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"Museo del Aire" museum at Cuatros Vientos

	The military aviation museum at Cuatros Vientos airfield in Madrid houses an impressive collection of aircraft in quantity and quality. The location is appropriate as it was Spain’s first military airfield and opened as long ago as 1911. Over 100 aircraft are currently on display, however there are also models, photos, squadron badges, engines, airfield equipment, weapons, paintings and other general memorabilia on display. Some of the most famous aircraft on show include a Vilanova-Bleriot XI built in 1911, a Breguet XIX (Jesus del Gran Poder) used on the flights to Asia and America in 1928-29, and the famous Dragon Rapide, G-ACYR, which flew General Franco from the Canary Islands to Tetuan during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The museum consist of a outdoor display aria combined with one main hanger and several small hangers. Each hanger dealing with a specific item. this can be helicopters or the civil war.In the main hanger the main item is the history of aviation in Spain. This is shown by airplanes from the early period of flying. As is in more parts of the museum the Spanish Civil War has a prominent place in the display. There are type from booth sides of the conflict on display on of the more unique is a Heinkel He 111 E-1 "Pedro which was built in 1936 and is the oldest Heinkel HE 111 on display anywhere in the world. A other topic is the colonial past and the aircraft used to connect to the remote parts of the world One of the hangers deals with helicopters and a aircraft type not seen very often: the Autogiro. The autogyro was invented by Juan de la Cierva y Codorniu in 1919, and it made its first successful flight on January 9, 1923 at Cuatro Vientos.De la Cierva's pioneering rotor technology paved the way for the invention of the helicopter. On display are some of his designs. The Aerotecnica helicopters on display are unique as they are a Spanish product of which only a few are made in a deal with the Spanish air force . When in 1962 the Spanish Government withdrew further financial support Aerotecnica went into liquidation.

Most types which have served in the Spanish armed forces are represented . These include often seen types like the F-4 and F-5 but also les seen types like the Do-24 or KC-79. As different aircraft are withdrawn from active service mostly one aircraft will go to the museum. Latest arrivals include a Mirage F-1 and a Beech F33A Bonanza.

Next to the planes used by the Spanish air force there are also a number of aircraft from other nations on display including a Saab Lansen and Viggen and three ex-East German Air Force aircraft in the shape of a MiG-21, MiG-23 and Sukhoi Su-22.

Naturally a part of the museum is about the Spanish aircraft industry. These include types like the licensed build Casa 325 (JU-52), and self developed Casa 207 and Casa 212 transport planes. A number of prototypes is on display including the Hispano Aviación H.A.200 The twin-jet, straight wing Saeta ("Arrow") was built by Hispano under the direct guidance of famed designer Willy Messerschmitt. First flown on 12 August 1955, it was built as both a basic trainer (HA-200A with two pilots in tandem) and as a light attack aircraft (HA-220, pilot only, equipped with two under wing weapons pylons and two 7.62mm machine-guns). Both are on display and of course is the Casa 101 Aviojet.

While wandering around in the museum compound it is also possible to see some current aircraft of the Ejército del Aire on approach or departing the nearby Cuatros Vientos airfield. A few of the airbase is possible from the aero club witch is also the home of “La Fundación Infante de Orleans” a organisation that keeps the Spanish aviation alive. They fly aircraft like the old trainers of the air force but also a HA-200 Saeta and a Polikarpov I-16.

The museum has an excellent collection of aircraft and memorabilia charting Spain’s aviation history and is well worth a visit