Malta Aviation Museum

[kitbasher]

A small but perfectly formed museum a short bus ride from Valetta, and just outside Rabat/Mdina.

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There's several wrecks/relics on display or awaiting restoration.  Hiding behind a curtain awaiting work are a C-47 and a Beech C-45.
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Undergoing rebuild/restoration is a Sea Gladiator:
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This is based upon the remains of N5519 'Charity', which was lost at sea 85 years ago on 31 July 1940.

On display, the wreckage of a 5/JG3 Bf109F that crashed near Paola in April 1942, and Swordfish II HS491, which will be restored in due course:
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The first aircraft on display immediately after the entrance are Sea Vampire T.22 WZ550 and Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV826:
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[kitbasher]

In the main hangar:

AB-212, G-91R, Pou-de-Ciel,, Lightning F.2 cockpit, Dakota IV, Kitfox 2, Meteor F.8, Meteor NF.14You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.

[kitbasher]

Also in the main hangar, an AB-47G, a home-built autogyro (didn't note the type), T-6, Bulldog and L-19:

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[kitbasher]

Alongside the Bf109 and Swordfish in the Air Battle of Malta Memorial Hangar are Hurricane IIa Z3055 (another exhibit recovered from the sea) and Spitfire LF.IXc EN199:

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[kitbasher]

The museum also has numerous aviation artefacts on display, plus several cabinets of well-presented scale models:

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There's also a small shop.

Well worth the visit if you're visiting Malta.

[Rheged]

Thank you for the pictures, it looks like a well curated museum.

Incidentally, are Maltese busses still as "interesting" a method of travel as they were in the 1970's?

[Old Wombat]

Thank you for the pictures, it looks like a well curated museum.

Incidentally, are Maltese busses still as "interesting" a method of travel as they were in the 1970's?

Wouldn't say they were any more interesting than your average bus in 2018, when I was there, but a very efficient mode of transport, especially on Gozo.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice, thanks for sharing! 

[kerick]

Great pics! Thanks

[kitbasher]

Glad you like the pics.

Maltese buses are very good, the islands appear to be very well served by public transport.

[Freightdog862]

Great pictures. I stumbled across the museum on my honeymoon in 1996, it was just an old nissan hut then with a few bits (the C-47 and C-45 where still derelict on the old RAF airfield fire dump). The Hurricane was still just a metal frame. I'd love to visit again.

Colin

[Rheged]

Glad you like the pics.

Maltese buses are very good, the islands appear to be very well served by public transport.

Since the buses were regularised in about 2010, they've been more or less euro-standard.  In the 1970's..........they were individually owned, garishly painted , ramshackle vehicles, some dating from the 1930's.............and much more fun!

[DogfighterZen]

That brings back good memories...

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I see they still have most of the stuff they had when i was there but they've added a few like the Fiat G.91R, the Huey and the Meteors.
Well worth the scenic bus trip to get there.

[kitbasher]

Meant to add that between the main hangar and the Sea Hawk/Sea Vampire building there was a pile of scrap that included what I think was a pair of RR Darts (still in their cowlings), bits of unrecognisable fuselage and a nose section inc windscreen frame that I couldn't recognise.  No pics of that, I'm afraid.

[Old Wombat]

Meant to add that between the main hangar and the Sea Hawk/Sea Vampire building there was a pile of scrap that included what I think was a pair of RR Darts (still in their cowlings), bits of unrecognisable fuselage and a nose section inc windscreen frame that I couldn't recognise.  No pics of that, I'm afraid.

You know that was a Bad Idea because, on this site, there's bound to be someone who could identify each & every part.