Firm to support aviation museum's expansion

The Vodafone Malta Foundation is to support the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation in its museum projects, which includes the restoration of a Hawker Hurricane MkIIA fighter aircraft dating back to World War II.

The sponsorship will also cover the cost of purchasing and erecting the Air Battle of Malta Memorial Hangar, built to house WWII aircraft and all WWII exhibits belonging to the Malta Aviation Museum in Ta' Qali, the Vodafone foundation said.

The hangar is erected on a site adjacent to the museum. This new space will make it possible for the museum to acquire and conserve more aircraft and aviation memorabilia related to Malta's rich aviation history.

It will also allow items to be exhibited in an orderly way on the same lines as similar museums overseas.

The Hawker Hurricane Mk IIA was recovered from Wied Iz-Zurrieq after lying on the seabed for 54 years. It is currently in the final stages of restoration to taxiing condition.

The Hurricane took over the defence of Malta from the famous Gladiators Faith, Hope and Charity in the early stages of the war. Its restoration is being carried out by a team of six volunteers and is led by a qualified aeronautical engineer who is an employee of the museum foundation. The finishing works on the hangar will also be performed by volunteers.

The museum's director general, Ray Polidano, said the Museum Foundation had felt the need to erect a memorial hangar to display under one roof the aircraft and artefacts related to the war years, one of the most important periods in Malta's aviation history.

The Vodafone foundation is encouraging other leading companies to follow its gesture.