avatar_kitbasher

Malta Aviation Museum

Started by kitbasher, Yesterday at 08:30:08 AM

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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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What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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.
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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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What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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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What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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.
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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?
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you....."
It  means that you read  the instruction sheet

Old Wombat

Quote from: Rheged on Yesterday at 09:02:25 AMThank 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.
Has a life outside of What-If & wishes it would stop interfering!

"The purpose of all War is Peace" - St. Augustine

veritas ad mortus veritas est

Dizzyfugu

Nice, thanks for sharing!  :thumbsup:

kerick

" Somewhere, between half true, and completely crazy, is a rainbow of nice colours "
Tophe the Wise

kitbasher

Glad you like the pics.

Maltese buses are very good, the islands appear to be very well served by public transport.
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

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

#11
Quote from: kitbasher on Yesterday at 01:07:23 PMGlad 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!
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you....."
It  means that you read  the instruction sheet

DogfighterZen

#12
That brings back good memories... :mellow:

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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. :thumbsup:
"Sticks and stones may break some bones but a 3.57's gonna blow your damn head off!!"

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.
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/P1103 (early)/P1127/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter/Zero

Old Wombat

Quote from: kitbasher on Today at 12:49:16 AMMeant 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.
Has a life outside of What-If & wishes it would stop interfering!

"The purpose of all War is Peace" - St. Augustine

veritas ad mortus veritas est