Celebration of female high-fliers at RAF Cosford

The museum is celebrating the achievements made by some of the most inspirational women in aviation until Friday by running special sessions for families.

And actresses are taking on the roles of pioneering female aviators to chat to visitors and tell stories about the people they are portraying.

Children will learn about pioneering English aviator Amy Johnson, who set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s and flew in the Second World War as part of the Air Transport Auxiliary.

At 11am and 2pm each day a "news reporter" will interview Amy about her childhood, gaining her pilot's licence and attempting to break the world record flying to Australia.

American aviator Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic and she received the US Distinguished Cross for this record-breaking flight.

She is in the warplanes hanger this week talking about her other flying records, set before her mysterious disappearance in 1937 as she attempted to fly around the world.

And the first female in space, Valentina Tereshkova, is also being celebrated on the 50th anniversary of her flight into space. Story time sessions for children are being held near the

Space Race Hotspot in the National Cold War Exhibition, with a real space suit to look at an a space costume to try on.

The future of women in aviation is being represented by three female museum apprentices stationed in the test flight hangar all week working on panels from the Handley Page Hampden currently being restored in the museum's conservation centre.

A free Women in Aviation trail leaflet is available from the admissions desk on arrival.

The event is free of charge and sessions will run throughout the half term week.

Sessions each day may vary.

The museum is open every day from 10am.