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 Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation 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 Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation 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 RNMNA 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 Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation 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 Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation. 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 Royal Navy Museums Naval Aviation 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.
Grumman Piston Engine Fighters with Sqn Ldr (Retd) Rod Dean
Thursday 24 September 2026 at 19:30
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation was founded in 1930 by Leroy Grumman. The first aircraft it built for the US Navy was the 1931 two seat biplane fighter FF-1 under the US Navy’s slightly weird nomenclature system. Despite being two seat, the FF-1 was faster than the current US Navy single seat fighter, the Boeing F4B-1, by virtue of its Grumman designed retractable undercarriage. This was the start of a very long association between Grumman and the US Navy, primarily with fighters – from the FF-1 through to the final F-14 swing wing jet fighter – but also various attack and support aircraft. Grumman was also the lead contractor for the Apollo Lunar Lander before being absorbed into General Dynamics in 1999.
September 2026 Talk Payment Information.
Members and guests attending at the RNMNA 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/September 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.
Canadian Armed Forces: Aviation in the Maritime Domain
with Col David Holmes Royal Canadian Air Force & Capt Tim O’Leary Royal Canadian Navy
Saturday 10 October at 11.00 – PLEASE NOTE: This is a Saturday Morning Talk
Canada is a founder member of NATO. The Canadian Armed Forces have deep and historic ties to the UK and Royal Navy and every May Canada remembers the Battle of the Atlantic. During the Second World War the RCN crewed two wartime escort carriers HM Ships Nabob and Puncher before operating three of its own aircraft carriers postwar.
Naval aviation today is the responsibility of the RCAF, which operates alongside NATO allies, including the UK, on missions flown over the Atlantic, High North and Arctic. Long-range oceanic reconnaissance is performed by the CP-140 Aurora MPA and the CH-148 Cyclone ASW helicopter is ship-based.
Col Holmes began his flying career on the CH-124 Sea King and was Project Director Staff Pilot for the CH-148 Cyclone’s introduction to service. He has commanded 423 Squadron, which leads the Atlantic Coast Maritime Helicopter deployable capability and currently serves as Air Force Advisor, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff at Canada House, London along with Capt Tim O’Leary.
October 2026 Saturday Talk Payment Information.
For members and guests attending at the RNMNA entry is £6.00ea. This Saturday talk will not be available on Zoom. You can also pay on the door on the morning 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 morning.
PayPal Zoom
This Saturday talk will not be available on Zoom.
BACS
To attend at the Museum is £6.00.
BANK: Lloyds Bank plc. Sort Code: 30-99-98 Account No: 00857987
Please reference the payment with your Surname/October so we know which talk you are paying for.
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.