Bodyflight: Skydiving and Surfing in a controlled and safe environment - using the former RAE vertical wind tunnel.

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST)
http://www.airsciences.org.uk/

BAHG is the Bedford “wing” of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust. Farnborough was the headquarters of the Royal Aircraft Establishment from 1918 on.

306th Bombardment Group Museum
http://www.306bg.co.uk/

A history of Thurleigh airfield in WW2 is on display at Ralph Franklin’s 306th Bombardment Group Museum located on Thurleigh airfield. <

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection (BDAC)
http://www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk/<

This collection, now at Old Sarum Airfield, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, houses many aircraft from Boscombe Down. Bedford’s aircraft were transferred to Boscombe Down in March 1994 when Thurleigh airfield closed. 

Martlesham Heath Aviation Society
http://www.mhas.org.uk/

Martlesham Heath (Suffolk), was home to BLEU before it relocated to Bedford in 1957.

National Aerospace Library
http://www.aerosociety.com/About-Us/nal

Part of the Royal Aeronautical Society and located at Farnborough, Hants.

Defford Airfield Heritage Group
http://deffordairfieldheritagegroup.wordpress.com/

Defford (Worcs) and Pershore were bases for radar flying trials, before the Radar Flight Trials Unit relocated its aircraft to Bedford in 1976-77. 

Several Bedfordshire aviation organisations are of interest.
 

The Shuttleworth Collection
http://www.shuttleworth.org/

Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, Nr. Biggleswade Bedfordshire 

The Aircraft Research Association (ARA)
http://www.ara.co.uk/

The Aircraft Research Association (ARA) was established in Bedford in 1952 as an industry collective, and is still operating wind tunnels today. 

Cranfield University
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/

Cranfield University was founded in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics as a component of the post-WW2 grand plan for UK aeronautics, of which RAE Bedford was also a part. Several Bedford aircraft were modified at Cranfield to suit research needs. 

The Airship Heritage Trust (AHT)
http://www.airshipsonline.com/index.htm

Airship Heritage Trust (AHT) preserves the history of airships at Cardington near Bedford, for a short while (1980s) part of RAE Bedford.

The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
The Bedford branch of the RAeS meet on the second Wednesday of each month during the period Sept - April for talks on aviation matters. The talks are normally held at the ARA. Details of these talks and other Society branches may be found at the Society’s main web site - http://www.aerosociety.com/. Details of the Bedford Branch may be found directly on the Society Branch Events page.

A number of research aircraft formerly operated at RAE Bedford have been preserved in museums around the UK.
 

RAF Museum, Cosford
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/

Home to several research aircraft operated at Bedford. The “Test Flight” display includes five ex-Bedford aircraft: Fairey FD2 (WG777), Short SB5 (WG768), English Electric P1A (WG760), Hunting H126 Jet Flap (XN714) and Avro 707C (WZ744) - as well as the Bristol 188, a TSR2, the prototype Meteor (DG202), and the ACT Jaguar (XX765). Vickers Varsity (WL679) is in the Transport hangar (Hangar 1).  

IWM Duxford
http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford 

The Imperial War Museum, near Cambridge.

Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton (Somerset)
http://www.fleetairarm.com/

Home to HP115, research aircraft, based at Bedford 1961-1974

Science Museum, London
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/

Home to the Short SC1 Aircraft XG900. The Short SC1 was the first British fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The Museum also houses Hawker P.1127, XP831. This is the first prototype VSTOL aircraft which achieved vertical take-off on 21st October, 1960. 

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Northern Ireland, near Belfast
http://www.nmni.com/uftm

The second Short SC1 (XG905) can be seen at the Flight Experience exhibit at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Northern Ireland, near Belfast. Both SC1 aircraft were formerly based at Bedford.

Brooklands Museum
http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/

Home to Hawker P1127, XP984

Canberra WK163
www.classicairforce.com/canberra-info

Canberra WK163 is currently preserved at RAF St Mawgan.

Boulton Paul P111A VT935
www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk

The Midland Air Museum is situated on the North side of Coventry airport.