Aviation Reporting | Showcasing military aviation photography

The Military Aviation Museum (Museo Militar de Aviacion) was inaugurated on February 10th 2022. It has a many exhibition rooms and some 24 galleries. It is located at Air Base No.1 Santa Lucia, not too far from Mexico City.

This museum relaces its predecessor on the air base. This building is very modern and efficient and in a different location on this huge airbase, which is on the other side, also has a terminal for airline operations, Aeromexico, Volaris, Viva and Mexicana all run some services from here.

When you enter the base whichever entrance you use, the museum is “on base”, you will find preserved aircraft alongside, on plinths all around. It is just so impressive and pleasing that the Air Force takes such a pride in its history to display so many aircraft so prominently around the airbase and to have this museum.

The Museum is open from 09:00 to 18:00 most days. There are about 25 aircraft on display outside but clearly in the grounds of the Museum and another 25-30 inside the building.

Inside the museum there are many exhibitions charting different aspects of aviation within Mexico and the Air Force itself. Apart from wandering around those on the ground floor, there are upper walkways to give a different viewpoint and large glass windows also giving a different perspective on some of the exhibits outside. There is a café upstairs with an open air balcony also some helicopters upstairs, not easily seen from down below. There is of course a gift shop as you would expect of a modern museum. Apart from some quite old aircraft there is a very eclectic mix of aircraft that the Air Force has operated over the years that can be seen. I do not think anywhere else would you see this sort of variety. Inside there is a Siai SF-260 hanging from the ceiling an F-5E Tiger below, a Pilatus PC-6 alongside it and nearby an immaculately and dramatically painted T-33. Look around a little further and there is a B-25 Mitchell, two Vampires, Sikorsky R-6 helicopter, an Alouette 2, more modern Pilatus trainers, the PC-7 and the PC-9 and do not miss the SO.1221 Djinn just inside the glass entrance, between the entrance and the exit.

Outside you have a Mil-8, Dakota, Arava (how rare are they!), UH-1, Rockwell Commander, Beech Bonanza and King Air and those are just near the front of the museum. Around the back on display outside is a Convair 580, C-130, Jetstar, Boeing 727 and Mil-26….yes that huge helicopter and one which the public can walk right through and even get a glimpse inside the cockpit. I have just mentioned only 12 of the 25 aircraft outside. Below are some illustrations, I hope you all enjoy. And if you come out to Mexico for FAMEX, I would advise visiting the museum on the Friday and the show on the Saturday (if travelling as a member of the public) for I think the museum may be a bit busy on show day. Couple this museum with the excellent static display of modern Mexican military aircraft and you will not be disappointed. Two days of aircraft and then plenty of time to visit other locations in and around Mexico City or further afield to make it more of a holiday, but any excuse to enable a visit to this museum is worthwhile. Thanks to all who have helped to create it.