MUSEU AEROESPACIAL BRAZIL
The Brazilian national aviation museum was opened for the public on October 18, 1976. Located at the airbase of Campo dos Afonsos, about 30 kilometers west of Rio de Janeiro, it is by far the largest aviation museum in South America, with more than 100 aircraft on exhibition.
I was able to visit this marvellous museum in August 2004. To get there is not so easy. Four line bus services are passing the airbase, nr. 300 (Sulacap/Praca XV), nr. 745 (Cascadura/Bangu), nr. 756 (Senador Camara/Alvorada) and nr. 917 (Bonsucesso/Mallet). But as these busses are driving through dangerous area’s for tourists, especially when they have camera’s or other valuables, it is better to go by taxi. From my hotel at the Copacabana to and from to museum I payed 100 reais (about 33 euro) for a taxi who waited for me during two hours in the museum. That is by far the safest way to visit the museum.
There is no entrance fee, and the museum is closed on Mondays. On Saturday and Sunday opening hours are from 09.30 a.m. to 16.00 p.m., on other days from 09.00 a.m. to 15.00 p.m.
A few aircraft are lined up outdoors; unfortunately during my visit only five of them were outside the buildings. The other aircraft are inside the five halls, filled with information, arms, planes and helicopters. Inside photographing is not easy; it is rather dark and the aircraft are packed together. Although most aircraft are military, there are some civil aircraft too. The oldest aircraft are from the beginning of aviation history; Brazil had a well known aviation pioneer, Alberto Santos-Dumont.
My conclusion is that this is a very interesting aviation museum, well worth visiting if you are in Rio. The aircraft are well maintained and most interesting. For photographers it is a pity that not more aircraft are parked outside.
Spotters log (August 28, 2004)
Mentioned are only military aircraft from the period after WWII. All a/c are Brazilian Air Force or Navy, unless otherwise stated.
Outside
2015 C-47B
2058 C-46A
2504 HS-748
7037 P-16E (S-2A Tracker)
no code C-82A all yellow, no national markings
Inside
no code B-34
1 Piper L-4H Cub
22 Cessna AT-17
0500 PT-19
0789 T-21 (Fokker S-11)
0811 T-22 (Fokker S-12)
0922 T-37C
1072 BT-15 Vultee Valiant
1371 AT-11 (C-18S Kansan)
1538 FW-58
1559 T-6D Texan
1612 T-6D Texan
1720 T-24 ( Fouga Magister)
1830 Neiva YT-25 Universal
2006 C-60A (Lockheed Lodestar)
2009 C-47B
2101 VC-90 (Viscount)
2130 YC-95 (EMB-110)
2305 C-119G Flying Boxcar
2653 UC-SR10
2683 Fairchild UC-61A
2856 UC-45 (Beech D-18S)
2932 C-41 (MS.760 Paris )
3095 Neiva L-6
3120 Neiva YL-42
3155 L-19E Bird Dog
3182 O-3 (Pilatus P-3)
3225 Neiva L-42
4064 P-40N Warhawk
4201 F-80C Shooting Star
4309 Meteor TF.7
4364 AT-33A
4460 Meteor F.8
5127 B-25J Mitchell
5159 A-26B Invader
6085 A-20K Havoc
6527 Catalina
6529 S-16 (HU-16A Albatross)
7010 P-2E Neptune
7016 P-16A (S-2A Tracker)
8510 H-13J (Bell 47J)
no code H-13H (Bell 47G-2)
N-703 T-28B Trojan
N-7039 Wasp HAS.1
FAB14 Grumman G-44 Widgeon
12HI-105 DH.82A Tiger Moth
0014 F-86K Venezuela AF
