A year at the museums - Unique exhibits
Given our history of armed conflict it is surely no surprise to find warfare, on land, sea and air, has spawned a number of museums on our islands. There is the War Museum at Fort St Elmo, the Maritime Museum at Vittoriosa and the most recent of these...
Given our history of armed conflict it is surely no surprise to find warfare, on land, sea and air, has spawned a number of museums on our islands. There is the War Museum at Fort St Elmo, the Maritime Museum at Vittoriosa and the most recent of these The Aviation Museum at Ta' Qali. It is highly appropriate that this particular museum should be housed at what was a vital Royal Air Force aerodrome during World War II.
The Aviation Museum is housed in three hangars, plus a much larger custom-built hangar and a two-storey multi-purpose museum building. The museum is administered by Ray Polidano for the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation.
This foundation is a voluntary, non-profit-making organisation, set up in the mid-1990s, which combined various associations with the objective of creating a display of unique exhibits related to Malta's rich aviation history.
Since its inception, the foundation has set about acquiring, restoring and preserving a number of aircraft, artifacts and documentation which are of cultural, historical and educational value.
Pride of place among the museum's exhibits has to be the actual aircraft displayed therein. These include a World War II Hurricane, one of the earlier jet fighters the Gloster Meteor, a Tiger Moth biplane, a beautifully restored Fairey Swordfish - one of only 12 remaining worldwide, a 66-year-old Supermarine Spitfire - and the most recent acquisition from the Armed Forces Malta of an Augusta Bell 47G2 helicopter. This is also the very first airworthy exhibit the Aviation Museum has obtained.
In addition to the full-size aircraft on display, there is also an extensive range of scale model planes at the museum. Other interesting exhibits include a Link trainer.
This famous flight simulator was designed by American Edward Link and used by most airlines at one time or another to help train their pilots. There is also a display of air weaponry, including a Hispano Suiza 20 milimetre cannon, taken from a Spitfire.
Then there is a collection of uniforms and flying kit, plus airfield fire fighting suits. Among the other exhibits are a number of aircraft engines and instrument gauges, plus trolleys, trucks and an airfield tractor... all beautifully restored to pristine condition. The RAF's long association with Malta and Ta' Qali is also to be seen in the display of plaques and badges from the service.
The Malta Aviation Museum is open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m seven days a week. The exceptions are Good Friday, Easter Sunday, August 15, Christmas Day & New Year's Day.
The cost of admission is: Adults €5, students €4.08, children €1.50.
Contact details are: Malta Aviation Museum Foundation, Ta' Qali ATD4000, tel: 2141 6095; e-mail:info@maltaaviationmuseum.com.
They also have a very clear and informative website: hhtp://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/index.asp.
The Aviation Museum is housed in three hangars, plus a much larger custom-built hangar and a two-storey multi-purpose museum building. The museum is administered by Ray Polidano for the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation.
This foundation is a voluntary, non-profit-making organisation, set up in the mid-1990s, which combined various associations with the objective of creating a display of unique exhibits related to Malta's rich aviation history.
Since its inception, the foundation has set about acquiring, restoring and preserving a number of aircraft, artifacts and documentation which are of cultural, historical and educational value.
Pride of place among the museum's exhibits has to be the actual aircraft displayed therein. These include a World War II Hurricane, one of the earlier jet fighters the Gloster Meteor, a Tiger Moth biplane, a beautifully restored Fairey Swordfish - one of only 12 remaining worldwide, a 66-year-old Supermarine Spitfire - and the most recent acquisition from the Armed Forces Malta of an Augusta Bell 47G2 helicopter. This is also the very first airworthy exhibit the Aviation Museum has obtained.
In addition to the full-size aircraft on display, there is also an extensive range of scale model planes at the museum. Other interesting exhibits include a Link trainer.
This famous flight simulator was designed by American Edward Link and used by most airlines at one time or another to help train their pilots. There is also a display of air weaponry, including a Hispano Suiza 20 milimetre cannon, taken from a Spitfire.
Then there is a collection of uniforms and flying kit, plus airfield fire fighting suits. Among the other exhibits are a number of aircraft engines and instrument gauges, plus trolleys, trucks and an airfield tractor... all beautifully restored to pristine condition. The RAF's long association with Malta and Ta' Qali is also to be seen in the display of plaques and badges from the service.
The Malta Aviation Museum is open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m seven days a week. The exceptions are Good Friday, Easter Sunday, August 15, Christmas Day & New Year's Day.
The cost of admission is: Adults €5, students €4.08, children €1.50.
Contact details are: Malta Aviation Museum Foundation, Ta' Qali ATD4000, tel: 2141 6095; e-mail:info@maltaaviationmuseum.com.
They also have a very clear and informative website: hhtp://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/index.asp.