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Offers activities such as indoor and outdoor climbing walls, an archery range, rifle shooting, orienteering, caving, and with the benefit of being next to the Basingstoke Canal, watersports such as kayaking, canoeing and raft-building. For groups, there is permanent indoor accommodation and an extensive area for camping.
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Grade II-listed centrifuge which was operated by the RAF for medical research into the effects of g-force on the human body from 1955 to 2019. The 2-hour tour is led by a retired research scientist and test subject, who explains in detail the purpose of the research, some of their findings, and their first-hand experiences, with the visual help of the facility's equipment and archive footage.
The airshow is held in Farnborough Airport for one week every two years. Public days are the last weekend only, although there are many locations around town to watch the displays all week. Local pubs' beer gardens, such as The Swan and The Alexandra are good places to try, as are parks such as Cove Green and Southwood Pavilion. On-site, static exhibits cover civilian and military aircraft, as well as innovation in technology and scientific discovery. The afternoon's 5 hour flying display of modern and heritage aircraft is of course the main attraction, climaxing in the stunning RAF display team the "Red Arrows". You can also visit town during the so-called "validation week", which normally lasts a week to ten days before the show officially opens, although flying display times are unpredictable and often repetitive.
For aviation enthusiasts, there is always something interesting going on around the airport. A loyal band of spotters can usually be found there on most days, often with their car radios tuned into air traffic control, and always open to sharing their passion with like-minded visitors from near and far.
The now rather mundane site of Samuel Cody's first flight is marked by a stone and plaque. You can still look across the airfield from here and admire Cody's legacy.
FAST
Local gem dedicated to retelling Farnborough's extensive aviation history, from early balloons and canvas aircraft, through the world wars, the first jet engines, wind tunnel trials, supersonic flight and space exploration. Static aircraft on display include a Hawker Hunter, Harrier T4, Lightning, Puma and Gazelle, which you can sit inside. Or you can try your hand at flying in one of the cockpit simulators. The Cody pavilion houses a scale replica of the pioneer's first plane and an exhibition on his exciting life. However, the museum's greatest assets are its volunteers, who are genuine experts on the exhibits and are always keen (occasionally a little too keen!) to impart their knowledge.
A sculpture of Whittle's Gloster Meteor, a pioneering jet aircraft created at the RAE. See the original plane in London's Science Museum.