Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely
Encyclopedia
Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely (Letecké Muzeum Kbely) is a major aviation museum
Aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...

 located at Prague's original airport at Kbely, 8 km (5 mi) north-east of the town centre near Route 10 (E.14).

History of Kbely Airfield

Kbely was the first Czechoslovak military airfield and during the inter-war period was the venue for several major public air shows. The first scheduled flight operated by CSA Czechoslovak Airlines (now CSA Czech Airlines) departed from Kbely for Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...

 in October 1923. Kbely airfield is not now used as a front line Czech Republic Air Force base, but it is utilised by military transport aircraft of the Czech Republic Air Force, and the VIP aircraft which transport Czech politicians.

Creation of the museum

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

The aircraft collection

The collection at Kbely now includes 275 aircraft, of which approximately 110 are on public display at any given time. The museum contains many Czech designed and Czech built aircraft dating from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 through the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 and up to 1960s supersonic jet fighters. Several unique types are on display including the early 1920s-built Avia BH-11
Avia BH-11
|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....

C L-BONK. Aircraft from World War II include a Russian-built Ilyushin Il-2
Ilyushin Il-2
The Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground-attack aircraft in the Second World War, produced by the Soviet Union in very large numbers...

 Schturmovik. Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...

 LF.IX flown by a Czech squadron of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 was transferred to the National Technical Museum in Prague
National Technical Museum (Prague)
The National Technical Museum in Prague is the largest institution dedicated to preserving information and artifacts related to the history of technology in the Czech Republic. The museum was founded in 1908 and has been in its current location since 1941. The museum has large exhibits...

 in 2008.

In addition to the many military aircraft and helicopters on display, there are several Soviet-designed airliners, some of which were built under licence in Czechoslovakia. Airliners displayed include the Avia 14M (Ilyushin Il-14
Ilyushin Il-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...

),an Avia 14T, an ex-CSA Ilyushin Il-18
Ilyushin Il-18
The Ilyushin Il-18 is a large turboprop airliner that became one of the best known Soviet aircraft of its era as well as one of the most popular and durable, having first flown in 1957 and still in use over 50 years later. The Il-18 was one of the world's principal airliners for several decades...

 and a CSA Tupolev Tu-154
Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid 1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. As the mainstay 'workhorse' of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it serviced over a sixth of the world's landmass and carried half of all passengers flown...

B. Light aircraft exhibited include the Czech-built Praga E-114 Air Baby of 1936, a Mraz Sokol, an Aero 45
Aero 45
|-See also:-References:*Vaclav Nemecek, Atlas letadel. Dvoumotorova obchodni letadla, Praha 1987-External links:*...

,an Orlican L-40 Meta Sokol
Orlican L-40 Meta Sokol
|-See also:-References:* Paul,G.J Christopher. "Air Test 3: The Meta-Sokol". Air Pictorial, July 1959. pp.248-250.*Szwedo, Franciszek, Samolot sportowy L-40 Meta Sokol, in: Modelarz nr 8/1992, ISSN-013-7701 * -External links:*...

 and a Zlin 22 Junak. Displayed helicopters include the Czech-designed VZLU HC-2 Heli-Baby.

When the country was divided on 1 January 1993, a few aircraft were transferred from the collection to the Slovak Republic for its museums. Also, in recent years, the museum has exchanged several Czech and Russian designed aircraft for military aircraft from the USA, UK, Sweden, Switzerland and other countries.

External links

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