Get in Touch with British Aviation Chronicles
If you're tracing family history through RAF records, want to access our archives, or have photos and logbooks to contribute, we can help. Our historians and archivists answer enquiries within 3–5 working days.
Research Enquiries
Our team handles over 1,247 enquiries a year — from genealogists tracking a grandfather's RAF service to documentary makers looking for footage of 1950s test flights. We offer:
- Detailed aircraft history reports (£45–£120, depending on complexity)
- RAF squadron research (£30 flat fee for basic service)
- Civil aviation registry lookups (free for single-aircraft queries)
- Archive material reproduction (scanning, photocopying, digital delivery)
To submit a research request, please fill out our Research Request Form below. Include as much detail as possible — aircraft registration, dates, squadron numbers, or pilot names all help us locate records faster.
Archive Access
Our physical archive at Fowlmere Airfield holds more than 12,000 items, including original logbooks, technical manuals, photographs, and personal letters from British aviation history. Access is by appointment only, Monday to Friday, 10:00–16:00.
Reading Room Access
Free for personal research. £15 daily fee for commercial use (documentary, publishing).
Digital Access
Over 4,200 items are available online through our Digital Archive. New items added weekly.
Reproduction Services
High-resolution scans from £5 per image. Licensing available for commercial use.
Book Your Visit
Appointments are essential — we're a small team and need to get materials ready ahead of time. Email hello@BritishAviationChronicles.com with your preferred dates and research topic.
Location Details
We're based at Fowlmere Airfield, a historic RAF station used during the Battle of Britain. The airfield is still active, so please follow all signs and instructions when you visit.
Public transport: The nearest train station is Royston (a 10-minute taxi ride). Buses 11 and 18 stop at Fowlmere village — it's a 15-minute walk from there. Limited parking is available on-site.
Visiting Procedures
To ensure a good visit and protect our collections, we ask all visitors to follow these rules:
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Registration
Complete our visitor registration form on arrival. Photo ID required.
Electronics
Laptops and cameras permitted. No flash photography.
Handling
White cotton gloves provided for handling original documents.
Facilities
Tea and coffee available. No food in the reading room.
Contribution Guidelines
We're always looking to expand our collection, especially materials from the 1930s to the 1970s. If you have items to donate or loan, here's what we're looking for:
Logbooks & Flight Records
Pilot logbooks, aircraft maintenance logs, squadron records. Even partial records are valuable.
Photographs & Film
Original prints, negatives, or 8mm/16mm film. We can digitise them and return the originals.
Technical Manuals
Aircraft manuals, engineering drawings, and maintenance procedures. We're especially interested in post-war civil aviation.
How to Contribute
Email hello@BritishAviationChronicles.com with details about your collection. Please include:
- Description of items (type, quantity, approximate dates)
- Photographs of the materials (even smartphone photos help)
- Your contact information and preferred method of contact
We'll respond within 5 working days to discuss next steps. All donations are tax-deductible for UK taxpayers.