Kbely Aviation Museum

Kbely Aviation Museum
*Letecké Muzeum Kbely*
	Main entrance with a Mig-21 fighter bearing the name of the museum
Established	1968
Location	Kbely Airport, Kbely, Czech Republic
Type	Aviation museum
Website	http://www.vhu.cz/muzea/zakladni-informace-o-lm-kbely/

Kbely Aviation Museum (Letecké Muzeum Kbely) is the largest aviation museum in the Czech Republic and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. It is located at the north-east of Prague, at the military airport Kbely.

Creation of the museum

During the mid 1960s, the Prague Military Museum commenced a programme to recover, restore and preserve historic aircraft from around the country for eventual display at Kbely. Initially, one hangar was used, and about fifty aircraft were placed on public display. The aircraft collection continued to grow, and one of the original Wagner-type hangars on the airfield was brought into use, and now contains the earliest aircraft types on display. Another Picha-type hangar has also been added to bring the number of hangars housing the large and varied collection to four.[1]

The aircraft collection

The collection at Kbely now includes 275 aircraft, of which approximately 110 are on public display at any given time.[2] The museum contains many Czech designed and Czech built aircraft dating from World War I through World War II and up to 1960s supersonic jet fighters. Several unique types are on display, including the early 1920s-built Avia BH-11C L-BONK.[3] Periods before World War II represent Avia B-534. Aircraft from World War II include a Soviet-built Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, Avia S-92 (Czech version of Messerschmitt Me-262A Schwalbe in typical czech colour), Avia CS-92 (Messerschmitt Me-262B Schwalbe in german camouflage), Lavochkin La-7. The formerly displayed fully authentic Supermarine Spitfire LF.IX flown by a Czech squadron of the Royal Air Force was transferred to its owner, the National Technical Museum in Prague in 2008. Periods after World War II represent Avia S-199 and double seats Avia CS-199 (Messerschmitt Bf-109G with Jumo engine), Aero C3A (Siebel Si-204).

In addition to the many military aircraft and helicopters on display, there are several Soviet-designed airliners, some of which were built under licence in Czechoslovakia. Airliners displayed include the Avia 14M (Ilyushin Il-14), an Avia 14T, an ex-CSA Ilyushin Il-18 and a CSA Tupolev Tu-104. Light aircraft exhibited include the Czech-built Praga E-114 Air Baby of 1936, a Mraz Sokol, an Aero 45, an Orlican L-40 Meta Sokol and a Zlin 22 Junak. Helicopters on display include a HC-2 Heli-Baby designed by VZLU (Výzkumný a zkušební letecký ústav).[4]

After 1 January 1993, when Czechoslovakia was divided, a few aircraft were transferred from the collection to the Slovak Republic for inclusion in that country's aviation museums. Also, in recent years, the museum has exchanged several Czech- and Soviet-designed aircraft for military aircraft from the USA, UK, Sweden, Switzerland and other countries.[5]

References

Notes

Ogden 2006, p. 48
"The Aviation Museum Kbely > Basic informations". Vojenský historický ústav Praha. 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
Hunt 1974, p. 94
Ogden 2006, pp. 49–52
Ogden 2006, p. 49

Bibliography

Ogden, Bob (2006), Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe, Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, ISBN 0-85130-375-7
Hunt, Leslie (1974), Veteran and Vintage Aircraft, The Garnstone Press Ltd, ISBN 0-85511-240-9

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[1] Ogden 2006, p. 48

[2] "The Aviation Museum Kbely > Basic informations". Vojenský historický ústav Praha. 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2009.

[3] Hunt 1974, p. 94

[4] Ogden 2006, pp. 49–52

[5] Ogden 2006, p. 49