Aeropark Volunteers Association

The AVA, Aeropark Volunteers Association can trace its roots back to the Loughborough and Leicester Air Museum that formed in 1977. After four short years the group closed and a new organisation, The East Midlands Historic Flying Group formed with the main purpose of getting Varsity ( WL626 - ex 6FTS from RAF Finningley ) flying again.

Once again the group failed to get a foothold due to insufficient funding but in 1984 a new group - the AVA formed with the help of the Local Councils of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire who along with a large input of funding from NCP Car Parks helped established the AVA and the Aeropark on a site on the Eastern perimeter of the airfield at Castle Donington.

Exhibit Arrivals

Avro Vulcan B2A arrived from RAF Waddington in 1982 and its future was secured for the AVA after an eleventh hour intervention to prevent it being reduced to scrap. The AW Argosy ( G-BEOZ ), Britten Norman Sheriff, and Westland Whirlwind ( Bristow colours ) arrived shortly afterwards.

Once again the whole effort was thrown into disarray when the airport announced apron and runway extensions in 1994 and the park was closed. However through the dedication of a handful of AVA members and the team at the airport, a new site was found at the North Western corner of the airfield close to the Donington Park Motor Racing Circuit. The new Aeropark was opened in August 2001 following a substantial investment program by the airport.

The new site is managed and run by the AVA volunteers and on July 17th 2004 the park welcomed its 50.000th paying visitor ( an entrance charge was only made to people over the age of 16 so when visitor surveys indicate that the average party consists of two adults and three children the true visitor figure for the subsequent years is nearer 125,000 ). A number of new aircraft exhibits have been acquired or purchased and the Aeropark now boasts 27 aircraft.

In recent years a genuine World War II Romney building as been erected on site by the AVA. The building houses a working display area, aviation memorabilia and artifacts, office, stores, shop and a toilet block.

The Aeropark also includes a viewing mounds parallel to the runway at East Midlands Airport and remains one of the regions top aviation attractions, offering uninterrupted views of aircraft on the runway and taxiways.

Interested in Aviation - Why not become an AVA member

Benefits include -

  • Free Admission to the Aeropark
  • Reduced Price Travel on AVA ‘Away Days’
  • A chance to help with Aircraft preservation
  • AVA Newsletter
  • Meet with other people with an interest in aviation

Interested? Then please visit our Membership page to find out more ...