Tag: industry

German and Soviet Military Traces in Jüterbog

CarloRLeave a comment

The area around Jüterbog, about 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Berlin by car, has enjoyed a long military tradition, dating from the years of the Kaiser and WWI, through the Third Reich and all the more than four decades of the Cold War, until the departure of the Soviet Army in the early 1990s.

Almost for the entire duration of the 20th century, the area has been scattered with barracks, immense training grounds, shooting ranges, officer’s houses, army administration buildings, technical depots, airports and military academies.

The town of Jüterbog is actually much older than the 20th century, but the Soviets, who grew to a much greater population than the Germans in town after 1945, did not pay much attention to this nice medieval town. Following their withdrawal and the end of all military operations around, the town center received substantial money for restoration from the Government of reunified Germany, and the result is really remarkable – Jüterbog is today possibly one of the most lively and nice-looking centers in the region, with medieval towers, gates and churches, hotels, restaurants and bright-painted houses all around.

However, one hundred years of military activities in this province could not be wiped out at once, and despite nature is now invading the old army premises after operations ceased, to a careful eye the heritage of the German and Soviet Armies stationed there can be spotted quite easily, immediately out the lovely historical town.

Perhaps the most prominent witnesses of the past activities are the old flight academy, installed in the Third Reich years and later employed also by the Soviets, who got control of the area after they arrived in 1945, and kept it even after the foundation of the GDR and the corresponding Armed Forces (i.e. the Nationale Volksarmee, or NVA). The flight academy is today a listed building, despite in a state of partial disrepair. Another example is the big airbase of Jüterbog/Altes Lager, which went on operating as an NVA and Soviet airbase until the very end of the Cold War, and is now being used as a sport airfield, a kart circuit track, an event venue and a solar power plant.

Both these two items are covered in another chapter.

In the following report, more locations in and around Jüterbog are pinpointed, photographed during two visits, partly guided by the knowledgeable Dr. Reiner Helling, in the Summer seasons of 2021 and 2022.

Heading to Berlin or the former GDR? Looking for traces of the Cold War open for a visit?

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Sights

The material in this post covers ‘Shelter Albrecht’, a one-of-a-kind private collection of items from WWII and especially from Soviet times, more views of the former airfield of Altes Lager, with a Granit bunker still in very good conditions, an abandoned military hospital with evident traces of Soviet operations, a Soviet cemetery, and a few more items, silent and overlooked witnesses of a recently bygone era.

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Shelter Albrecht

The airbase of Jüterbog/Altes Lager was selected by the Soviets for further development with the arrival of jets in the late 1940s-early 1950s, and grew to be a prominent attack aircraft and helicopter base in the territory of the GDR. Now reduced in size to the point that some taxiways have been turned into public roads, some of the incredibly many aircraft shelters originally in place in the peripheral parts of the base – mostly AU-16 – have been wiped out. However, a set of two to the east of the runway have been spared this fate, and have been redeemed by a private business. One has been turned into a venue for events, whereas the other has been employed to showcase a great collection of WWII and Cold War memorabilia. Actually, the two hangars are located inside a somewhat larger perimeter, with an original technical building and room for even more exhibits.

A first impressive sight is the original Soviet scheme of the base. Similar signs were typically put close to the gate of any Soviet base (as seen for instance here in Ribnitz/Damgarten), and with their Russian writings today they witness the Soviet tenancy of the base.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

On the apron, an original military version of the ubiquitous Trabant, in army green color, is on display together with a field kitchen and a gigantic roadwork machine. The latter is Russian made, with tank tracks, and powered by a 12-cylinder Diesel engine.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

A Mil Mi-2 helicopter, which for some hard-to-imagine reason had ended up on the Adriatic coast of Italy in a private collection, where it sat almost derelict, has been brought back to the other side of the Iron Curtain, and restored in a camo coat and placed in a prominent position. Not far, a wing from an old Lavochin La-5 Soviet aircraft can be found.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Still on the open air exhibition are a decorated panel once gracing a Soviet hospital – possibly the one described later (here) – and another celebrating the Warsaw Pact. But the exhibits are really countless, and include propaganda posters, and canisters for ordnance.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

To the side of the main exhibition hangar, in the area of an interred fuel tank once serving the base, is an incredible set of Soviet panels, originally from this or other Soviet bases around. These panels are partly decoration/celebration signs, with portraits of Soviet soldiers and emblems.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Other are technically-themed, with explanations concerning driving habits and rules, hand-to-hand combat, and more. Similar items, including fake targets for assault training, can be found for instance in Forst Zinna, an abandoned Soviet base not far from Jüterbog (covered here).

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Also part of the collection is a rare mural, apparently retracing the push to the west of a Soviet division (?) during the Great Patriotic War.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Inside, the aircraft shelter is stuffed with interesting memorabilia. From WWII, exhibits include remains of downed aircraft, including damaged engines, propellers and canopies. Among them are remains of an Avro Lancaster, a Focke-Wulf 190, a Junkers Ju-87 and the canopy of a pretty rare training (two-seats) version of the Messerschmitt Bf-109.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Four large scale models cover as many interesting sights around. The first is the former flight academy of the Third Reich (mentioned above and covered here), north of the Altes Lager airbase premises. Also on display are books and furniture originally from the library of the academy.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

A second model portrays the entire area between the academy (north) and the airfield (south), including the latter. This area, now largely shrouded in the trees and partially in private hands, used to host technical installations and even factories connected with warfare business – all linked by an extensive network of roads and railways.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Another model is that of two airship hangars from the years of German tenancy. These had to be really huge, but are today completely gone. Among the factories in place in the area, were those for supplying gas for the airships.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Finally, a fourth scale model represents the older airfield of Jüterbog/Damm. The latter is not far from Altes Lager, and is today in private hands for some cattle breeding business. It features very peculiar concrete hangars, an interesting specimen of Third Reich construction engineering. Some aerial pictures can be found here. That airfield was not selected for further development by the Soviets, due to the limited potential for runway lengthening, in turn due to the proximity with Jüterbog town.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Soviet-related items on display range from painted tables, originally gracing the walls of the base, to technical signs in Russian, to a full array of personal and military items, all belonging to the Soviet staff stationed in Jüterbog. These include an interesting overall map of the Soviet airfields on GDR territory, with basic technical data.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Among the highlights, an official printed portrait of Stalin, and one of Brezhnev in a military uniform, parachutes and parts from attack aircraft, many direction signs and instructional panels for low-ranking military staff. Also very interesting is a radar scope with the three air corridors to West-Berlin and the position of Altes Lager printed on it!

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Of special interest for aircraft enthusiasts are many pictures from the days of operation of the airbase, with many exotic Soviet aircraft seen landing, departing or taxiing around.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Other panels tells about the presence of rocket forces in the area of Jüterbog – in particular the 27th R.Br. of the NVA. They operated the SCUD-B system.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Back outside, the exhibition is completed by an original monument from Altes Lager, often employed as a background for official ceremonies, and more personal memorabilia of the owner of the museum, formerly serving within a tank division of the NVA.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection

Reconstructed shops and schools are on display, with much original furniture and everyday items of Soviet make.

Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Shelter Albrecht – Jüterbog – Altes Lager – Soviet Cold War and WWII memorabilia collection
Getting there and Visiting

The place is really worth a visit for everybody interested in memorabilia items from Soviet times, or for those looking for tangible traces of the military past of Jüterbog. The location is easy to reach by car, with a convenient internal parking. The address is Niedergörsdorfer Allee 4, 14913 Niedergörsdorf, Germany.

An updated official website with opening times is apparently not available. However, Mr. Helmut Stark, the owner of the place, may be contacted beforehand (in German only) to inquire about opening times and plan a visit – try Googling his name and that of the site for updated contacts. The place is regularly open at least in the weekends in the warm season. A visit to this site will be likely with Mr. Stark following you and giving explanations in German. This will take about 45 minutes.

Granit Bunker and Hangars in Jüterbog/Altes Lager

Some views of the Altes Lager airbase are provided in this chapter, and some aerial views can be seen here. The huge, flat-top hangars date from the Third Reich era, and similarly the control tower with its annexes. Some of the hangars were reportedly dismounted by the Soviets and taken to the Soviet Union soon after the end of WWII.

Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads

Besides all the aircraft shelters scattered all around the runway, a relevant and pretty secluded Soviet addition north of the airfield is a Soviet Granit-type bunker. This type of bunker was among the lightest in Soviet inventory, and could serve multiple purposes, e.g. storing movable radar trucks, tanks, other machinery, or weapons. Actually, its presence on an airfield may suggest the purpose of storing special air-dropped weapons, maybe tactical nuclear, high-explosive or chemical ordnance.

Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads
Jüterbog Altes Lager Abandoned Soviet Base Bunker Granit Cold War Nuclear Warheads

Bunkers of Granit-type are possibly the most frequent special constructions in former Soviet bases (see for instance here or here), but the one in Jüterbog is interesting since it is very well conserved, and its massive metal doors are still perfectly in place, providing a nice impression of how this technical item should have looked like in the days of operation.

Getting there and Visiting

The airport of Altes Lager is today pretty busy, with several companies having taken over much of its original premises now open for business. Multiple access points are available, and chances of looking inside the original installations are many. Given the still exceptional state of conservation of the Granit bunker, in order to protect this rare historical artifact from the impressive hordes of catatonic idiot spoilers and writers out there, no indication is provided on its exact location.

Military Hospital

Among the buildings now shrouded by the overgrown vegetation in the area between Jüterbog/Altes Lager airfield and the town of Jüterbog is a sizable military hospital. Totally invisible from the road, the hospital is basically made of a single, building featuring three long interconnected rows.

It is made of the typical German dark-red brick, a design which is way too elegant for Soviet occupants. The arrangement of the facade and the nice railings suggest a construction date from the years of the Kaiser and the German Empire, maybe early 20th century.

Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic

However, the years of Soviet use are witnessed by a big mural, portraying Lenin with some Soviet soldiers in the background, with a black and yellow striped ribbon and a red star, emblems of the Red Army.

Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic

To the more careful eye, a few graffiti in Russian can be found here and there, with a date as usual.

Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic

The aura is very silent and mysterious, and as such, this location is a mecca for urban explorers. Actually, the only noise came from a fast spinning ventilation fan in a window frame! This was pushed by an air stream however, not likely by a motor…

Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic

Some more buildings complete this complex, and original GDR-style lamps can still be seen around – the tall trees now surrounding the building were likely not in place when the hospital was closed, presumably in the early 1990s.

Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Jüterbog Niedergorsdorf Altes Lager – Abandoned Military Hospital – Soviet Relic
Getting there and Moving around

Not difficult to find in the trees between Jüterbog and the airfield of Altes Lager, there is no clear interdiction sign to access this complex from behind, yet vibration sensors planted in the ground can be spotted around, and some security cars can be seen sometimes parked on the main road. A walk around the hospital is not especially dangerous nor difficult, and may take about 25 minutes taking all the pictures. The building is architecturally nice and possibly listed. Yet it is in partial disrepair and largely sealed, and getting in is obviously not advisable.

Soviet Cemetery

The only relic of the years of Soviet occupation which is immediately visible to the general public in Jüterbog is the Soviet military cemetery. This is located to the back of the Liebfrauenkirche, in the historical center of Jüterbog.

Actually, a monumental part, with railings embellished with hammer and sickle emblems and a monument with writings in German and Russian to the back, is detached from the church yard.

Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof

However, possibly in later times, the limited space available in the lot originally planned for the monument meant some graves were dug right in the church graveyard, side by side – but not mixed – with German graves.

Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Jüterbog Soviet Cemetery Friedhof
Getting there and Visiting

The exact address is Am Dammtor, 14913 Jüterbog, Germany. The place is well-kept, being part of the historical city center of Jüterbog. Parking opportunities all around on the street. A visit may take 10 minutes.

Railway Yard, School and Command Building

The town of Jüterbog acted as a ‘local capital’ for the many Soviet troops and their families scattered in the corresponding district. The hospital (see above) was not the only large installation in place. A district school was also installed, which served not only the very town of Jüterbog – with a Russian-speaking population of more than 70.000, greater than the German nationals – but also the residing Soviet population of smaller technical installations in the area. A notable example is the impressive nuclear depot in Stolzenhain (see here), where a dedicated staff and their families occupied four residential blocks now gone. Their children reportedly attended school in Jüterbog.

The school is today largely abandoned, and a quick tour around reveals typical Soviet decorations in the large sporting hall.

Jüterbog Soviet School Abandoned Cold War Relic
Jüterbog Soviet School Abandoned Cold War Relic
Jüterbog Soviet School Abandoned Cold War Relic
Jüterbog Soviet School Abandoned Cold War Relic

The school building is geographically close to the railway station. The latter had a passenger terminal dedicated to the Soviet population, which was completely segregated from the German one.

Furthermore, the railway in Jüterbog had also a primary logistic function, connected with the military activities going on in the area. Besides transporting tanks, vehicles and other material, also nuclear warheads arrived by rail from Belarus or Ukraine (both in the USSR at the time), for storage in the Stolzenhain Monolith-type bunkers (see here). A special railway track with a dead end in the trees featured a special interchange platform, allowing to move the sensitive warheads in their controlled canisters to trucks, and by road to Stolzenhain – usually at night. Since warheads were also sent back for maintenance or overhaul, the transport operated also in the opposite direction.

Jüterbog Railway Track Station
Jüterbog Railway Track Station

Very close to the railway station and the school is also a large grassy area, surrounded by a nice, old-style metal fence. This area is that of an older training ground, dating to the years of the Kaiser. A command building, now in disrepair, betrays the same origin, featuring decorations in a typical old-German style.

Jüterbog Command Building Abandoned Relic
Jüterbog Command Building Abandoned Relic
Jüterbog Command Building Abandoned Relic
Getting there and Moving around

The school can be found in Jüterbog here. Cross the street from the school, the old training grounds and command building are immediately spotted. Walking north past the command building, you get access to a pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks, with a nice view of the station. An exploration of the railway tracks has to be considered extremely dangerous, since the railway line there is today a high-speed one, with bullet-fast trains appearing in just seconds. A walk around this spot in Jüterbog may take 15 minutes. Parking opportunities ahead of the command building.

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The Aeronautical Museum of Belgrade

CarloRLeave a comment

With a few parallels in aviation history, especially in the years immediately following WWII, former Yugoslavia benefited from supplies by a great number of countries. As a matter of fact, the air force of this newborn communist republic was formed at first from leftovers of retreating Germany and conquering Britain, followed by the establishment of a supply line initially from the USSR, and later the US and again Britain.

The special political ability of marshal Tito, who ruled uncontested as a communist dictator since the foundation of Yugoslavia in 1945 until his death in 1980, and the credit he benefited from especially in Britain, allowed him to keep out of the sphere of influence of the USSR since 1948. In a strategic position on the border with NATO countries like Italy and Greece, Tito adopted a detente policy of ‘equal-distance’ between the two opposing blocs over the Cold War period (even though NATO did not trust him fully, as testified by the deployment of a SAM defense line in northeastern Italy, see this post).

Of course, most of the military supply was of Soviet make, especially after the death of Stalin and well until the end of communism in Europe and the bloody fragmentation of the Yugoslav state. However, concerning civil aviation, autonomy from Moscow allowed the adoption of western aircraft, like the French Aerospatiale Caravelle and much of the Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas inventory, in the major national airline JAT – something which happened very rarely anywhere in the communist bloc over the years of the Cold War, another notable instance being Romania, again a ‘semi-autonomous’ communist dictatorship, who refused the Soviet Tupolev Tu-134 in favor of license-built British BAC 1-11s.

Another effect of the autonomy from the USSR was the creation of a national aviation industry, which especially in the case of SOKO, produced military trainers and light attack aircraft of good success, which despite ageing, are still flying today.

More recently, the fierce conflicts raging over the Balkans in the 1990s have created a major active front for modern aviation, where the air force of Serbia – which inherited the geographically central part of Yugoslavia and its capital city, Belgrade – confronted the NATO alliance in an open conflict. The unbalance of forces allowed the western coalition to quickly establish air superiority, which did not come without a few notable material losses however.

A rich display of this peculiar aviation history, actually tracing back to WWI and the early years of aviation, can be found in the Aeronautical Museum of Belgrade, which despite being in today’s Serbia, acts as a kind of Yugoslav Aviation Museum. As a matter of fact, it was founded as such back in the years of Tito, and opened in its current building nearby ‘Nikola Tesla’ civil airport of Belgrade in 1989, when Yugoslavia was still a reality.

This short post provides an outline of what you can find in this museum, with photographs taken on a visit in April 2019.

Sights

The museum occupies a relatively large area in the vicinity of the airport of Belgrade, and is made of an open-air exhibition, open-air storage area, and big mushroom-shaped building hosting an indoor exhibition.

The ‘gate guardian’ is a SOKO J-21 Jastreb, a nice light multi-role aircraft from the 1960s, powered by a British Rolls-Royce Viper jet engine.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Indoor exhibition

The entry hall of the mushroom-shaped building features is a good example of the architectural style from the late communist era. The ground floor hosts a small exhibition about the early days of aviation in the former region of the Balkans, with documents from WWI years. Among the items on display, you can find early pilot’s licenses from notable war pilots, likely granted after training abroad, and actually written in French.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

The main hall of the museum can be found upstairs. This large can be walked on two levels. Most aircraft are to be found on the lower level, but a few are suspended to the glassy circular sidewall of the mushroom, lighted from behind by the sunlight – so that taking pictures is just a nightmare!

The centerpiece of the collection is an exemplar of the SOKO J-22 Orao, a twin-engined – two Rolls-Royce Viper turbofans – light ground-attack and trainer aircraft from the 1970s. Designed jointly by Yugoslavia and Romania, this model equipped the Yugoslav (then Serbian) air force during the 1990s, where a handful exemplars are still flying today.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Indeed a clean design with an interesting performance, this aircraft was possibly the last heir of the Ikarus-then-SOKO lineage, originated back in the years before WWII. In this respect, some unique exemplars of aircraft are preserved in this museum, witnessing the existence of a school of skilled aircraft designers in Serbia, not much known in the western world.

A key figure of the Ikarus design bureau, Dragoljub Beslin led the design of Ikarus S-451, a nice, very small, twin-prop attack aircraft flown in 1951, especially designed to sustain high load factors in maneuvers at high speed.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Another unique specimen is the twin-jet Ikarus 451M, the first jet aircraft built by Yugoslavia. Same designer as the S-451, this unusual jet-engined taildragger flew in 1952, but was soon superseded by more modern models, in those years of quick-paced development of aviation technology. Again, the engines were from the West, in the form of two French Turbomeca Palas turbojets.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Another member of the ‘Ikarus 451’ family – it must be said this Yugoslav one is likely the oddest model numbering systems ever created… –  the T 451 MM Strsljen (Hornet) features a more convincing configuration, resembling the single-engined British BAC Jet Provost and the Italian Macchi MB 326, both rather successful trainers from the late 1950s. On display is actually the ‘Strsljen II’ version, which is a attack/training version with more thrust than the first series aircraft. This model was conceived to operate from unprepared runways, and featured two Turbomeca Marbore II French turbojets. The aircraft flew in 1958, but an air force contract was not granted.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Some functional wind tunnel models of other aircraft, actually never reaching the 1:1 prototype stage, are on display. These include a rare ekranoplane design, the UTVA 754. With a mechanic-monster-like appearance like all ekranoplanes (the most famous being probably the Bertini-Beriev preserved at the Russian Air Force Museum in Monino, see here), this machine was designed in 1982 in the then-Yugoslav town of Zagreb, today the capital city of Croatia.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

A medevac aircraft conceived for easy conversion between floats and wheels, the UTVA 66H can be visited also inside. The indigenous SOKO is represented by a number of models. These include the SOKO G-2 Galeb, a successful trainer/light attack aircraft from the 1950s, built around a single Rolls-Royce Viper turbofan. During its long history it was exported to several international operators, and gave birth to the more recent SOKO J-21 Jastreb. The Galeb was in service with Serbia until 1999.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Another section of the museum features aircraft of foreign make which witness the intricate history of alliances of both the pre-WWII Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the post-WWII communist Yugoslavia. Most remarkably, these include a Messerschmitt Bf-109-G! The history of this particular aircraft is not very clear, some sources stating it was captured from Bulgarian air force. As a matter of fact, Yugoslavia acquired about 70 Bf-109-E from Germany in 1940, which in turn furiously invaded from north in a quick an violent campaign in spring 1941.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Next in line is nothing less than a British Hawker Hurricane! A group of Hurricanes were acquired from Britain in the immediate pre-war years, and even license-built in Belgrade in a small number – Yugoslavia apparently purchased aircraft seamlessly from both opponents at the outbreak of WWII. Later on, Hurricane-equipped squadrons of Yugoslavia fought back on the side of the Allies from bases in southern Italy, finally regaining control over the Balkans.

In a similar fashion, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V witnesses the involvement of British-supplied national air force squadrons in the liberation of Yugoslavia from the German invaders.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

In the closing years of WWII, Yugoslavia benefited also from the help of the USSR. This is witnessed by a massive – and pretty rare, out of former soviet republics! – Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik. This big attack aircraft, possibly the most famous Soviet aircraft of WWII, equipped three squadrons in the Yugoslav air force, and helped in the fight on the so-called ‘Srem front’ north of Belgrade. An often overlooked sector of the European front, substantial operations were carried out since late 1944 until April 1945, with the forces of Nazi Germany slowly retreating under the offensive of the Red Army (including Bulgarian divisions) and of Yugoslavia from the south. These operations involved 250’000 troops on either side, thus engaging the Germans and draining resources from mainland defense. At that time, an entire division of the Yugoslav air force were equipped with this aircraft type, kept in service until the 1950s.

Similarly, an elegant WWII Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter of Soviet make can be found nearby in the colors of Yugoslavia.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

After the end of WWII, Tito was determined not to surrender his political and economic independence to Stalin. In this high-stake gamble, he made no secret of his thoughts, and sought international recognition from the west. As expected, Stalin showed no sense of humor in that matter, and as the USSR broke relationships with Yugoslavia, this country faced the risk of isolation and of Soviet invasion in the early stage of the Cold War (late 1940s).

Over the years, the good relationship established with the western Allies during WWII were strengthened further, and most incredibly for a communist country, the US provided aircraft and helicopters, in the form of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, Republic F-84G Thunderjet and (much later, in the early 1960s) North American F-86D ‘long-nosed’ Sabre.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

The years of Kennedy administration saw a significant improvement of the relationship between Tito and Khrushchev, and this led to a switch to Soviet aircraft in the form of the supersonic MiG-21, which equipped the Yugoslav air force in substantial numbers over the following two decades. An exemplar of this iconic and ubiquitous aircraft, an unquestionably well-performing aircraft in his age, is preserved in the museum. By the way, the early 1960s saw also the widespread adoption of SOKO Galeb trainers and the phase out of older British/US models.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Other peculiar exhibits in the indoor part of the museum are the wrecks resulting from air fight operations during the Yugoslavian wars of the 1990s. On the national (Yugoslav) side, the tail cone of a SOKO G-4 Super Galeb – a totally different design from the quasi-homonym G-2 – damaged by a shoulder-launched Stinger missile in 1991.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

But much more material is from NATO countries, resulting from combat during operation ‘Allied Force’ against Serbia in 1999. Most notably, you can see a substantial part of the wing of a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the famous stealth aircraft downed by a vintage Soviet SA-3 Goa surface-to-air missile in March 1999, as well as a landing gear, ejection seat, pilot’s helmet, Vulcan cannon and some smaller parts of a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon downed the following May, again due to an SA-3 missile. The first stage of the missile which hit the Nighthawk is on display too.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

These are basically the only aircraft lost in action over enemy territory during that operation.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

An apparently easier prey, General Atomics RQ-1 Predator UAVs were used in great numbers, some twenty of them being downed. One wrecked example is put on display.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

More items of the kind include parts of NATO missiles, including HARM anti-radiation missiles and cluster-bombs containers.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

On the upper level, you can find a mostly photographic exhibition mainly about the national carrier JAT. Interestingly, not a single Soviet-made model appears in the pictures, whereas you can find Boeing 707s, 727s, 737s, Douglas DC-9s, McDonnell-Douglas DC-10s, Aerospatiale Caravelles and ATR-42/72s – clearly a strong commercial bound with the West, pretty unusual for a communist country!

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Another Yugoslav airline started operations to a later date – Aviogenex. This apparently did use aircraft from the USSR, in particular Tupolev Tu-134s, later flanked by Boeing 737s. Aviogenex ceased operations much later than the end of Yugoslavia, and operated as a Serbian company for some years.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

One of the most iconic brutalist monstrosities in northern Belgrade is the skyscraper which used to host the headquarters of this airline – it looks like a good setting for some ‘Blade Runner’ or ‘Judge Dredd’ movie…

Some more panels include descriptions of airport history and modern operations in the nearby airport of Belgrade. The history line of the national aviation industry is also presented in detail through historical pictures.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Some more aircraft can be found on this level, as well as a SA-3 Goa missile in a non-operative paint scheme, likely for training or telemetry tuning purposes.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Outdoor exhibition

The large area around the building is split between a small outdoor exhibition prepared for the public, and a larger storage area with many more aircraft which can not be neared nor walked around.

The displayed aircraft include an Aerospatiale Caravelle in the colors of JAT. This exemplar was one of three operated by this airline, and was active between 1963 and 1976.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

A much elder transport, a German (French license-built) Junkers 52 with P&W engines represents a fleet of four such aircraft operated by the Yugoslav air force, complementing another group of originally German aircraft captured during the war.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

An aircraft of historical significance is an Ilyushin Il-14 twin-prop transport. This aircraft was a personal goodwill gift from Khrushchev to marshal Tito, and the founding member of Yugoslav presidential fleet.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

A couple of Lisunov Li-2 and some original Douglas C-47 Skytrain, of which the former is a license-built Soviet version, are on display, albeit not all complete. A MiG-21 Fishbed and a Kamov twin-rotor helicopter are also on display.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Another extremely rare item from the post-WWII years, a Short SA.6 Sealand amphibious aircraft of British make has made its way to Belgrade, after years as a transport aircraft in the Yugoslav air force.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

The non-visible part of the museum features a rather impressive collection of MiG-21 in several versions, SOKO J-21 Jastreb and SOKO J-20 Kraguj in a large number, a SA-2 Guideline soviet-made SAM launcher with two missiles, and a number of partly assembled aircraft and wrecks.

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

A mystery item is a part of an allegedly US aircraft, apparently a part of the tail empennage of a bigger transport – any suggestion about this item welcome!

Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbian Aviation
Aeronautical Museum Belgrade Serbia Aviation

Visiting

The museum is located to the northwest of the airport of Belgrade. It can be easily reached by car from the access road going to the main terminal area. Website with info in English here. Parking ahead of the entrance.

The museum can be visited in about 2 hours by an interested subject, much less if you have just a mild interest in aviation. Much paneling is in double Serbian and English language, allowing to get the most from your visit.

Despite being fully operative, the place has a somewhat rotting appearance especially from the outside, as mostly typical to former state-run institutions in former Yugoslavia. Furthermore, some form of protection for the aircraft in the outside exhibition is hopefully to be considered by the management, otherwise the aircraft with literally disintegrate to the action of the elements in a matter of some years.

JFK’s Last Trip to Fort Worth and Dallas

CarloRLeave a comment

The murder of President Kennedy in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963 is possibly one of the most well-known news stories from the 20th century. Since then, most theories put forward by both the official prosecutors and wannabe investigators after the crime never appeared completely acceptable.

The main defendant, Lee Harvey Oswald, was shot dead by likely-mafia-affiliated Jack Ruby, two days after Kennedy had been shot. This happened before any court hearing of Oswald, who always protested his complete innocence.

But Oswald was spotted on the crime scene, and his life before that fatal day had not been normal in any respect. Grown up a very poor man from the New Orleans, he enlisted in the USMC, spent years in Japan, changed home at a high pace in the continental US, between New York and Louisiana, learned Russian, applied for Soviet citizenship, established himself in an fantastic flat in Minsk, Belarus (see this account about Minsk), at the height of the Cold War, married a lady from the USSR, moved back to the US with his wife and their baby, collaborated with  communist movements in America while living of nothing in the south of the Nation, appeared in Cuba and Mexico in the years of the Kennedy administration, and finally decided it was time to kill President Kennedy, accused by a part of the military and political establishment of being excessively left-leaning during his years at the White House.

Maybe this man materially acted alone on the day of the shooting – something strongly adversed by many eyewitnesses and even scientists and analysts, based on ballistics – but with a curriculum so pointed of oddities, especially for the geopolitical situation of the 1950s and early 1960s, it is hard to imagine he was not part of something bigger.

An excessive number of pretended coincidences in the reconstruction by the investigators have largely discredited the official theories, in turn creating a mystery around the actual crime.

As time is passing and people involved are disappearing, chance to find the truth about the intricate plot behind the assassination are waning. Yet this unsolved crime has fueled decades of controversy, with tens if not hundreds of books written, as well as TV series and blockbuster movies produced – and it is still an intriguing topic for many, who come to see the famous Dealey Plaza in Dallas, where the shooting took place, making the local museum in the Texas School Book Repository one of Texas’ five all-time most visited attractions.

Being in the exact place where the famous Zapruder movie was recorded produces of course a strong impression. Yet there are more places in Dallas and Fort Worth related to the famous last visit of JFK to this major industrial focus of the nation, which albeit less impressive than the actual crime scene, may be interesting to find and visit for the most committed visitors.

This post portrays some of the most famous and of the least known places connected with Kennedy fateful 1963 trip to Texas. Photographs were taken in summer 2018.

Map

This map reports the focal points of President Kennedy’s visit to Texas on November 21st-22nd, 1963.

Kennedy flew in and out Fort Worth from Carswell AFB (now NAS Fort Worth reserve base), arriving on November 21st, and departing in the morning of November 22nd to Dallas Love Field – a very short hop for Air Force One.

You can see places in Fort Worth and Dallas connected with both the actual and scheduled route of Kennedy’s visit (blue placeholders), plus the route of the motorcade from Love Field to Dealey Plaza and back (blue line), with a stop at Parkland Memorial Hospital, where JFK was pronounced dead at 1:00 pm, November 22nd.

Orange placeholders are locations connected with the shooting – where JFK was (surely) hit, famous spots on the crime scene, etc.

The movements of L.H. Oswald have been partly reconstructed by the prosecutors, where some have been ascertained based on sightings by witnesses. These are shown in yellow and red respectively on the map. Red placeholders show the location of Oswald sightings or places connected with his story.

Green placeholders show the positions of notable monuments connected with the assassination of President Kennedy.

Navigate this post – click on links to scroll

Sights

Sights are listed going along the time-line of the days of JFK’s visit.

Hotel Texas (now Hilton) & JFK Tribute, Fort Worth

President Kennedy spent the night between November 21st and 22nd in the Texas Hotel, located on Main Street in central Fort Worth. Today this nice, early 1920s building is still there, listed among historic landmarks. It has changed hands more times in the last decades, and is now run by Hilton, with the name Hilton Fort Worth. Built on the opposite side of the square where the convention center is located, it is still today a primary business hotel in town.

Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech

In the square ahead of the hotel is a monument dedicated to JFK, with a statue and citations. This was the location of the last public speech the President gave, before breakfast on November 22nd.

Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech
Kennedy Assassination Fort Worth Last Speech

Later on that day, he held a scheduled speech in a hall of Hotel Texas, before going to Carswell AFB (now NAS Fort Worth), west of downtown, to board Air Force One to Dallas Love Field. Air Force Two soon followed.

Dealey Plaza, Dallas

Monuments in Dealey Plaza

The curious composition of white colonnades and pergola-shaped monuments in Dealey Plaza is the result of an architectural master plan for the area, completed in 1940.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza Monument

Despite the weird aura that will enshroud the square for many years to come, the composition is actually very nice, with two opposing fountains ahead of the colonnades welcoming you when entering the square from Main Street. This is exactly what the motorcade did, turning right on Houston Street and first left on Elm street, where JFK was hit (see map).

The pergola on the ‘grassy knoll’

The northernmost part of the composition in Dealey Plaza is a curved white pergola, placed on top of a knoll, at an elevation of roughly 10 ft above the road. This is a vantage point for watching Elm street, which starts descending gently from Houston Street towards the railway triple underpass. It was here that Zapruder was standing, together with many eyewitnesses, shooting his now super-famous video (see map).

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll View

You can get a 360° view from close where Zapruder was standing from this video.

Here you see an example photo sequence of a car passing by along Elm Street, following the same route of the presidential motorcade.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations

A crowd was standing also on the southern side of Elm Street, at the level of the road, from where the pergola and the wooden fence on top of the grassy knoll can be seen very clearly. Looking uphill towards Houston Street, you can see the Texas School Book Repository, and the half-open window from were somebody fired at the motorcade.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza

‘X-marks’ on Elm Street

Two white X-marks have been painted on the ground where, based on official investigation and findings, President Kennedy was hit, while his motorcade was driving along Elm Street.

The first is located immediately after the crossing with Houston Street, where the motorcade turned left. The pictures below shows the window on the sixth floor of the book repository from the spot of the hit (actually behind a tree), and the wooden fence under the trees on top of the grassy knoll. The wooden fence has been indicated by many as the position of a second shooter, and some have sustained they saw shots coming from there.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot

Taking into account the elevation from the ground of the window on the sixth floor of the book repository, the total distance to this first X-mark is similar to that from the fence. Yet the trajectory of a shot from the fence would have come dangerously close to Zapruder and all folks between the knoll and the sidewalk.

The second X-mark, that of the fatal shot to the President’s head, is located further west. Looking from here again to the window on the sixth floor and to the fence, it is apparent that the latter spot would be a far easier point for shooting – very close -, while on the other hand recording a hit from the former would be a real challenge.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot

Close by the X-mark corresponding to the fatal shot, the National Historic Landmark placard of Dealey Plaza has been placed on the sidewalk.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Locations
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas View Shot

You can get a clear impression of how fast everything must have happened watching this video of my car running along the route of the motorcade, from Main Street down to under the triple underpass.

Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View
Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View
Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View
Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View
Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View
Kennedy Assassination Location Elm Street Car View

The wooden fence on top of the ‘grassy knoll’

The fence on top of the grassy knoll divides the grass on the northern end of Dealey Plaza from a parking area on the side of the book repository. The elevation over Elm Street and the little distance from it, makes this place a good spot for targeting a car passing on the position of the second X-mark – that corresponding to the fatal shot.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Knoll Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Fence
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Museum
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Museum

To the back of the fence, the old railway switching tower from the 1910s played a part in the mystery. On the morning of the assassination, Lee Bowers was on service in the tower. He reported to the prosecutors that about 15 minutes before the shooting he had noticed a car slowly circling in the parking. At the time of the shooting two figures were standing by the fence, and he saw fire and smoke coming from their position. He provided details about the cars and an these men.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Control Station

Lee Bowers died in a car crash without witnesses in summer 1966, when he gently launched his car out of the road while driving alone in the countryside somewhere near Midlothian, south of Dallas.

The triple underpass

This Art Deco railway bridge, dating from older times than the monuments in Dealey Plaza, is another good vantage point for a comprehensive sight of the stage of the assassination.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Railway Bridge
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Library
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Library
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Elm Street
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Elm Street
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Dealey Plaza

It has been supported that a witness standing on the grass south of Elm Street and close to the underpass was wounded by a fragment of the curb, produced by a bullet hit. This might have been a missed shot.

Texas School Book Repository & Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas

The building of the book repository, located on the northern side of the crossing between Houston and Elm, has been taken over by the city government for administrative functions. A museum has been opened on the sixth floor, from where shots were allegedly fired against the motorcade.

The museum is very modern. After paying by the entrance, you are given an audio-guide and you are directed to an elevator going up to the sixth floor.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Book Repository
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Book Repository
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Book Repository
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Grassy Book Repository
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald

You can walk along a nice exhibition mostly based on tons of photographs and reproductions of original documents, papers, agencies, documents, dossiers, and so on. Before showing the chronicle of events during the last trip of JFK and the events of the assassination, you are told about the general political and social situation in the years of Kennedy administration, so as to reconstruct the big picture and the meaning of this trip. There was much criticism about it, and you can see some unwelcoming headlines from newspapers, telling about a tense political situation in Texas. There are several videos playing loop.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Paper Protest

Of course, an accurate reconstruction of the shooting is the main topic of the exhibition. Frames from the many videos recorded by the witnesses allow to have an almost second-by-second account of the last minute in the life of JFK.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade

Far less known than others are some pictures of the motorcade taken seconds after the shooting, when the cars accelerated under the triple underpass, with men of the secret service bent over the wounded President. Witnesses on the opposite side of the underpass had not noticed the shooting, and they were probably stunned watching the motorcade rushing away.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade Escape
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade Escape
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade Escape
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Motorcade Escape

There is a dinner set from the scheduled luncheon Kennedy was heading to, prepared in the Dallas Trade Mart. A picture of the announcement of the assassination to the attendees of the luncheon waiting for the President is particularly striking. Detailed maps are displayed of the motorcade route, of the movements of L.H. Oswald, and of the emergency rooms of the Parkland Memorial Hospital where JFK, Vice President Johnson and Governor Connelly were given medical assistance.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Failed Party
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Failed Party
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Failed Party
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Failed Party
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald News Agency
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Failed Party
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Parkland Hospital
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Parkland Hospital
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Model
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Model

A highlight of the museum is the area around the corner window from where shots were fired. An accurate reconstruction of the exact position of the boxes around the shooter’s position has been set up, based on photographs from the time.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library

Access to the window is interdicted, but you can get an idea of the view enjoyed from there from the third window from the corner.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library View
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Window Library

Further items of interest include cameras and video recorders used by the witnesses, and a detailed map of the standpoints of most witnesses who made a video recording, or did take pictures.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Video Recorders
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Video Recorders

An area of the exhibition is dedicated to Oswald, his arrest and his murder in the Police headquarters, which took place on November 24th, 2 days after JFK was killed. You can see copies of official documents, a ring belonging to L.H.Oswald, and the suit worn by Detective Jim Leavelle – the man portrayed in the video of the assassination of L.H. Oswald by Jack Ruby, leading Oswald out. At the time of writing, Texas-borne Jim Leavelle, borne 1920, is one of the few living primary witnesses of that dramatic episode.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements Arrest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements Arrest
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements Tippit Murder
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements Tippit Murder
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Finger Palm Prints
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Finger Palm Prints
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Evidence
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Evidence
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Camera
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Ruby
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Ruby
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Ruby
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Ruby

Finally, the place where the old rifle used to fire at the motorcade from the window was found soon after the shooting, with Oswald fingerprints, has been reconstructed with the same accuracy of the firing position.

Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Movements
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Rifle Location
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald Rifle Location
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald
Sixth Floor Museum Dallas Kennedy Assassination Oswald

Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas

After the shooting, the motorcade accelerated keeping on the scheduled route (see map). It is noteworthy that the Trade Mart, where JFK should have had lunch, is not far from the Parkland Memorial Hospital, which is between the Trade Mart building and Love Field (see map).

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Parkland Memorial Hospital
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Parkland Memorial Hospital

President Kennedy and Governor Connelly were quickly drawn into emergency rooms, whereas soon-to-be-president Lyndon B. Johnson received medical attention in another area.

Officer Tippit’s Murder Scene, Dallas

Soon after he was spotted in the Texas School Book Repository minutes after the shooting, L.H. Oswald left for home. Initially caught in the traffic after taking a bus, he moved around pointlessly not far from Dealey Plaza, finally taking a cab to go home. He got off some blocks past his house, where he returned by foot (see map). He soon left, and at about 1:15 pm, 45 minutes after the assassination of JFK, he reportedly killed police officer Tippit in a quiet residential area. The place is marked by a placard (see map).

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Tippit Murder Location

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested less than an hour later, on account of Tippit’s murder. Only hours after his arrest, during the night of November 22nd, he was accused of the assassination of President Kennedy.

Texas Theater, Dallas

After shooting officer Tippit, Oswald left along Jefferson Boulevard, presumably walking to the Texas Theater. This movie theater, with a flamboyant front facade, used to be owned by Howard Hughes, and it was the first in Texas with air conditioning.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas Oswald Capture Theater

L.H. Oswald was arrested at about 1:50 pm, about ten minutes after he had entered the theater, 1 hour and 20 minutes after the murder of JFK.

JFK Memorial Plaza, Dallas

A monument to President Kennedy, designed by Philip Johnson, was erected in 1970 one block east of Dealey Plaza (see map). The monument, made of concrete, resembles an empty tomb.

Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza
Kennedy Assassination Oswald Dallas JFK Memorial Plaza

Getting There and Moving Around

The JFK monument in Fort Worth is in a public park, as well as the JFK memorial in Dallas. They can be neared at all times.

Dealey Plaza is regularly open to car traffic, as you can see from the videos above. Parking is possible in the many public parkings around the area. Once there, you can move around freely at all times.

I drove along all the route of Kennedy’s motorcade, which except for a few closed roads can be done still today. Very nice indeed, as you will cross beautiful downtown Dallas. Of course, you can follow the route of Kennedy’s car in Dealey Plaza, as shown in the videos above.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a world-class, up-to-date museum, and one of the most visited attractions in Texas. Website here.

Soviet Aircraft in Minsk and Kiev

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Since during WWII, and even more during the early Cold War period, the Soviet Union invested much in the creation of a world-class aviation industry, capable of competing against those in the US and Britain. The confrontation between the two sides of the Iron Curtain, lasting until the early Nineties, resulted in an unprecedented boost in aviation technology, which grew very quickly to a level of sophistication which could be hardly imagined just a few years earlier.

Both military and civil transportation benefited from this development, with a tangible result – a wide multiplicity of aircraft models, with different shapes, missions and performance. A such diversity is not any more typical to these days, when new aircraft designs are very rare and, at least at a glance, extremely similar in shape.

The Soviet Union based much of its propaganda actions on the show of technological achievements and military might. As aviation has been for long – and maybe still is – an immediate expression of a Nation’s technology and power, large aviation-themed exhibits flourished over the territory of the USSR (see also this and this post).

This post provides an insight into two such collections, found in the capital cities of two former Socialist Republics within the borders of the Soviet Union – Minsk, Belarus and Kiev, Ukraine. Photographs were taken in April 2018.

Navigate this post – click on links to scroll

Museum of Aviation Technology – Main Branch – Minsk, Belarus

This classic Soviet collection showcases all the major models in service with the Air Force of the Soviet Red Army. Today Belarus, albeit enjoying a strong economical relationship with Russia, is an independent country, with a size and a geographical location making an immense air power not necessary, nor economically viable. Hence the non negligible size of this museum can be explained with the past (Soviet) history of Belarus, which used to be a key territory between Communist Russia and the European satellites of the USSR.

The first aircraft you are likely to meet are the earliest of the collection – a propeller-driven Yakovlev Yak-18 and Yak-52. Close by a small building is devoted to space explorations, and hosts memorabilia and a Soyuz reentry capsule.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yak
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yak
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yak
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yak
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Space Hall
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Let L-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Let L-29

The MiG design bureau, traditionally associated to high-performance fighter and attack aircraft, is well represented in this collection. Close to one another are a MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27 and MiG-29, basically covering the major production items of this firm over the full span of the Cold War.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-15
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-29
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-23
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-23
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-19
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-19
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-23
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-23
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-21

The MiG family is completed by a MiG-25 twin jet interceptor, capable of a Mach 2.8 speed. This is present in the collection in two exemplars, including a pretty rare training version – MiG-25PU -, with a distinctive ‘double cockpit’ similar to those of the training version of the Lockheed U-2.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-25 Trainer
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum MiG-25 Trainer
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum MiG-25

Another well-represented manufacturer in the collection is the Sukhoi bureau, with a Su-7, Su-17, Su-24 and Su-25. The Su-24 is sitting besides the MiG-25, making for a fair size comparison – search for the cover of my wide lens in the pic of the main wheel of the MiG-25! These two aircraft are really massive compared to the earlier Su-7 and Su-17, and of course to the nearby Su-25 – an insidious and heavily armed aircraft, despite the clumsy appearance, as the many underwing pylons suggest!

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-17
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Sukhoi Su-7

A more recent Sukhoi design on site is the Su-27, put close to the MiG-29 and clearly outsizing it.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Sukhoi Su-27

Yakovlev products, besides the already cited oldtimers, include a Yak-28 and a rare Yak-25, a pretty old-looking twin jet.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-25
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-28

Among the few Soviet design in use today, the helicopters of the Mil and Kamov design bureaus are represented in the collection by a Mi-1, Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-24 and Ka-26 placed side by side. Furthermore, there was some Mil helicopter activity over the airfield nearby when I visited.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-1
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-1
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-4
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-4
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-6
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-6
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil

The impressive Mi-24, a very aggressive-looking and highly successful attack helicopter with a peculiar rear compartments, was totally accessible when I visited. The mainly analog cockpit with a number of levers, gauges, switches and controls, suggests a conspicuous workload by the pilot! An interesting item on the cockpit is what appears to be an analog navigation system or tactical display, composed of a a paper map and a cruciform sight surfing over it, showing the current position of the helicopter.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit

The fat-looking rubber ventilation fan and the bulbous windscreen remember you this is a Soviet product – in case the labels in Cyrillic were not enough!

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cockpit

The back compartment may accommodate several troops, albeit not in a stand up position, or cargo/additional fuel. It is not totally separated from the cockpit.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Mil Mi-24 Cabin

Besides military aircraft, there is also a group of military/civil transports. These include an older yet still widespread Antonov An-2 single prop. A similarly old Ilyushin Il-14 twin props is on display nearby.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-14

More recent aircraft include and Antonov An-26, not a rare sight in the former Communist countries of the world, and Il-18 and a larger An-12 four-props, and some jets – two Yak-40 including one formerly operated for state flights, and an ubiquitous Tupolev Tu-134 formerly of Aeroflot. A true icon of the Cold War, the equivalent of the MD-80 for the USSR, this fuel thirsty aircraft is likely to be retired by its last operator in Russia later this year.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Ilyushin Il-18
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Ilyushin Il-18
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Ejection seat
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Ejection seat
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Antonov An-12
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24

Properly put among other transport aircraft, a huge Mi-26 transport helicopter is sitting between the An-12 and Tu-134. This is the heaviest single helicopter of traditional configuration ever built. By a rough comparison, the length of the fuselage is greater than that of the two transport aircraft! It is really hard to think this machine can be pushed into the sky… yet the immense, eight-bladed main rotor apparently can carry out the task! The Mi-26 is still today in service with several Countries, mostly in private hands.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Belarus Air Museum Mil Mi.26

Finally, an unusual circular box-wing experimental aircraft completes the collection. Not easy to design well, nor very nice to see in this case, the box-wing concept has surfaced more than once in history as an advantageous alternative to increase lift while reducing drag.

Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Prototype
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Prototype
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Prototype
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Prototype
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum
Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum

All in all, a very nice collection worth a quick detour from downtown Minsk.

Getting there

The place is open as a regular museum. The official website, all in the local idiom, is here. There is a nice resource site covering the history of all aircraft in the museum in detail – and much more about aircraft displays in Belarus – here. Some Google-translating will be necessary, but basic info like opening times and how to reach can be easily found this way.

The location is by the small local Borovaya Airfield, which is still active today with light GA traffic. Less than one mile from the junction between Minsk Beltway and the M3 going north. I would recommend a car for getting there, parking is available right in front of the ticket booth.

Visiting may take from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on your level of interest in Soviet aviation, and the number of pictures you want to take!

Museum of Aviation Technology – Airport Branch – Minsk Airport, Belarus

This open-air and unfenced collection is located right besides the passenger terminal of Minsk Airport. Here you can find a series of transport aircraft of Soviet make, conveniently parked side by side and easy to capture with a camera.

Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-154

The two largest are a Tupolev Tu-154 three-engined commercial airliner, still in service in some countries of the world, and an Ilyushin Il-76 four-engined cargo. This is likely one of the most successful designs from the Soviet era, and is still a rather widespread aircraft today.

Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Ilyushin Il-76

Smaller aircraft on display are a Tupolev Tu-134, an Antonov An-26, a Yakovlev Yak-40 and a colorful Antonov An-2.

Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Yakovlev Yak-40
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-24
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Antonov An-2
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134
Minsk Airport Museum of Aviation Technology Minsk Air Museum Tupolev Tu-134

Getting there

The display is located to the north of the passenger terminal of the airport of Minsk. Missing it is basically impossible when leaving or accessing the terminal from the front. There is a small parking area to the back of the aircraft, accessible from a road taking north from the main access road going to the terminal, immediately out of the airport toll booths.

Visiting is free and always possible, for the area is unfenced. You can’t board the aircraft, which are in a relatively good shape and lighted at night. A nice stop before leaving the country by air, the sight may be visited in 45 minutes, including time for all pictures.

Ukraine State Aviation Museum – Kiev, Ukraine

Among the air museum of former Soviet countries this is probably one of the richest and most interesting. The collection boasts some pretty rare aircraft from the military and commercial fields as well, all purely and distinctively Soviet. Plus there is a local depot carrying out some preservation projects, acquiring aircraft and restoring them to a good, non-flying condition.

With an immense territory, a numerous population and a strategically relevant position – including an access to the Black Sea – Ukraine enjoyed a primary role in the realm of the USSR. It was also the home base of many aircraft – especially heavy bombers – in the strategic Air Force of the Red Army. Many of them were actually ‘trapped’ in Ukraine when this nation left the Union, in the years of turmoil leading to its final collapse. Many Tupolev Tu-160s, still today forming the backbone of the Russian strategic air force, were purchased back from Russia in a later time. Since then, the national interest to maintain an air force comparable in size to that of the Soviet era has dropped, and most Cold War era assets have been retired from active duty, eventually feeding air collections like the one in Kiev.

Furthermore, besides more recent military designs the collection features some transport aircraft otherwise hard to see these days.

[Note: on the day of my visit the museum grounds hosted a fancy classic-car-themed festival. I discovered this when on site. As you will easily notice, the pictures below are often very far from optimal, due to the need to exclude some unwanted item, like hot-dog booths, dinner tables and historical buses from the composition. However, I hope the pics give an idea of the size and quality of the exhibition.]

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-14
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-14
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-18

Transport aircraft from early Soviet times include an Ilyushin Il-14 twin prop, an Il-18 four-props, and a very rare and nicely restored Tupolev Tu-104 twin jet. This particular design was later used as a starting point for the highly successful Tu-134, which features a very similar fuselage and cabin layout. The engines partially engulfed in the wing are really elegant – a typical feature of the 1950s, they witness the age of the design.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-104

The Tupolev bureau is represented also by the Tu-154 three-engined jet, and multiple exemplars of the ubiquitous Tu-134.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-154
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-154

Even bigger aircraft from the commercial field include an Ilyushin Il-62, with a distinctive four-tail-engines configuration, similar to the Vickers VC-10 – this time, a typical 1960s feature! You can walk under the bigger aircraft of the collection, and to the back of the Il-62 you can notice the unusual support wheel added for increased stability during loading/unloading operations to avoid tipping. This was retracted before taxiing. Ukraine makes use of Il-62s to this day for state flights.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-62

A rare Soviet four-engined long-hauler from the Eighties is the Ilyushin Il-86. This is still flying in scant numbers in the Russian Air Force and with a few commercial operators. Looking mostly like an early Airbus from the 1970s, the cockpit arrangement, the multi-purpose big access door and some details in the aerodynamic design add a Soviet twist.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-86

Transport aircraft include a heavy Ilyushin Il-76 and plenty of lighter Antonovs, including An-24s, An-26s and an An-30 twin props, plus two single-engined An-2s.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Ilyushin Il-76
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-30
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-2

A pretty unique sight you get in this museum is the An-71. This AWACS from the 1980s never entered production, and the one on display is the third and last prototype. The interesting solution with a radome on top of the tail promised to reduce overall drag, saving on a dedicated radome pylon. On the other hand the radome placed so far from the centerline clearly created some controllability issues and raised stress on the vertical tail. Antonov was an Ukrainian firm active till recently, so the only other An-71 still in existence is also in Ukraine.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov An-71

Smaller transports include two executive Yakovlev Yak-40.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-40
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-40
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-40
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-40

Going to the military part of the exhibition, lighter aircraft include a number from the MiG family, including MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27 and MiG-29.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-29
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-29
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-29
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-29
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-27
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-27
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-23
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-23
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-23
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-23
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-19
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-19
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-19
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-19
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev MiG-21

Two Let trainers are on display, close by a rich array of Sukhois, which include Su-7, Su-15, Su-17, Su-20, Su-24 and Su-25.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-7
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-7
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-15
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-17
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-20
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-20
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-20
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-20
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-25
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Sukhoi Su-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-28
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-28
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-28
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yakovlev Yak-28
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Let L-29
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Let L-29

Two very rare examples of Beriev seaplanes are on display, namely the Be-6 and Be-12.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-12
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-12
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Beriev Be-6

Close by, there is a rich collection of Mil and Kamov helicopters. These include an older version of Mi-24, featured in the third chapter of the John Rambo series, and lacking the bulbous canopy typical to more recent upgrades. The monster size Mi-6 and Mi-26 are also on display.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-8
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-8
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-8
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-8
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-24
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Kamov Ka-27
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Kamov Ka-27
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-6
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-26
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Mil Mi-26

Finally, there is a row of really rare and unmissable Tupolev bombers. These include a Tu-142, possibly one of the most iconic aircraft of the Cold War, and a real workhorse flying from the early 1970s well into this millennium – still firmly in service in Russia and until 2017 also in India. A very big bird, with a menacing and evoking appearance – really a Soviet ghost!

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-142

Then follow three different versions of the Tupolev Tu-22M, a supersonic strategic bomber still active today in Russia, India and even purchased in post-Soviet times by China. The three exemplars are different, the oldest belongs to the pre-series evaluation batch, whereas the other two are from two production batches resulting from substantial improvements. In particular, the final version from the 1980s features different – F-15-like – engine inlets, more powerful engines, and correspondingly a much better performance.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M0
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M0
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M0
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M0
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M2
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-22M3

Also of great interest is the rare Tu-134UBL, a modified version of the airliner with a cone similar to that of the Tu-22M, manufactured for training the crews of the Tu-22M.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Tupolev Tu-134UBL

The museum is complemented by an aircraft shelter, some experimental aircraft and older propeller-driven trainers.

State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Shelter
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Shelter
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Shelter
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Shelter
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yak
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Yak
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov Izdelie 181 Prototype
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov Izdelie 181 Prototype
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Yakovlev Yak-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Yakovlev Yak-18
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov Izdelie 181 Prototype
State Aviation Museum Ukraine Kiev Antonov Izdelie 181 Prototype

Getting there

The museum is located in Kiev, on the premises of the city airport ‘Igor Sikorsky’ – one of the founders of US helicopter industry was from Ukraine! Kiev is a very large town for European standards, with a population of 5.5 millions and a totally crazy and chaotic traffic. I would not advise driving on your own in this town even if you – like me – enjoy driving, so reaching the museum is definitely easier (and wiser) with a taxi. Taxi cabs are very cheap and easy to find anywhere in town.

Reaching from downtown Kiev by taxi may easily take 30 minutes, mainly due to the nightmarish traffic jams affecting the town.

Please note that the museum is not by the airport terminal, but from there it is about 0.8 miles along an unpleasant road. So you’d better instruct your driver to go to the museum and not to the terminal when going there. If you can’t see a taxi when leaving, you may walk to the terminal where you have chance to find one. That was my plan, but a taxi finally showed up in front of the museum after a five minutes hopeful wait also when I was leaving.

The museum has a very complete and modern website with a full English translation, making organization much easier.

Due to the size and features of the collection, visiting may easily take 2 to 3 hours or more for an interested person, especially when taking pictures.

Special feature – Kiev Boryspil Airport

The main commercial airport in Kiev – Boryspil – is likely where you will enter or leave the Country. The traffic there is almost monopolized by the local Ukrainian Airlines, with international flights also by other majors from western Europe and neighbor Countries. At the moment there is just one busy terminal between two parallel runways. From inside the terminal looking east over the eastern runway it is possible to spot a military area, with a fleet of former Soviet transports and helicopters in various colors, including ‘UN’ markings, Ukrainian Air Force and Aeroflot – which acted also a military transport service in the Soviet era.

Among these aircraft are An-24s, An-26s and An-30s, plus Il-76s, Tu-134s and An-12s. Most aircraft look derelict and some partly cannibalized.

Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-12
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-12
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Boeing 737
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Boeing 737
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-30
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-30
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Tupolev Tu-134
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Tupolev Tu-134
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Yakovlev Yak-40
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Antonov An-24
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-76

To the northern end of that area, it is possible to spot two Ilyushin Il-62s in very good condition. The Ukrainian government was using this aircraft at least until 2014 for state flights.

Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-62
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron Ilyushin Il-62
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron US Air Force C-17
Kiev Boryspil Airport Military Apron US Air Force C-17

When I left I noticed a pretty unusual cargo for this region – a USAF C-17 from the 452nd AMW, March AFB, Riverside, CA.  An impossible sight during the Cold War, still pretty unexpected these days!