Hungarian Aviation History
Museum (Magyar Repulestorteneti Muzeum), Szolnok
At the country's largest exhibition of aviation technology, the technical
equipment, military and civilian aircraft that have survived the
tribulations of history are exhibited outdoors and in a hangar.
The museum has a mixed collection of former Soviet and Western aircraft. The
museum has almost 1 aircraft of every type ever flown by the Hungarian air
force and has plenty of MiG-21's on the museums ground. The museum has
several special painted aircraft in its collection such as the "Eagle-Hind"
.
Next to the MiG fighters, larger passenger planes such as the IL-18 and the
TU-134 are displayed, but also a graceful L-29 Dolphin jet trainer are on
show. Along with many other rarities including not only planes.
Using photos, documents, personal effects and other artefacts, the museum
presents the 100 years of Hungarian aviation history.
This museum started out as the "private" aircraft and technical peripherals
collection of the Kilián György Flight Technical College in 1973. Since then
many things changed - including the name of the college - but the collection
remained. It even got bigger! Originally the museum focused on military
aviation but later civil and utility aircrafts were introduced to the
collection which is divided into two: the open air part of it can be visited
by anyone, other planes like a Yak-11 are housed inside one of the hangars
at the air base of Szolnok.
One of the former displayed aircraft was restored into flying condition, a
Russian DC-3 the Lisunov Li-2 as seen flying the day before at the Kecskemet
air show.
It was moved from Szolnok in 1997 to a MEM Rsz (Air Service) hangar at
Budaors, for a restoration to flying condition by an organization called
"Gold Timer Foundation". and is now based at Budaörs Airport. The Gold Timer
Foundation was launched in 1993 to continue restoration of vintage airplanes
which was started inside the Air Service of the Ministry for Agriculture and
Nutrition the early-1980s.
The collective of enthusiastic mechanics, engineers and pilots resurrected a
couple of old-timer aircraft like the Polikarpov Po-2 biplane. The Lisunov
Li-2, the Soviet version of the DC-3, is a part of this unique collection
Built in factory no. 84 in Tashkent as Li-2 P c /n 18433209 delivered to the
Hungarian Airforce in Sept 1949 receiving the tactical no. "209", in service
until 1957. Then to Malev with registration HA-LIX, back again to the Armed
Forces . Decommissioned from service in 1973 and given to the Szolnok
Museum. And returned to flying condition from 1997 to 2000 in a project that
toke more then 30,000 man hours.
Situated immediately outside the Szolnok air base main gates, this museum
has a very impressive selection of former Hungarian Air Force and civilian
aircraft. All aircraft are very nicely laid out for very acceptable
photography
The museum is open on a daily schedule and is free of admission. If you are
in the vicinity it is well worth a visit
Copyright Karo_aviation.nl
| All right reserved 2003-2015| Design by Ronald de Roij
