British Aviation Chronicles began in 2015.
We document the story of British aviation, from early flights in muddy fields to world-changing supersonic achievements. Our work preserves this heritage for the future.
Project Origins
The idea sparked in 2014 at Fowlmere Airfield, where RAF squadrons once scrambled to defend Britain. In an old hangar, we realized countless stories were disappearing each year.
RAF veterans shared memories found nowhere else. Family attics held forgotten test pilots' logbooks. Corporate archives kept blueprints for experimental aircraft that shaped everything that flew.
Weekend talks with enthusiasts grew into a mission: capture, verify, and preserve Britain's aviation heritage before it vanished. We started with a simple idea—every aircraft, pilot, and innovation has a story worth remembering.
Nine years on, we've gathered over 47,000 documents, 12,300 photos, and 850 hours of interviews. The real value is linking past and present, so these stories keep inspiring new aviators.
Our Research
How do you document a century of aviation? Carefully, with standards any academic would respect.
Primary Source Verification
Every claim needs at least two independent sources. We work with 23 aviation museums, the RAF Museum, and private collectors for original documents—logbooks, official records, and first-hand accounts, never just Wikipedia.
Oral History Collection
We conduct structured interviews with pilots, engineers, and ground crew. Each session averages 3.5 hours using a standard questionnaire. Since 2016, we've recorded 347 people.
Technical Analysis
Aircraft specs are peer-reviewed by engineers. Performance data is checked against manufacturer records, test reports, and logs. When we find original blueprints, we photograph them in 4K for analysis.
Academic Collaboration
PhD historians review all content before publication. We partner with Cambridge University's Engineering Department and the Imperial War Museums. Controversial topics get extra review from outside experts.
Digital Preservation
Original documents are scanned at 600 DPI minimum. Files are stored in multiple formats across different servers, following British Library preservation standards.
Contributor Network
Meet the people behind the archive—from retired test pilots to university researchers.
Dr Margaret Thornton
Lead Historian & Project Director
Former RAF Museum curator with 28 years in military aviation. PhD in Aeronautical Engineering from Cambridge. She's flown in 17 different historic aircraft for her research.
Sqn Ldr James Fletcher (Ret.)
Military Aviation Specialist
34-year RAF career flying Spitfires to Typhoons. He was a test pilot at Boscombe Down from 1987-1994. James provides technical know-how and links to serving personnel for modern stories.
Sarah Chen
Digital Archive Manager
Masters in Information Science from UCL. Sarah built our searchable database and manages digitisation. She previously worked at The National Archives on preservation for government documents.
Prof Robert Blackwood
Technical Reviewer
Emeritus Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Imperial College London. He's published 89 peer-reviewed papers on jet propulsion. Robert checks all technical specs and analyzes engine development trends.
Academic Partnerships
We work with leading institutions to keep our research to high academic standards.
Cambridge University
Engineering Department
- PhD student research projects
- Access to wind tunnel data archives
- Peer review of technical content
- Guest lectures in aerospace history
- Joint publication opportunities
Partnership established 2017
Imperial War Museums
Research Department
- Shared digitisation projects
- Cross-referencing of collections
- Expert historian consultations
- Exhibition collaboration
- Oral history methodology
Partnership established 2016
Royal Aeronautical Society
Historical Group
- Monthly research presentations
- Access to technical archives
- Industry expert network
- Conference proceedings
- Publication peer review
Partnership established 2018
Funding Sources
How do we fund this massive undertaking? Through a carefully balanced mix of grants, donations, and earned revenue.
Our biggest source is a £127,000 three-year grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, awarded in 2019 for oral history and digital preservation. It pays for recording gear, interview travel, and digitisation services. The grant needs matching funds, which we've surpassed with volunteer work valued at £89,000.
Grant period: 2019-2022 (renewed for 2023-2025)
Aviation enthusiasts, ex-RAF personnel, and pilots' families give monthly donations averaging £23 each. Our 1,247 active donors provide £28,681 a year for running costs like website hosting, travel, and equipment.
Major gifts from aviation veterans created a £45,000 emergency fund for acquiring rare documents or aircraft when they become available.
BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Airbus UK give annual sponsorships totalling £31,500. They value preserving their history and often provide access to archives. Support includes both money and in-kind help like technical advice and venue access.
Smaller aviation businesses give £500-2,000 a year for recognition and networking at our events.
We do paid research for authors, documentary makers, and legal firms needing detailed aviation history. Projects include accident investigations, patent disputes, and fact-checking. This brings in £18,200 a year and supports our main work.
Our skill in verifying primary sources makes us a key resource for BBC and Channel 4 aviation documentaries. Each project boosts our reputation and widens our network.
We publish yearly financial reports: 67% on research and preservation, 18% on technology and equipment, 12% on admin, and 3% on fundraising. Our efficiency beats charity best practices.
Major donors get quarterly updates with specific examples of how their money was used. Being open builds trust—and trust builds lasting funding for preservation.
Support Our Mission
Help save British aviation heritage for the future. Your contribution directly funds research, interviews, and digital preservation.
Learn How to Contribute