The final piece of funding for the £13m Cold War exhibition extension at the RAF Museum at Cosford has been confirmed.

Project funding has been provided by a variety of sources, including Advantage West Midlands, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Bridgnorth District Council and the museum’s own fundraising initiatives.

The last funding section, from the European Regional Development Fund, was confirmed on 3 November. This means that work can begin immediately on the extension at Cosford, which has been in the planning stages for the past 14 years.

The new extension – which could boost Cosford visitor numbers by 50,000 people each year – will be constructed in the form of two exhibition triangles, spliced by a central walkway to represent a world divided by ideology.

The museum will also be able to house most of its historic aircraft, which are currently displayed outside and subject to the vagaries of British weather.

Running from the 1940s to the 1990s, a major part of the new exhibition will be Britain’s three post-war V bombers – the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant – as well as aircraft from Berlin, Russia and America.

A number of aircraft will be suspended from a specially strengthened ceiling, which visitors will be able to view from an elevated gallery.

Commenting on the RAF museum director general, Dr Michael A Fopp, said: The RAF Museum Cosford development is great news for the museum, the West Midlands and the whole country. The museum has the finest collection of its type in Europe and is in a unique position to create this country’s first and most comprehensive Cold War exhibition.”

Work will now commence on the development, which is the museum’s biggest-ever project, and is expected to finish and be open to the public by early 2006. Details: www.raf.mod.uk/cosford