Aviation Museum inaugurates new hangar
A new hangar was inaugurated at the Malta Aviation Museum today in a ceremony which saw two vintage aircraft - a Tiger Moth biplane and a DC-3 Dakota, perform a low flypast over the former airfield of Ta'Qali, where the museum is located.
The new hangar, built opposite the Air Battle of Malta hangar, is the new home for a DC-3 Dakota which is undergoing restoration, a Bell 47G helicopter, the first aircraft of the AFM, a Birdog, which was the AFM's first fixed wing aircraft, two jet fighters from the 1950s - a British Meteor and an Italian Fiat G91, the front section of a Lightning, one of the earliest supersonic fighters, and the cockpit section of a BAC 1-11 jetliner. The Tiger Moth, restored to flying condition by the museum last year, will also be moved there. Arrangements are being made for the 'Moth' to be able to use part of the remaining Ta' Qali runway to be able to land and take off.
This evening's ceremony was presided by President George Abela, who congratulated the museum for the work it is doing to promote Malta's aviation heritage.
"The new hangar opens the museum's doors to growth" Ray Polidano, the pioneer of the museum said as he welcomed guests.
The museum is now spread over three sections, with a Spitfire and a Hurricane at the heart of exhibits in the Battle of Malta Hangar, an old Nissen hut housing a section on naval aircraft including a Sea Hawk, Vampire and Sea Venom, and the other aircraft in the new hangar.
The new hangar, which is 54 metres deep, cost some €345,000 to build, with 80 percent of the funds coming from the European Regional Development Fund.
Mr Polidano said completion of the project will now enable the museum to focus on its aircraft restoration projects, which include completion of the Hurricane and a much needed boost to the restoration of the DC-3 which will feature the colours of Eagle Aviation, which used the type on air services to Malta in 1952.
The museum is also hoping to restore a Dragonfly helicopter, the first rotary winged aircraft to fly from Malta, in 1947. A longer term project is the restoration of a Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber.
This evening's ceremony was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Culture Mario de Marco.
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Brian Newbould
Sep 28th 2011, 09:17
Congratulations Malta Aviation Museum. Been visiting Malta since early/mid nineties and have monitored the growth of the museum over the years. If anywhere deserves a decent facility to preserve a rich and significant history of aviation from early days, through WW2 and the post war decades, Malta must be well up there in the reckoning! May your much deserved success continue.
Bernard Busuttil
Sep 28th 2011, 00:10
A very big well done to Ray, David and all at the Aviation Museum. Keep up the good work.
Mr frank vella
Sep 27th 2011, 22:54
well done ray polidano & co. prosit. frank vella
J Vassallo
Sep 27th 2011, 22:54
the canberra lying next to the control tower needs a home i belive while it is still in a good shape.it was one of the best aircraft and ahead of its time!!!!!!
Mr Etienne Galea
Sep 27th 2011, 22:18
What a beauty! Great development both for tourism and the locals. Hope that the museum has a great success and continues to expand. The use of an adjacent airstrip is a great idea. I suggest that once or twice a year an open day at the museum be planned with the aircraft lined up on the runway. PROSIT.
David Vella
Sep 27th 2011, 21:52
The government should intervene and hand over the GLADIATOR to be restored to it's former glory!! It belongs to the maltese people and should not suffer a slow death.
kenneth anderson
Sep 27th 2011, 21:28
as a regular visitor to malta for the past 11 years....i'm allways interested to see the progress being made by the aircraft museum.....well done everyone...on the down side-i'm saddened by the news that the ha lfar flying association now has no site to fly from....
Mr J Galea
Sep 27th 2011, 20:41
Why doesn't mean spirited Heritage Malta hand over the Gladiator it has to the real experts in maintaining our Island's - Malta's - aviation Heritage? Anybody at the airshow at the weekend could marvel at the great Tiger Moth restoration that these people have accomplished and the aircraft was also gracing the Grand Harbour on Monday. Now they have the hangar to put it in it is high time this issue was settled. The Government should take hold of the situation and tell Heritage Malta to hand over the plane so it is put in its rightful place. The War Museum has enough lovely exhibits of its own and "Heritage Malta" should be thinking of "Malta's Heritage" not its own interests in all of this.
Mr Alfred Cassar
Sep 27th 2011, 20:19
A very big WELL DONE to Ray Polidano and all the persons involved in this Aviation Museum, they are doing splendid job
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Sep 27th 2011, 20:17
i have found this museum far more interesting then the one in hendon, london. well done and keep expanding.
J Vassallo
Sep 28th 2011, 07:26
mr brown with all the respect to you and the malta aviation museum. i have been to a lot of museums and hendon being one of them. yes malta has a great and very deataild museum but more intresting then hendon i think its too far to be belived. unless you have seen the outdoor exibits only in hendon. thanks