Estonian Aviation Museum

The Estonian Aviation Museum is located in Lange near Tartu in Estonia. It is the only aviation museum in the country.

Estonian Aviation Museum
Eesti Lennundusmuuseum
Estonian Aviation Museum (2012)
Map
Established14 June 2002 (2002-06-14)
LocationVeskiorg 1, Lange, Haaslava Parish, 62115 Tartu County, Estonia
Coordinates58°17′16.5″N 26°45′51″E / 58.287917°N 26.76417°E / 58.287917; 26.76417
TypeAviation museum
FounderMati Meos
DirectorMati Meos
Websitelennundusmuuseum.ee

The museum was founded in December 1999 in accordance with a private initiative procedure and officially opened to the public on 14 June 2002.[1] It has been developed in different stages on the basis of European Union support financing and with the help of the private- and public sector.[2]

Founder and director of the museum is Estonian engineer and former politician Mati Meos.[3]

The museum consists of several buildings; one small building is used to present more than 400 aircraft models. A collection of military aircraft, airliners, training aircraft, ultralight aircraft, helicopters, gliders, aircraft engines, radar units and anti-aircraft guns is displayed in and around several hangars. There are also various attractions such as piloting- and parachute jumping simulators.[4]

The museum has its own 450m-long airstrip. Tartu Ülenurme Airport is located 4 km away.

The Museum has staged the annual Estonian Aviation Days since 2006. The museum claims it is the biggest aviation event in the Baltic states.[4] Estonian Aviation Days 2016 had the attendance of 13 000 people.[5]

The Museum is closed in wintertime from November to May.[4]

Departments

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Scandinavian Airshow "Skycats" during Estonian Aviation Days 2016.

In the Museum structure there are 8 departments:

  • Aircraft models
  • Aircraft, helicopters and gliders
  • Aircraft engines
  • Marine airforce
  • Air traffic control (ATC), radars
  • Airfields
  • Air defence
  • Attractions

Collection

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Training aircraft
Ultra-light aircraft
Fighters
 
Primary presentation of MiG-25 during Estonian Aviation Days 2016.
Reconnaissance fighters
Attack fighters
 
Sukhoi Su-24
Bombers
Gliders
Agricultural aircraft
 
ELK Airways Tupolev Tu-134A on display at Estonian Aviation Museum.
Passenger aircraft
Helicopters
Anti-aircraft missiles
Radars
Engines
  • Jak-28PP engine
  • Il-76 engine
  • F-104 ASA Starfighter engine
  • Lansen-32 engine
  • MiG-25 engine
  • R44 engine
  • Wilga 35 engine
  • An-2 engine
  • In-line engine of a recreational aircraft
  • Mi-2 turbine
  • S-75 rocket engine
Aircraft models

Aircraft models in scales 1:144, 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32, in total 400 models. Models of aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship in scale 1:72. Launchers models in scale 1:72.

References

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  1. ^ About the museum Archived 2016-10-02 at the Wayback Machine Estonian Aviation Museum website
  2. ^ Visioon Archived 2018-11-29 at the Wayback Machine Estonian Aviation Museum (in Estonian)
  3. ^ "Kukul on külas Eesti Lennundusmuuseumi asutaja ja juht Mati Meos" Archived 2014-12-31 at the Wayback Machine Kuku Raadio, September 11, 2011 (podcast in Estonian)
  4. ^ a b c "Museum homepage". Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. ^ Aleksander Pihlak: FOTOD: Lennupäevadel osales rekordarv inimesi Delfi, 7 June 2016 (in Estonian)
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