IT’S all systems go for the Wroughton Science Museum which will be opening its doors soon for a technology showcase.

The Innovations Festival takes place on September 12 and 13 and will give the public a rare opportunity to see some of great inventions.

They include the world’s first hovercraft, as well as the Bloodhound SSC, which is currently trying to break the land speed record.

Richard Noble will be giving a lecture about the record attempt and the Bloodhound will be on show in D4 hanger.

At the same time in the library at the museum there is a photographic collection by the late Leo Villa on Donald Campbell and his world speed attempt in the Bluebird that took his life. Leo was a mechanic who worked on the Bluebird project.

Matt Moore, major project manager for the Science Museum, said the festival was all about past, present and future.

“We want to use our vintage objects as a backdrop to prompt people to look at new technology,” he said.

“We want people to look at the linear element of say an electric car, why one failed and why it is now being re-examined.”

The Wiltshire Vintage Motorcycle Club members will be riding their 1930s bikes along the runways of the former Second World War maintenance airfield. And also tearing up the runway will be the latest electric motorbikes the TTxGP machines which raced at the Isle of Man TT races this year for the first time.

Matt added: “That is going to be really cool. We also have the Morgan Life Car which is fuelled on hydrogen. Morgan is a local company, it is a living history which is also celebrating a 100- year anniversary.”

The museum manager has incorporated other anniversary landmarks in the festival, including first edition copies of Charles Darwin’s Origin Of The Species as this year is the 200th anniversary of his birth and 150 years since the book was first published.

Other scientific celebrations this year are the Apollo Space programme, marking 40 years since the moon landing. The museum library houses the Apollo ll Flight Plan in its archives.

“And it is the International Year of Astronomy,” said Matt, who has been with the Wroughton Science Museum for 10 years.

”It was exciting to come and work here and get to play with these wonderful bits of kit,” he said..

Entry to the festival is free with £5 per car for parking. Low-carbon methods of transport park for free, in keeping with the stalls and displays promoting the theme of low carbon.

Matt said: “We want people to know that this amazing facility is on their doorstep and it is the first and only time this year that it is open to the public. We want everyone in Swindon to come along and get involved.”