Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum

The Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum (SoFFAAM) was formed in 1979. A thriving and active organisation, its object is the education of the public by promotion, support, assistance and improvement of the museum through the activities of a group of members. It aims to achieve this object by a lively programme of events, including talks and excursions. Some details of these events can be seen in this website.

SoFFAAM CHRISTMAS LUNCH – Saturday 11 January 2025

12 Noon for a 12:30 start. At the Lime Kiln Inn, Knole, Nr Long Sutton, Langport, Somerset TA10 9JH

Come and join us at this new venue for SoFFAAM for our annual Christmas Lunch. Always a convivial and welcoming gathering to enjoy an excellent meal, raffle and aviation themed quiz. Our quiz compiler has assusred me it will be easier than last year!!!

To download a menu/form, please click HERE

MUSEUM ENTRY TICKETS

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday* and SoFFAAM members have FREE entry for the whole year of their membership. You can pre-book your entry via the special FAAM portal below, or you can announce your name at reception, advise you are a SoFFAAM member and the Museum staff will check their digital database and allow you in.

IF YOU ARE BRINGING GUESTS, YOU ARE ADVISED TO PRE-BOOK. CLICK THE LOGO TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS:

Usual membership concessions are available. A SoFFAAM member can bring four guests at a discount of 30% on the normal ticket price, they will have to purchase standard entry tickets from the Museum website. Go through the standard booking process and when it says ‘Enter Code’, use AFILFAAM30 which will re-calculate the cost and give your guest ticket discount. Children from 3 to 15 have to pay the Child Admission price, although children’s tickets can be purchased using the above discount. Children 2 and under are free.

This valuable benefit of Museum entry to SoFFAAM members and their guests is kindly given by the Museum staff.

*The museum is also open Mondays and Tuesdays during School Holidays. See the FAA Museum website by clicking HERE.

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY TO THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM

Dear Marc,

May we at SoFFAAM offer our congratulations to the FAAM on its 60th Anniversary. The birth of the FAAM was inspired and given impetus by the 50th Anniversary of the RNAS itself, celebrated by a Royal Review held at Yeovilton in May 1964. At that time it was considered that the general public passing along the A303 and seeing the Fleet Air Arm at work, would be interested if historic aircraft were also on view. At that time the historic aircraft were a Seafire, a Martlet and a Swordfish. FAAM has come a long way since those days and has successfully grown to achieve an International reputation. Congratulations to all those involved in its success and we at SOFFAAM hope to continue our support and be present in 40 years time for the 100th Anniversary of the FAAM.

With best wishes from the SOFFAAM Council.

Kind regards,

Malcolm Smith

SOFFAAM Chairman

A week of celebrations during the May 2024 Half Term saw the Commander Wildcat Force, Yeovilton cut the special Birthday Cake above on this auspicious occasion.

The SoFFAAM 2024 AGM

The Society’s AGM will be held at 19.00 on Tuesday 15 October 2024 and will take place on Zoom only. All Society of Friends Fleet Air Arm Museum members are invited to attend.

Please email richard@fleetairarmfriends.co.uk to request a Zoom invite. The meeting will include reviews of Society activities over the past year. The meeting concludes with the election (or re-election) of the President, Officers and Council members.

Members and the public alike are invited to download and read the Minutes of the 2023 AGM meeting by clicking on the links below.

Click here to open the 2023 AGM Minutes

Click here to open the 2023 AGM Agenda

Click here to open the 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statement

Membership Benefits

The Society draws its membership from a broad cross-section of society (by no means all from a military background) at home and abroad. Membership is around 1,000 and continues to expand. The membership fee is only £14 per annum with Life and Family Membership options available.

Unlimited free entry to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Europe’s largest naval aircraft collection for a year of SoFFAAM Membership.

Members are invited to contribute to our lively Journal “Jabberwock”. This is provided free of charge to all members on a quarterly basis.

Click here to go to the Membership page for full details.

Donations

SoFFAAM, like all charitable societies, relies on donations from our generous membership and like-minded members of the public to maintain our donations and grants to the Fleet Air Arm Museum which enables them to continue with conservation and preservation of rare aircraft and artefacts. To make a donation please click the PayPal logo below: