The Aviation Society (TAS) - Not for profit

The Aviation Society (TAS) is a non profit making organisation. It’s run by volunteers who have a passion for aviation and helping out like minded people regardless of age, sex, diversity or ethnic background.

Any monies made from our activities are put back into the society to subsidise events (including Membership and Social Evenings) or donated to “good causes”.

WINGED WORDS

Winged Words - each month all members of TAS will receive a copy of “Winged Words”, the Society’s A5 sized magazine, with up to 60 pages of information about “Manchester Airport” and current / historical local aviation articles. Each copy contains Manchester airport movements, Airport Route News and Developments, Society news / events, Overseas excursions, Social evening reviews, European Airline news, Overseas trip reports, Colour photos and much more, altogether a great read.

By becoming an “E Member” you will receive all the benefits of the TAS Membership but without the hard copy of Winged Words, instead you have access to a downloadable, printable pdf version of Winged Words. E Membership is of course cheaper. See “Join TAS” for further info.

Discounted Entry to TAS Events

Social Evenings –  Are held at the Concorde Restaurant (Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park) every month. Reduced entrance fee for TAS Members. Recent guest speakers have included:- Virgin B747 pilot, Red Arrows Manager, Manchester Airport Operations Director, F35 Test Pilot, Air Traffic Controller, Concorde Chief Pilot, U2 and SR71 Pilot. See TAS Socials for further info.

Behind the Scenes Tours – Frequent tours behind the scenes at Manchester Airport and other North West Airfields are organised for Members only including:– ATC Tower, Aircraft Hangars, Flight Simulators, Airport Fire Station, Executive Jet Facilities.  See Behind the Scenes Tours for further info.

Organised Special Flights

From hot air balloons to Boeing 747’s - TAS has organised so many specialist flights over the years it would be difficult to list them all:- Countless DC3 pleasure flights from Manchester, Coventry and Anchorage, The “Frankfurt Flyers” with Cathay Pacific B747-400’s, The British Airways BAC 1-11 flights to airshows including Fairford, Finningly, Church Fenton, Barton, Blackpool, Newcastle,Jersey to name but a few! L1011 Tristar and B737 flights to Biggin Hill Airshow. The last flight of the Trident, Loganair BAe 146 flights to Southend, YAK 42 pleasure flights from Manchester,YAK 40,Tu 134 and AN2 flights from Prague,various sea plane flights in Canada and Alaska. Tiger Moth and Zlin aerobatic trips.

We’ve organised enthusiast air experience flights on a huge variety of interesting aircraft types (at a very low cost) that today people can look back on with wonderful memories.

Much much more - We organise more events for aviation enthusiasts than any other similar organisation in the UK. Your membership of TAS not only entitles you to attend but often at discounted rates. As an example you will be entitled to a 50% discount on table hire at the Manchester Airport Aviation and Transport Festival.

ACCESS TO TAS TOURS AND FULLY ORGANISED OVERSEAS HOLIDAYS

As a member of TAS you will be able to book on any of our fully organised and guided (escorted) tours and overseas holidays. From day trips to the Airbus factory at Toulouse, to airshow weekends in Europe to “Aviation” holidays (for example) in Africa, The Far East, South America or the USA.

Automatic Family membership

If you have a family member (same household) that wishes to benefit from TAS membership then they are automatically included in your membership. (only 1 magazine issued per household)

Discounts on all goods in the TAS Shop at Manchester Airport

When joining TAS all members are eligible for a TAS Shop Loyalty Card. This entitles them to one stamp for every purchase of £10.00 and over in the TAS shop located at the Runway Visitor Park i.e. one stamp per transaction. 10 stamps = £10.00 voucher to spend in the shop.

Volunteer Engineering Team

By being a member of TAS you may also “help out” with the care and maintenance of the Static Exhibits at the Runway Visitor Park. Lead by a team of qualified Aircraft Engineers, the Team meet at least once a month to undertake simple tasks such as washing the aircraft to more complex ones such as replacing parts. An opportunity regardless of your experience to learn new skills or simply lend a helping hand in preserving a unique aircraft collection. Our major current project is the up keep of the RJX aircraft - constructed locally at Woodford. See RJX Tab for further info. Previous projects have been:- Converting a former Monarch Airlines Dc10 to a Classroom used for local schools and bringing a Trident 3 aircraft to Manchester by road then establishing the aircraft as an educational exhibit. We also work closely with Schools, Collages and Universities such as the University of Salford Aeronautical Engineering Department.

Web Forum - A web based discussion forum (over 1500 members TO date) 

By being a member of TAS you are also entitled to join our Members Forum (Blog Site) where members keep each other up to date with news and can ask questions pertaining to the hobby. Quite simply - we are here to help!

Raising Money for good causes

Each year we raise thousands of pounds for good causes and assist local Charities. Hundreds of different Charities have benefited from TAS Events, Social Evenings and Behind the Scenes Tours. These have included:- Christies Hospital Manchester, The Avro Heritage Museum Woodford, RAF Benevolent Fund, Help for Heroes, Clatterbridge Hospital Merseyside, Blood Bikes, Neurosurgical unit at Salford Hospital, NW Air Ambulance.

This year (2019) we have donated money to Christies Cancer Hospital, Royal British Legion, RAF Charities and supplied funding to enable the Concorde Exhibit at Manchester Airport to have an operational “drooped nose” and enhanced interior / exterior lighting.

Belonging to a big friendly group

What you get with TAS is a great big family of like minded friends, we are a social bunch, which adds atmosphere to all our activities. Most of the society activities are planned, organised and run by like minded volunteers, we all have a passion for our hobby and want as many people as possible to join us in this fascinating world of Aviation.

Duty Free Sale

Did you know that if you are a Member of TAS and hold a valid Airport Watch Scheme ID you will be entitled to attend and purchase significantly discounted goods at the TAX and Duty Free Sales held in the Concorde Hangar each year ..Whats more you can take up to 5 guests with you to the event who may also purchase goods!