The airfield is a bit lost in the picturesque Finnish forests and is relatively deserted - after walking through the territory we saw only two men who were picking in one of the hangars.
The museum appeared in 1992 year with the support of the Finnish Air Force. The exhibition consists of a dozen gliders, two pre-war biplanes and five jet fighters. All this is shoved tightly into one big green hangar. Entrance to the museum is free, while working with 10 to 18. Although we were leaving closer to seven, so no one came to close.
British fighter Gloster Gauntlet II "GT-400" (OH-XGT). Aircraft of this type were in service with the British Air Force from 1935 to 1943 year. In the 1940 year, the Allies delivered Finland 24 of such aircraft, where they were operated as training until 1945 year.
This is the only Gloucester Gauntlet remaining in the world. Restored in 1982 year, flies.
French jet trainer Fouga CM.170 Magister (FM-43). The aircraft entered service with the French Air Force in the 1956 year, and with 1959 they were bought by Finland, where they were operated until the 1988 year (total 80 units). The main part of the Finnish Fouga Magister were built under license in Finland at the Valmet plant.
The museum car was in service from 1962 to 1986 year. In August, the Finnish Air Force 1992 transferred the already decommissioned aircraft here to the Kymi airfield, which was the beginning of this museum. Aeroclub aircraft fully restored and at the moment it is ready to fly.
Characteristic V-shaped tail.
Cabin.
Straight space forms.
Soviet fighter MiG-21bis (MG-116). The most common military aircraft in stories aviation flew in the Finnish Air Force. This is the most advanced type modification, produced from 1972 to 1985.
for some reason, all the inscriptions on it remained in Russian:
This machine was operated from 1978 to 1997 year, after which it entered the museum. In total, the 1978 to 1998 year in the Finnish Air Force was 26 MiG-21bis.
The engine from the MiG-21bis: "Tumanskij R25-300".
Lightweight British fighter Folland FO.141 Gnat Mk.1 (GN-107).
The Folland Gnat has been in service since 1958, mainly in the Indian Air Force. In Britain itself, from 1959 to 1979, only a training modification was used for the year.
From 1958 to 1972 year in the Finnish Air Force there were 13 pieces of such machines. It was the first aircraft in Finland to fly at supersonic speeds. The museum machine was operated from 1959 to 1971 year, is now inoperative.
This is the only exhibit of the museum where you can easily sit in the cockpit, pull all the knobs and press all the buttons.
Swedish supersonic fighter Saab 35FS Draken (DK-259). Exported to Denmark, Austria and Finland. Adopted on 1960, flew to 2005.
You can get on a plane by a special tree and try to look at the cabin through the glass of the lantern.
View from the lantern.
Attached is a picture of such a machine in flight. Looks cool, no words.
Sly wing.
In Finland, the Drakens served in the Air Force from 1972 to 2000 a year, with a total of 47 of various modifications. It turns out that they served in parallel with the MiGs.
Guided air-to-air missile (US licensed) and main landing gear.
Tail landing gear.
This machine 1967 year of release, in Finland was in 1985. She flew to 1997 year, after which she was transferred to the museum.
Another MiG-21, more rare:
MiG-21F-13 (MG-78). The first generation fighter (produced from 1959 to 1965 year).
With an air-to-air guided missile (American copied) and a suspended fuel tank.
From 1963 to 1986 year in service with the Finnish Air Force was 22 such aircraft.
Engine.
German training aircraft Focke-Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz.
Popular pre-war training aircraft (first flight - 1932 year). For the Finnish Air Force, 35 units were purchased, which were operated from 1940 to 1960 a year, and then were auctioned off.
This car was restored in 1998 year and ready to fly.
In the museum you can purchase postcards and booklets. Put money in the iron box.
Alexander Mozhaisky, the founder of Russian aviation. Born here in Kotka.
Announcement of the retro-air event with Hawker Hurricane and DC-3 and other joys.
On the street in front of the entrance is a monument in honor of the fighter squadron of the air defense of the city of Kotka, for which this airfield was built in 1942-43.
The valiant Finnish pilots flew, respectively, on Messerschmitt Bf.109. The swastika on the monument is present in full ("correct" Finnish, rotated 45 degrees.).
An interesting two-headed truck (cable layer?) Based on the English Bedford TK (1959-1986) hid in the bushes. The truck was still alive for a long time, the whole climbed under it and mushrooms grew under it (brown grapes!). Inside is all gutted.
In the middle is a reel, behind which is attached a Scania-Vabis L76 (1963-1968) cab. Cab with a motor, inside one seat in the center and several levers in the floor.
Nearby is another truck of the same destination, the Thames Trader (1962-1967) made by the British Ford division.
Unfortunately, while we were wandering around the airfield, nothing ever arrived - it did not fly away.
Finnish aviation was represented only by a single, reliably tied glider.
Initially, in addition to the museum in Kotka, there was a plan to visit the aviation museum of Karelia, located on the territory of Lappeenranta Airport (100 km from Kotka, 30 km from Russia). But it works only on weekdays and only in summer, so I didn’t get into it and had to take pictures over the fence.
The set of jet planes there is the same as in Kotka, but there are also a couple of helicopters.
Soviet helicopter Mi-4 (HR-2). Produced from 1952 to 1966 year. From 1962 to 1979 year three Mi-4 operated by the Finnish Air Force.
In fact, it is a naked body at the very beginning of the restoration.
Saab 35S Draken (DK-213) and a Mercedes-Benz L319 (1955-1968) van servicing vehicle.
Fouga SM.170 Magister and Mi-8T (HS-4). Mi-8 arrived in the Finnish Air Force from 1973 of the year, in total 10 units were purchased from the USSR.
This Fugue is much more tired than in Kotka.
Draken and Folland FO.141 Gnat Mk.1 (GN-103).
Land Rover Series II (1958-1971) and tail from the MiG-21. In total there are three MiGs hiding behind the hangars.
Unlike Kotka, in Lappeenranta is a real airport, where it is rare, but you can find something more interesting than light-engine aircraft:
Saab 340B (SE-KXJ) of the Swedish airline NextJet.
Bombardier Q400 NextGen Latvian AirBaltic.