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 2024 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 talks@soffaam.org requesting to be put on the mailing list.
Commando helicopter operations behind the lines – Falklands war 1982 with Alan ‘Wiggy’ Bennett
Thursday 26 February 2026 at 19:30
When Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982, the UK Government rapidly determined that they must be returned to British rule. Battle Group elements of an RN task force arrived in theatre a month later, initially to establish sea and air control as a precursor to an amphibious landing.
A further priority of the Battle Group was to gain intelligence on the location and strength of enemy forces, in order to ensure the success of the subsequent follow-on amphibious landings. Elements of 846 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with SeaKing Mk 4, provided the insert and extraction of SF patrols, tasked with gathering such intelligence on the Argentinian held islands. This initial task further developed into raiding operations, both in the Falklands and on mainland Argentina.
A pilot in 846 Squadron at the time, Alan Bennett will relate his experience of these operations.
February 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/Feb 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
To attend at the Museum is £6.00. To attend on Zoom is £4.00
Please send a cheque payable to SoFFAAM:
Membership Secretary, Coombe View, 1 Coombe Villas, Coombe Orchard, Chapel Street, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AU.
Please reference the payment with your Surname/Feb 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
A military diplomat in Yeltsin’s Russia with Air Cdre (Retd) Phil Wilkinson.
Thursday 26 March 2026 at 19:30
Philip Wilkinson’s RAF career began with 1950’s National Service. Various flying duties followed, plus exchange service with US and French Air Forces, station and staff duties in UK and abroad. Latterly becoming OC RAF Gatow, Berlin, as the Wall came down and culminating in his final assignment as Defence and Air Attaché in Moscow.
Phil will describe his involvement when the Soviet Tu-95MS Bear made its first public debut in the West at Fairford for RIAT 1993 with a static display. The RIAT organisers said without Phil’s connections in Moscow it would not have happened. It surprised many with its unique appearance and the presence of Russian officers at a UK airbase.
March 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/March 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
To attend at the Museum is £6.00. To attend on Zoom is £4.00
Please send a cheque payable to SoFFAAM:
Membership Secretary, Coombe View, 1 Coombe Villas, Coombe Orchard, Chapel Street, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AU.
Please reference the payment with your Surname/March 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