Monthly Talks Programme
These take place on the last Thursday of each month at 19:30 (No Talks are held in August and December). The price for Talks at the Fleet Air Arm Museum for 2026 is £6.00. We are continuing to improve the standard of our live Zoom option with the aim of widening the audience for these talks. The cost for this option is £4.00.
Access for Thursday evening Talks at the Fleet Air Arm Museum is via the ground floor access gate, which is to the left of the main entrance stairs. Ring the bell on the sign to the left of the gate and a staff member will come and let you in.
Guests and non members are very welcome at the Museum or on Zoom. Tea/Coffee, Wine and Soft Drinks are available for a donation in the FAAM Auditorium before the presentation starts and also in the interval.
These are very popular events and we encourage you to purchase tickets beforehand to ensure entry. Entry is possible on the door of the night of the Talk but only if the maximum capacity has not been reached. Pre-paid tickets are guaranteed entry as priority will be given to pre-paid ticket holders. Tickets are available online via PayPal. Other payment options are available by BACS and Cheque. Please note: there is a cut off for purchasing advance tickets two days before the Talk date and time when the PayPal links will be disabled. Any payments received after the cut-off will be held over to the following month’s Talk.
NON SoFFAAM MEMBERS
Are very welcome to our Talks both at the Fleet Air Arm Museum and on Zoom. Consider joining SoFFAAM to get the benefits of entry to the Museum and other society privileges. See our Membership page HERE.
NB. We do not issue physical tickets. Names will be added to the audience attendance list at the Museum Auditorium. You will be asked for your Surname and checked-in on the night. The same is for Zoom where you will be checked as you log-in. Zoom links are sent out 48 hours before the talk takes place.
If you would like to be added to the email list for our talks, please contact us. If this link does not open your email browser please mail soffaam@btinternet.com requesting to be put on the mailing list.
SATURDAY MORNING TALKS
These take place on an ad-hoc basis during Spring and Autumn and will be notified on this talks page and by email notification to SoFFAAM Members.
Non SoFFAAM Members have to pay the Museum Entry fee as well as the talk fee. Alternatively join SoFFAAM at a cheaper price than a Museum Ticket and get free entry to the Museum for the year of your tenure. 5 days minimum is required to process your Membership. Download a Membership Form HERE
As a SoFFAAM Member, you have free entry to the Fleet Air Arm Museum. You can pay the talk ticket price using the detail in the talk information below. You can pay on the door on the day of this Talk, but priority will be given to pre-paid tickets if the hall capacity is reached.
SoFFAAM Members can bring guests to this Talk but the guest needs to pay the entry fee to the Museum as well as the Talk entry fee. SoFFAAM Members can bring up to 4 Guests at a 30% discount on the Museum entry price.
Entry for Saturday Talks at the Fleet Air Arm Museum is up the stairs to the first floor main entrance. ONLY disabled members can use the ground floor access gate, which is to the left of the main entrance stairs.
Refreshments are available in Warnefords Café and SoFFAAM Members enjoy a 20% discount on purchases.
Canadian Armed Forces: Aviation in the Maritime Domain with Col David Holmes RCAF – CANCELLED
Saturday 9 May 2026 at 11:00
WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BUT THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH SERVING PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY IN TODAYS TURBULENT WORLD WHERE THEIR DUTY DEMANDS HAVE TO COME FIRST. WE ARE HOPING TO RE-ARRANGE THIS TALK FOR THE AUTUMN.
Pre purchased tickets will be reimbursed but please bear with us because the Treasurer is not available to do this immediately but this will be actioned as soon as possible.
The Lynx World Speed Record with Chris Holliday
Thursday 28 May 2026 at 19:30
The Westland Lynx, specifically the modified G-LYNX demonstrator, set the official Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) world speed record for helicopters at 400.87 km/h (249.10 mph) on August 11, 1986. Flown by Trevor Egginton over the Somerset Levels, this record remains unbroken for conventional helicopters four decades later.
Chris Holliday was one of the team at Westlands who added to the success of G-LYNX with his expertise on blade technology and will describe the build up and flights involved to achieve this still unbroken record.
May 2026 Talk Payment Information.
Members and guests attending at the FAA Museum is £6.00ea and Zoom £4.00ea. You can also pay on the door on the night to see this Talk, but priority will be given to pre-paid tickets if the hall capacity is reached.
PLEASE NOTE: there is a cut off for purchasing advanced tickets on the Tuesday prior to the Talk at 19:30. Any payments received after this time will be held over to the following months Talk.
PayPal
To pay by PayPal for the talk in the Museum, click HERE
We do not issue physical tickets. PayPal informs us you have paid and your name will be added to the audience attendance list at the Museum Auditorium. You will be asked for your Surname and checked-in on the night.
PayPal Zoom
To pay by PayPal for the talk on Zoom, click HERE.
We do not issue physical tickets. PayPal informs us you have paid and your name will be added to the Zoom audience attendance list.
Zoom links will be sent 48 hours ahead of the Talk. If you have not received one by 24 hours ahead of the Talk, please contact soffaam.joinup@gmail.com
BACS
To attend at the Museum is £6.00. To attend on Zoom is £4.00
BANK: Lloyds Bank plc. Sort Code: 30-99-98 Account No: 00857987
Please reference the payment with your Surname/May so we know which talk you are paying for.
For Zoom, you must email soffaam.joinup@gmail.com requesting your Zoom invite. Please advise your payment is for the March 2026 Talk.
Zoom links will be sent 48 hours ahead of the Talk. If you have not received one by 24 hours ahead of the Talk, please contact soffaam.joinup@gmail.com
Cheque
Unfortunately, the Society has taken the tough decision to stop using cheques as payment for any Society activities.
This is due to so many Banks closing and rules changing for charitable organisations making cheques unviable for SoFFAAM.
Our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Flight BA38 – From the Control Tower with Adam Spink
Thursday 25 June 2026 at 19:30
Adam joined National Air Traffic Services in 1998, and has been an air traffic controller at Heathrow for 26 years. He was the Control Tower supervisor at the time of flight BA38, the British Airways 777 that crashed just short of the runway on 17 January 2008.
While many may have seen the ‘Air Crash Investigation’ TV programme or read the AAIB reports on the crash and thus be familiar with what caused the incident, the perspective from air traffic control is less well known. Adam will describe both the lead up to the crash, and the aftermath, as seen from the control tower.
June 2026 Talk Payment Information.
Members and guests attending at the FAA Museum is £6.00ea and Zoom £4.00ea. You can also pay on the door on the night to see this Talk, but priority will be given to pre-paid tickets if the hall capacity is reached.
PLEASE NOTE: there is a cut off for purchasing advanced tickets on the Tuesday prior to the Talk at 19:30. Any payments received after this time will be held over to the following months Talk.
PayPal
To pay by PayPal for the talk in the Museum, click HERE
We do not issue physical tickets. PayPal informs us you have paid and your name will be added to the audience attendance list at the Museum Auditorium. You will be asked for your Surname and checked-in on the night.
PayPal Zoom
To pay by PayPal for the talk on Zoom, click HERE.
We do not issue physical tickets. PayPal informs us you have paid and your name will be added to the Zoom audience attendance list.
Zoom links will be sent 48 hours ahead of the Talk. If you have not received one by 24 hours ahead of the Talk, please contact soffaam.joinup@gmail.com
BACS
To attend at the Museum is £6.00. To attend on Zoom is £4.00
BANK: Lloyds Bank plc. Sort Code: 30-99-98 Account No: 00857987
Please reference the payment with your Surname/June so we know which talk you are paying for.
For ZOOM, YOU MUST email soffaam.joinup@gmail.com requesting your Zoom invite.
Zoom links will be sent 48 hours ahead of the Talk. If you have not received one by 24 hours ahead of the Talk, please contact soffaam.joinup@gmail.com
Cheque
Unfortunately, the Society has taken the tough decision to stop using cheques as payment for any Society activities.
This is due to so many Banks closing and rules changing for charitable organisations making cheques unviable for SoFFAAM.
Our apologies for any inconvenience caused.