First established in 1972 as the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Society,[1] the museum houses a varied array of over 60 complete or partial aircraft, including rarities such as the only complete de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 in private ownership, a flyable replica of the Colditz Cock escape glider, a Vickers Valetta VX580 C.2 and an FMA IA 58 Pucará that was captured by British forces during the Falklands War.

[3] As well as preserving its existing collections, the museum and its members are actively involved in the exploration and study of aircraft crash sites – termed wreckology – in East Anglia.

The museum charges no entrance fee and is entirely funded by public donations, corporate sponsorship, and local and European government grants.

It employs only one full-time member of staff, with day-to-day maintenance and running of the museum falling largely on the shoulders of a team of volunteers.

For many years his Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro, Little Nellie, made famous by its appearance in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, was on display at Flixton.