviation.

Moreover, not only did they decide that it would be more suitable to house the Squadron and the Museum together in a purpose-built home but also announced that their bid to the Science museum in London for the Short Sandringham four engined flying boat 'Beachcomber' had been successful. This represented the important role which large marine aircraft had played in their heyday in the Solent area. With much valued support from industry, Associated British Ports and the Army notably in the transfer of the Sandringham from Lee-on-Solent and its reassembly on site, the Museum steadily took shape during 1983.

The Royal Air Force helped move the Spitfire, British Hovercraft Corporation of Cowes, Isle of Wight generously restored the S6A, the Science Museum kindly loaned models and sectionalised engines, and the support afforded by many local firms helped complete the imaginative venture. At the same time, the A.T.C. Squadron Headquarters was constructed alongside the Museum and in the same building. Carrying on the traditions of their forebears, the Cadets have since rebuilt and refurbished most of the aircraft in the Museum, including the huge Sandringham flying boat.

The Southampton Hall of Aviation (Solent Sky) relies on visitor attendance and donations to keep the museum open. In this modern day rising costs are making this harder to achieve. Please help us keep the doors open by donating to our charity. Every penny helps, simply use the Paypal link to donate via your credit card, you do not need to have a Paypal account to do this. Thank you.