Martin Withers Appointed Honorary President of the Friends at Yorkshire Air Museum
Aviation history and the community supporting the Yorkshire Air Museum are celebrating a significant leadership update, as distinguished pilot Martin Withers DFC steps into the role of Honorary President of the Friends. Announced by Chair of Trustees Rachel Semlyen MBE, the appointment honours Withers' deep commitment to the institution following his departure from the Board of Trustees after seven dedicated years, a tenure that included serving as Chair and navigating the operational hurdles brought on by pandemic restrictions.
A Legacy in Military and Civil Aviation
Visitors exploring the aviation collections will find that Withers brings an exceptional background in flight to his new role. A law graduate by training, he initially joined the Royal Air Force to fly Vulcans. During his military service, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for commanding the historic Black Buck 1 raid during the Falklands conflict in 1982, successfully bombing the runway at Port Stanley to prevent its use by enemy fighters.
After retiring from the RAF and working as a commercial pilot, Withers maintained a close tie to legendary aircraft by serving as Chief Pilot and Operations Manager for the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. In this capacity, he displayed the world's last flying Avro Vulcan until its final flight in October 2015. Those interested in learning more about how supporters contribute to the institution can read about the Friends of the Museum scheme.
Historic Aircraft and Visitor Highlights
Beyond personnel updates, the former RAF Elvington airfield houses an extensive collection of historic aircraft and replicas that chart the evolution of flight. Among the notable exhibits is a replica of the 1911 Blackburn Mercury Monoplane, built for the television series Flambards and later restored for public display following its arrival in 1995. Visitors can also examine a replica of the Avro 504K, an iconic First World War training aircraft that was famously refurbished for international centenary commemorations in France.
As the museum looks toward upcoming exhibitions and community gatherings, visitors can plan their exploration of the hangars and wartime buildings. You can easily browse other local highlights on Musemap (musemap.art), find related venues using the museum search, or view the layout directly via the interactive map.
