One hundred years of flight takes off at Tettenhall Transport Heritage Centre

The display drew hundreds of delighted onlookers and the turnout was so large that the organisers decided to do it again three days later

Curator Alec Brew confessed: "We were surprised by the number of people who came. Entry was free and so we did not take precise numbers but several hundred came on New Year's Day.

"There were so many of them that we decided to have another open day on Sunday. We were going to be working at the centre anyway and so just left the display in place so that more people would have the chance to enjoy it. The reaction from those who attended was very positive. They were filled with praise for what was on show."

Among the visitors was 11-year-old Ethan Andrews from Tipton who took the opportunity to get to grips with a gun turret and sten gun. "I had a great time," he said afterwards. His father John , a former submariner who took him to the display, explained: "He is interested in the military and of the age when he wants to have a go at anything. I would like him to join the RAF one day."

Volunteer Peter Stant, an engineer for a firm that makes parts for Jaguar cars, said: "I like getting my hands dirty and this gives me an opportunity to work on things I could never hope to own. I am now trying to get a gun turret from a Second World War bomber to function as it originally did. Its a form of madness but its fun."

The display was the first of a series of events planned for the centre over the coming year to mark the centenary of the first flight by a plane made by Boulton Paul, the world-famous aero company that moved from its original Norwich base to Wolverhampton in 1936 and has since become part of the Moog organisation. The FE2 was part of a Government order for 450 of the biplanes to be manufactured by the firm - previously reknown for its woodwork - and took off on October 4 2015.

The exhibition included display boards charting the company's history along with a variety of artefacts. These included a cockpit from a Balliol, an advanced trainer aircraft made by Boulton Paul in Wolverhampton in the 1950s and one of the gun turrets manufactured by the firm for the Lincoln bomber. Mr Brew said: "There were 20,000 made during the war but this is one of only 25 complete turrets left in the world."

Parts from the cockpit from a Defiant interceptor aircraft and a collection of Boulton Paul power control units for planes were also on show. Plans for further displays during the year at the heritage centre that aims to reflect the transport history of the city and is based in Meadow View Terrace, Tettenhall are still to be finalised. It is run by volunteers and has 30 members.