Lit by the early morning sun, with the fuselage yet to be painted pale blue.

Dan-Air Comet G-APYD and British Airways Trident G-AWZM hidden away in a very cramped storage hangar of the Science Museum at Wroughton. Both aircraft were complete and in excellent condition. This Comet was first delivered in May 1960 (to Olympic as SX-DAL) and withdrawn from use by Dan-Air on 23 Oct 1979. A week later, on 1 Nov 1979, it was flown from London-Gatwick to Wroughton on delivery to the museum.

MDC delivered this DC-8 to Alitalia in 1970, as I-DIWW. It was withdrawn from use in 1981 and sold as N39305 two years later. In 1988 it entered the MGM Grand Air fleet, and became N802MG in 1990. Kalitta acquired it in 1996 and converted it to a freighter. Transferred to Kitty Hawk in 1999, and then sold to African International in early 2002. With them it initially flew as 3D-AIA, but was soon reregistered to ZS-OSI, as seen here. Finally, in 2009 it went to Stars Away and was permanently withdrawn from use in 2012. In early 2015 this beauty was broken up at Manston, UK.

Ex KLM Connie, beautifully preserved at the Wroughton Science Museum facility. Delivered to KLM in 1947, as PH-TET "Tilburg", later PH-LDT, and withdrawn from use Sep 1960. It was converted to freighter in 1962, then briefly carried TI-1045P in 1964 before becoming N7777G that same year. As such it saw service with many operators until impounded at Dublin in 1974, where it would remain for many years. Sold to Aces High in 1982 and registered as G-CONI, but reg never applied. The Science Museum acquired the aircraft and transported it from Dublin to Wroughton in July 1983. Restoration completed in Sep 1984 in TWA colours, even though it never flew for TWA.

A very early DC-3, among the oldest still in existence. Originally delivered to United Air Lines, way back in 1936, as NC16071. After a long and varied career it was acquired by Skyways Inc. in 1969 as N655GP, and as such it made its way to Europe in the early 1970s. It was mostly based in Ireland while operated by several companies. In March 1976 it was registered as EI-AYO, and then sold to the Science Museum in late 1978.

On display in its original Highland Airways colours. It was delivered to that airline in 1933, and used for the inauguration of their Aberdeen-Orkney service in July 1934 (hence the aircraft's name). After that it saw service with several operators, but always kept the same registration. In Sep 1971 it became part of the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend. This museum closed and saw its aircraft auctioned off in May 1983, which is where the Science Museum acquired it. In 1993 it was fully refurbished and painted in the historic Highland colours you see here.

This aircraft was originally delivered to the RAF in 1944 as NF865. Registered G-ALXT in 1950, to Ceylon in 1951 as CY-AAI, later to 4R-AAI. Returned to the UK in 1974, and added to the Strathallan Aircraft Collection the next year. Painted in Railway Air Services colours seen here in the late 1970s. The museum acquired this aircraft in the Strathallan auction on 14 July 1981, and it has been on display at Wroughton in those same colours ever since.

Handed over to the RAF in 1949 as a Devon C.1, and later converted to Devon C.2/2. Operated by the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) since 1953. Flown to Wroughton, UK in Febuary 1986, on delivery to the Science Museum's rarely-opened facility and preserved there in excellent condition ever since.

Delivered to United Air Lines (via National Air Transport) in 1933 as NC13340, first as a Boeing 247, converted to 247D in July 1935. To the CAA (predecessor of the FAA) in 1942 as NC18. Sold in 1947, to N18 in 1949, and served with various companies. Reregistered as N18E in 1953. Acquired by the Wings and Wheels Museum at Orlando, FL in 1977. The museum closed in Dec 1981, and acquired by the Science Museum in a Christie's auction. An epic delivery flight then took this rare Boeing 247 through Reykjavik, Dublin and Cardiff on 29/30 Jul 1982. The final leg to Wroughton was flown on 3 Aug 1982.

A Mignet "Flying Flea" hiding under the belly of a DC-3. This little aircraft was first registered in April 1936 and withdrawn from use three years later. Many years later the interesting and unusual biplane was acquired by the Science Museum and displayed at their rarely-opened Wroughton facility. In 2011 it was transferred to the "M" Shed Museum in Bristol.

This was the last of 30 Vampire Trainers to be built at Ringway by Fairey Aviation. It first flew on 11 September 1955 and later served No. 19 Squadron RAF and units at Shawbury. Retired in 1970 and used as a technical training airframe until donated to Manchester Airport in 2003.

Departing empty after this older A320 got stuck here with jammed wheelbrakes. Aircraft broken up in 2010.