The establishment of this museum was linked with the organisation, in 1964, of an exhibition of aircraft by the Air Club of Krakow at the site of the former Rakowice-Czyzyny Airport. Aircraft were brought to Krakow, which since the end of hostilities were being assembled with the view of a future aviation museum. In the beginning the museum only occupied a small fraction of the grounds and buildings of the former military airfield, one of the oldest in Europe (its beginnings in 1912). Over the years many further exponents were added with the space to show them becoming more limited.

In 2010 the modern building of the Museum of Polish Aviation was opened which resembles the shape of an aircraft wing. It has a usable area of 3300m² over four floors. The largest collection of historic flying machines in Poland has been accumulated here – together there are over 240 examples of aircraft, gliders and helicopters, with over 140 different aircraft engines and rocket systems.

There is also a collection of pilots’ uniforms and memorabilia connected with the only Polish astronaut. Currently the Museum of Polish Aviation in Krakow is one of the largest museums of its kind in Europe.

Museum of Polish Aviation in Krakow (woj. Malopolskie)

www.museumlotnictwa.pl