Central Air Force Museum

Aviation museum in Monino.
An exhibit room of the Central Air Force Museum.

The Central Air Force Museum, housed at Monino Airfield, 40 km east of Moscow, Russia, is one of the world's largest aviation museums, and the largest for Russian aircraft. 173 aircraft and 127 aircraft engines are on display, and the museum also features collections of weapons, instruments, uniforms (including captured U2 pilot Gary Powers' uniform), other Cold War-era US spy equipment, artwork, and other air-related items. A library containing books, films, and photos is also accessible to visitors. Tours are given by ex-pilots.

The museum opened its doors in 1958. Prior to 1999, the museum was closed to the public, because of the display of classified prototypes from the era of the former Soviet Union. In July 2016, the museum is scheduled to close for an unspecified time. It has been reported that that the closure the adjoining military academy means that the funding and security will stop with the result in most of the exhibits being relocated to a new site although many of the larger aircraft (over 70 tons weight) may be scrapped.

The museum is located next to the Military Academy named after Yu. A. Gagarin.

Opening Hours

Since the museum is situated on the territory of a military unit (Gagarin Air Force Academy), all visitors must pass the entrance gate to the military complex. As of summer 2006 special permission to visit is no longer required. As of March 2012 there are apparently only 5 full-time employees at the museum, and they open on what might be termed as an occasional basis. Visitors are advised to confirm the museum is open before scheduling a trip.

Visiting

The Museum guide offers this advice for visiting the museum:

Facilities

There are lavatory facilities, a small shop and vending machine for food or beverages (May 2014). There are two large hangars with well-displayed items and much material about the items, but all in Russian (although some have a brief translation into English). Another hangar, as of March 2012 is under construction to house more exhibits that are to be moved from the field into the new hangar. A museum booklet is available, published in 2008, from the museum officials. Some 36 A4 pages long, the booklet includes an introduction, along with photographs and descriptions of each individual aeroplane.

Android Application

There is also an Android application which contains a large number of pictures and information about the exhibits on display at the museum.

Examples on Display

Transport and Passenger Aircraft

Fighter Airplanes

Bomber Airplanes

Helicopter

Other Aircraft

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Central Air Force Museum.

Coordinates: 55°49′58″N 38°10′59″E / 55.83278°N 38.18306°E / 55.83278; 38.18306

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