The American Air Museum

The American Air Museum in Britain stands as a memorial to the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases in defence of liberty during the Second World War, and also honours those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq and other conflicts and battles of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This outstanding example of contemporary British architecture by Foster and Partners houses the largest collection of American warbirds on display outside the United States, including a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and aircraft from the Cold War era such as a B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71 Blackbird and F-4 Phantom, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.

 

'... a thoughtfully landscaped, handsomely designed aircraft hangar of a building ... The graceful structure is designed to fit around the wingspan of the terrifying Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber ... This is a highly popular venue, and a building that will endure both aesthetically and functionally for as long as it's called on to continue housing a superb display of US military aircraft.'

Jonathan Glancey, guardian.co.uk