Explore the Royal Air Force Museum London

On the site of the former Hendon Aerodrome is the Royal Air Force Museum London. Inside its hangars are vehicles, engines, uniforms, and aircraft, that over the past century have served with - or even against - Britain's air force.

The Royal Air Force was founded in April 1918, the last year of the First World War, when the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged. From the beginning, the RAF sought out the best men and machines to defend the skies and defeat the enemy.

The RAF Museum was opened in 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II to document the service's historic role as defender of the British Isles. At the time, its collection comprised just 36 aircraft, but in the years since, many more additions have been made.

The Spitfire Mark I, Mark V, and the Gloster Meteor are just three of the iconic aircraft held here. In this hangar you'll also find helicopters such as the Westland Wessex and the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.

Some of the biggest attractions are the historic fighters and bombers that took part in the Battle of Britain and the defeat of Nazi Germany. In the final three years of the Second World War, the Avro Lancaster, seen here, took the fight right to the heart of the Third Reich.

It's easy to forget the role played by smaller bombers, such as the Bristol Blenheim. This particular bomber, a Mk IV, was just a training aircraft, but it's seen here in the paint scheme of No.139 Squadron, the first to undertake an operational mission in the Second World War.

On every mission, RAF pilots took the risk of running into German fighters. From the first to the last days of the war, the BF-109 was a common sight in the skies. This versatile fighter was never to be underestimated. In the right hands, it was a formidable foe.

This Harrier Jump Jet is capable of taking off and landing on the spot, without the need of a long runway.