Central Air Force Museum - Misplaced Pages

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Central Air Force Museum
Aerial view of the outdoor exhibit
Location in Russia
Established	28 November 1958
Location	Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Coordinates	55°49′58″N 38°10′59″E / 55.832778°N 38.183056°E / 55.832778; 38.183056
Type	Aviation museum
Website	https://www.cmvvs.ru/

The Central Air Force Museum (Template:Lang-ru) is an aviation museum in Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia. A branch of the Central Armed Forces Museum, it is one of the world's largest aviation museums, and the largest for Soviet aircraft, with a collection including 173 aircraft and 127 aircraft engines on display. The museum also features additional displays, including Cold War-era American espionage equipment, weapons, instruments, uniforms, artwork, and a library containing books, films, and photos is also accessible to visitors.

The Central Air Force Museum is located on the grounds of the Gagarin Air Force Academy on the site of the former Monino Airfield, 40 kilometers (25 mi) east of Moscow.

History

The origins of the museum go back to 1940 when the village of Monino was selected to be the location of the Gagarin Air Force Academy. The museum itself was founded in 1958, two years after the airfield was closed, and had 6 aircraft and 20 aircraft guns at the time. When it opened to the public another two years later in 1960, it had 14 aircraft. By early 1970, the museum's collection had expanded to about 40 aircraft. In 1990, the aircraft on display were rearranged according to design bureau and chronological order. The museum's main hall was mostly destroyed by fire in 2005. By 2013, a new hangar had been built to house the World War II aircraft. In 2016, it was reported that the museum was to close, with the exhibits being transferred to Patriot Park. However, a new exhibition hall was opened in February 2020.

Prior to 1999, the museum was closed to the public, because of the display of classified prototypes from the era of the former Soviet Union.. Today, the museum contains a range of aircraft, both domestic and foreign, including military, civil and special purpose. The museum also houses associated pieces, such as the uniforms, documents, models and equipment related to the aircraft. The museum is currently open to members of the public to visit.

Visiting

Since the museum is situated on the territory of a military unit (Gagarin Air Force Academy), all visitors must pass the entrance gate to the military complex.

Facilities

There are two large hangars with well-displayed items and much material about the items, but all in Russian, although some have a brief translation into English.