Air Museum (Museo del Aire)
Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica)
Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid
December 2022
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The Museo del Aire, using its short name, is one of Europe's most impressive aviation museums. Concentrating on Spanish aviation history its large collection of aircraft covers the earliest of flight up to veteran military jets. Some of the examples are wonderfully unique.
Following the Spanish Civil War in 1939 when the Spanish Air Force was created, the Ministry of the Air (Ministerio del Aire) suggested that an aeronautic museum be built. However, many years passed before the proposal became a reality. Decreed in 1966, with an objective to acquire, conserve and display aircraft and associated equipment constituting to the historical heritage of the Spanish Air Force, construction however, did not start until 1979 at Cuatro Vientos (Four Winds), near Madrid. This site was chosen as it is adjacent to Spain's first military airfield, inaugurated in 1911, to utilise the hangar of the Spain's first Aeronautical Engineering School. The airfield is still in use by the Ejército del Aire.
The Museo del Aire was opened formally on May 24, 1981. In 1993 two new hangars were added with additional two more hangars in 2002/2003.
Today the museum comprises.
Hangar 1: The beginning of Spain's aviation history. (Many of the aircraft in this hangar are replicas and so not included on this page).
Hangar 2: Some suspended aircraft, but mostly filled with engines, simulators, aeronautical equipment and uniforms.
Hangar 3: Trainers, Spanish civil war fighters, post-war fighters and gliders.
Hangar 4: Helicopters and autogyros.
Hangar 5: Former Ejército del Aire aircraft and General Franco's de Havilland Dragon Rapide.
Hangar 6: Dedicated mainly to restoration.
Hangar 7: A large collection of 1:10 scale model aircraft.
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These information boards can make it impossible to get an unobstructed image. |
Photography:
Seven hangars and 200 aircraft are the museum's proud boast does not properly describe what is available for the aviation enthusiast. Hangar 7 is full of model aircraft and hangar 6 I was told was "sleeping" and empty by one of the officials that patrol around the large site. It has been reported that this hangar is used for restoration. There are also smaller buildings behind hangars 2 and 3 which I assume are used for restoration. During my first visit to the museum in 1989 two of the most impressive aircraft were a Dornier Do.24T-3 (HD.5-2) and a CASA 2-111H (T.8B-97) both of which have not been on display at the museum for around ten years.
Some museum staff were keen to chat, perhaps all, others blew whistles if you stepped on the grass or encroached too close to an outside exhibit I found! A request to step over some grass for a close-up shot was denied. The exhibits outside are nicely presented and well separated. As expected, many of the aircraft on display in the hangars are packed together, keeping them well protected behind ropes but unfortunately most of the information boards are on stands over a meter high making an unobstructed image almost impossible. A few of the information boards are on stands below knee level and better photography is easier. Hangar 1 is mostly of darkened dioramas for the 'oldest' mostly replica exhibits and does add an interesting photographic challenge due to high contrast due to the small spotlights and darkness. Overall, the museum visit was very worthwhile.
Opening Times: Daily from 10.00 until 14.00 except Mondays and national holidays. |
| Hangar 1 (Excluding the replicas!) |
| CASA-Bréguet XIX Grand Raid Bidón (CA5.9-29 '72'). |
Left to right:
CASA-Bréguet XIX Grand Raid Bidón (CA5.9-29 '72'). Light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. The 'Grand Raid' was a Bréguet Br.19 variant specially modified for long-distance flights, five were built by Breguet and two (No.71 and No.72) by the Spanish company CASA in 1928. The example on display named; 'Jesús del Gran Poder' was flown by Ignacio Jimenez and Francisco Iglesias in two attempts at world flight distance records. On May 29, 1928 they flew from Tablada to Nassiryha in Iraq. On March 24, 1929 they flew from Tablada to Bahía in Brazil landing 44 hours later, having flown 4,070 miles (6,550 km) but short of the record of that time, but the second best distance flown by a single-engine aircraft. As photographed in 1989.
Klemm L25b ('30-22' registered D-ENAE c/n 277).
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Left to right:
Vilanova Acedo Spanish version of the Blériot XI built in 1911, it is the oldest surviving original aircraft in Spain. It set a record crossing a body of water in a flight that lasted over five hours. |
Left to right:
Farman F.402 (SF-002 registered F-PBAY) Spanish Republic Air Force markings.
Miles M.14A Hawk Trainer III (Magister) (L5999 registered HB-EEB marked 'EN-002/30-145' c/n 431). It is painted on the port side in Spanish Republican Air Force markings as 'EN-002' and on the starboard side in Spanish Nationalist Air Force markings as '30-145'.
Morane Saulnier MS.230 (1066 registered F-BCBX), ex Armée de l'Air (AdlA). |
| CASA 1.131E Jungmann (E.3B-198) |
Left to right:
CASA 1.131E Jungmann (E.3B-198) ex Ejército del Aire.
Stinson 108-3 Voyager (EC-AZD).
AISA PE.38 Schulgleiter (PE-37) ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
AISA I-11B Peque (L.8C-44 '791-28' registered EC-BLD) ex Ejército del Aire. A two-seat civil utility aircraft manufactured in Spain in the 1950s.
Zlin Z.526F Trener Master (EC-BVK). |
| Two views along two of the lines of tightly packed exhibits in hangar 3. |
Left to right:
Caudron C.272 ('EL-007/30-171'). It is painted on the port side in green as Spanish Republican Air Force markings as 'EL-007' and on the starboard side in grey as Spanish Nationalist Air Force markings as '30-171'. Ex Ejército del Aire, true identity is not known.
de Havilland DH.60G Moth Major (EE.1-89 marked 'EM-016/30-89' registered EC-AFQ). It is painted on the port side in green as Spanish Republican Air Force and on the starboard side in grey as Spanish Nationalist Air Force. Ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth ('EP-003/30-103') It is painted on the port side in green as Spanish Republican Air Force markings as 'EP-003' and on the starboard side in grey as Spanish Nationalist Air Force markings as '30-103'. Ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Hispano-Suiza HS.34 (E.34-1 registered EC-AFJ) basic trainer. It is painted on the port side as Spanish Republican Air Force and on the starboard side as Spanish Nationalist Air Force. Ex Ejército del Aire.
SNCAN SV-4C Stampe (No.46 registered F-BFZJ) built under license by Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord for the AdlA. |
Left to right:
CASA-Jungmann 1.131E (E.3B-565 '781-7') ex Ejército del Aire.
de Havilland DH.87B Hornet Moth ('TH-001' registered EC-ACA c/n 8039) painted in Spanish Republican Air Force markings. |
Left to right:
Hispano Aviación HA-132L (C.1-262 '3-52' c/n 262). Licence-built version of the Fiat CR.32. ex Ejército del Aire. Rebuilt at Maestranza Aérea de Madrid, it is a composite using parts from a Fiat CR.32 (tail and horizontal stabilizer) and a Hispano HA.132L the original C.1-328 which was based at Getafe and withdrawn from service in 1954. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
CASA-Jungmeister 1.133L (E.1-14 '513-20') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Hispano Aviación HA.1112-KIL Buchón (C.4J-10 '94-28') First flew in May 1951 it had an Hispano-Suiza, HS 17-12Z engine and three bladed propellor. Ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
| Hispano HA.1112-M1L Buchón (C.4K-158 '471-23') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Hispano Aviación HA.1112-M1L Buchón (C.4K-158 '471-23') Ejército del Aire. Licence-built version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 developed in Spain during World War Two. Spanish-built version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G. It first flew March 29, 1954. The M1L was equipped with the 1,600 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine and four bladed Rotol propeller, both purchased as surplus from the UK. |
Left to right:
Nord N.1002 Pingouin (No.97 painted as 'L.15-2 / 91-6') ex AdlA. It is a French-built and re-engined Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun produced by SNCAN (Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord). |
| Stinson 108-3 (L.2-21 '90-53') ex Ejército del Aire who operated 18 of these aircraft. |
Left to right:
Stinson 108-3 (L.2-21 '90-53') ex Ejército del Aire. |
| Fieseler Fi.156C-2 Storch (L.16-23 '96-1') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Fieseler Fi.156C-2 Storch (L.16-23 '96-1') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Cessna O-1A Bird Dog (L.12-2 '407-2') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Dornier Do.28A-1 (U.14-1 '407-7') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
AISA I-115 (E.9-119) ex Ejército del Aire. Military primary trainer which first flew in 1951 and went into service with the EdA in 1956 and retired in 1976. |
Left to right:
Aisa I-11B Peque (EC-AKL c/n 6). The prototype flew on July 16, 1951. The Ejército del Aire ordered 200 two-seat in tandem aircraft which were designated I-115.
Beech T-34A Mentor (E.17-16 '791-16') ex Ejército del Aire.
Agusta Bell AB.47G-2 (HE.7-13 '751-4') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Schneider DFS 108-49 Grunau Baby II (EC-MCQ) single-seat sailplane first built in Germany in 1931.
Jacobs DFS 108-30 Kranich III (EC-ODK). Developed by Hans Jacobs for the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS). It was the most widely built two-seat glider in Germany from 1935 to 1939.
Jacobs DFS 108-30 Kranich II (EC-OBN) with an unmarked Fauvel AV-36 single-seat tailless glider designed in France in the 1950s by Charles Fauvel.
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Left to right:
LET L-13M Blaník (EC-YBL) a two-seater trainer glider produced by Let Kunovice from 1956. It is the most numerous and widely used glider in the world.
Slingsby T.45 Swallow (EC-BHO) The Swallow flew for the first time on 11 October 1957 and remained in production for eleven years.
Slingsby T.34A Sky (EC-RAT) High performance single seat competition sailplane built for the World Gliding Championships of 1952 where it won. |
Left to right:
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm MBB-223 Flamingo (EC-CGM).
Huarte-Mendicoa HM-1B (E.4-161 'HM-1') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Cierva C.19 Mk.IVP ('30-62' registered G-ABXH later, EC-ATT, EC-CAB and EC-AIM) ex Ejército del Aire.
The type is a 1930s British two-seat autogyro, designed by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva. It was built by Avro as the Avro Type 620. |
Left to right:
Aerotecnica AC-12 (Z.2-6 '75-6') ex Ejército del Aire.
Aerotecnica AC-14 (Z.4-06) ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989.
Westland Whirlwind Srs.2 (ZD.1B-22 '2') ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989.
Hughes 269C (HE.20-12 '78-41') Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Bell OH-13H Sioux (HE.7A-52 '78-18') ex Ejército del Aire.
Aerospatiale Sud SA 318C Alouette II (EC-CVK) ex Policia (Spanish Police).
Sud Alouette III (HD.16-1 '803-01') ex Ejército del Aire SAR. As photographed in 1989.
Agusta-Bell AB.206A-1 (HR.12-3 'ET-197' marked 'HD.12-3') ex Ejército de Tierra (Spanish Army). |
| de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide (marked '40-1' registered G-AERN later EC-AKO c/n 6345). |
Left to right:
de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide (marked '40-1' registered G-AERN later EC-AKO c/n 6345). |
Left to right:
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (G-ACYR) Olley Air Service Limited, it was used by Francisco Franco from the Canary Islands to Tétouan at the start of the military rebellion which began the Spanish Civil War in 1936. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
North American SNJ-5 Texan (C.6-155 '421-35') ex Ejército del Aire.
North American SNJ-4 Texan (C.6-159 '463-06' painted 'C.6-35') ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
Consolidated Fleet Model 2 (LV-ZBR previously EC-EYD). Two-seat trainer and sports aircraft produced in the United States and Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. 203 built in US for civil market, with 13 of these for Argentina. |
| Schneider DFS 108-14 SG-38 Schulgleiter. |
Left to right:
Schneider DFS 108-14 SG-38 Schulgleiter (unmarked). Designed by Schneider, Rehberg and Hofmann at Edmund Schneider's factory at Grunau in 1938.
Vogt Lo.100 Zwergreiher (EC-OCI). Aerobatic glider of classic wood and fabric construction. First flight of the prototype took place in 1952 at the Klippeneck.
Zlin Z.326 Trener Master (EC-AXL).
Rans S.7 Courier (EC-634). High-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter, first few in 1985. |
Left to right:
Hispano Aviación HA.200R-1 Saeta (XE.14-2) Second prototype ex Ejército del Aire. A twin-seat advanced jet trainer designed Spanish aircraft manufacturer Hispano Aviación. It was the first Spanish jet aircraft, it first flew on August 12, 1955. Production started in 1962. It was flown by the Ejército del Aire to the end of the 1970s.
Hispano HA.220 Super Saeta (A.10C-104) Ground attack version 25 were built for the Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
North American F-86F Sabre (C.5-58 '102-4') ex Ejército del Aire.
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (E.15-51 '41-8') ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
| Douglas C-54A Skymaster (T.4-10 '911-10') ex Gruppo 91 Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Douglas C-54A Skymaster (T.4-10 '911-10') ex Gruppo 91 Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
| CASA 207C Azor (T.7-17 '405-17') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
CASA 207C Azor (T.7-17 '405-17') ex Ejército del Aire. Produced by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) it entered service in 1960. ex Ejército del Aire. Fitted with large cargo doors, ten built.
CASA 207A Azor (T.7-6 '351-06') Prototype of two built, ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker (TK.1-3 '123-03') ex Ejército del Aire. |
| CASA 352L (T.2B-254 '721-14') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
CASA 352L (T.2B-254 '721-14') ex Ejército del Aire. Spanish built Junkers Ju 52/3M built by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). As photographed in 1989.
CASA 352L (T.2B-211 '911-16') ex Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
Douglas C-47B Dakota (T.3-36 '721-9') ex Ejército del Aire.
CASA 212B Aviocar (TR.12A-3 '403-01') ex Esc 403 Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
CASA 212-10 Aviocar (XT.12-1 '54-10') ex Ejército del Aire.
North American TB-25N Mitchell (44-29121 painted as '74-17') ex USAAF. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
Grumman HU-16B Albatross (AD.1B-8) ex Ejército del Aire SAR. As photographed in 1989. |
Left to right:
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (46596 painted as 'DR.1-1/74-21') ex US Navy. |
Left to right:
DHC C-7A Caribou (T.9-25 '371-05') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Lockheed P-3A Orion (P.3-7 '22-26') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Dornier Do.27B-5 (U.9-76 '407-72') ex Ejército del Aire. German single-engine STOL utility aircraft built by Dornier GmbH
CASA 127 (U.9-33 '403-53') ex Ejército del Aire. 40 Do.27s were manufactured in Spain by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA, designated the CASA-127.
Canadair CL-215 (UD.13-1 '43-01') ex 43 Grupo Ejército del Aire. The CL-215 was designed during the 1960s and developed to perform aerial firefighting operations as a water bomber by Canadair later produced by Bombardier. |
Left to right:
Piper PA.30-160 Twin Comanche (E.31-2 '01-404') ex Armada (Spanish Navy).
Piper PA.24-260 Comanche (E.30-1 '01-401') ex Armada. |
Left to right:
Piper PA.23-250E Aztec (E.19-3 '42-52') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Beech 95-B55 Baron (E.20-1 '42-60') ex Ejército del Aire.
Piper PA.31P Navajo (E.18-3 '42-72') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Westland Whirlwind Srs.2 (ZD.1B-19 '803-1') ex Ejército del Aire.
Agusta Bell AB.47G-3B (HE.7B-16 '782-6') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Bell UH-1H Iroquois (HE.10B-39 '78-52') ex Ejército del Aire.
Bell UH-1H Iroquois (HE.10B-52 '78-54') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Aerospatiale SA.330L Puma (HD.19-03) ex Ejército del Aire SAR.
Bell UH-1H Iroquois (HU.10B-58 'ET-228') ex Ejército de Tierra. |
Left to right:
Bolkow Bo.105LOH (HR.15-21 'ET-140') ex Ejército de Tierra.
MBB Bolkow Bo.105CBS (EC-FNN) Policia.
Sud Aviation SA-319B Alouette III (EC-CBY).
Mil Mi-2 (544140055 '34 Blue' registered CCCP-23760) ex SovAF. |
Left to right:
Hispano HA.200 Saeta (A.10C-91 '214-91') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
North American F-86F Sabre (C.5-223 painted as 'C5-104/1-104' previously 51-13450 possibly later painted as 'C5-175/1-175') 'Ascua' scheme. Ejército del Aire. As photographed in 1989.
CASA 101 Aviojet (XE.25-01) ex CASA prototype.
CASA 101EB Aviojet (E.25-23 '79-23') ex Patrulla Aguila, Ale 79 Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Northrop SF-5A Freedom Fighter (A.9-050 '21-50') ex Ejército del Aire.
Northrop SRF-5A Freedom Fighter (CR.9-062 '464-62') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom (C.12-37 '12-29') ex Ejército del Aire.
McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom (CR.12-42 '12-51') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Dassault Mirage IIIEE (C.11-09 '11-09') ex Ejército del Aire.
Dassault Mirage F.1EDA (C.14C-77 '14-53') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Dassault Mirage F.1BM (CE.14-27 '14-70') ex Ejército del Aire.
Dassault Mirage F.1M (C.14-66 '462-15') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Dassault Mirage F.1EDA (C.14C-78 '14-54') ex Ejército del Aire.
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter (26+23 painted as 'C.8-02/104-02') ex WGAF.
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (E.15-21 41-11') ex Ejército del Aire. |
Left to right:
Sukhoi Su-22M-4 'Fitter' (25+18 painted as 686 NVA/LSK) ex German Air Force, East-German Air Force (NVA).
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21SPS 'Fishbed-F' (22+26 painted as 740 NVA/LSK) ex German Air Force, East-German Air Force (NVA).
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML 'Flogger-G' (20+12 painted as 340 NVA/LSK) ex German Air Force, East-German Air Force (NVA). |
Left to right:
Saab Viggen AJS37 (37074 '18') ex F10 wing Swedish AF.
Saab Lansen J32E (32543) '07') ex F3 wing Swedish AF. |
Left to right:
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F 'Fresco-A' (unknown painted as '96 red') ex Bulgarian AF.
Morane Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon (105 '52S' registered F-BMMS) ex French Navy. |
