Air and Space Museum

The Air Museum, officially known as the Aeronautics and Astronautics Museum, is located at the Cuatro Vientos air base in Madrid. Inaugurated in 1981, this museum is one of the main institutions dedicated to the history of aviation in Spain and houses one of the most important aircraft collections in Europe. Its mission is to preserve, exhibit, and disseminate the historical heritage of Spanish aeronautics, offering a fascinating journey through the eras of aviation. The museum is divided into different sections distributed in seven hangars and an outdoor exhibition area. The extensive collection includes about thirty aircraft, various helicopters, uniforms, medals, engines, and models. This thematic arrangement allows visitors to explore in detail the evolution of aviation in Spain, from its pioneering origins to the present day. The beginning of Spanish aviation history is represented in Hangar 1, where aircraft and materials from the period of the Rif War and the Spanish Civil War are located. Here, one of the most significant pieces is the de Havilland Dragon Rapide, the plane used by Francisco Franco in 1936 to fly from Tenerife to Tetuán, an event that marked the beginning of the military rebellion against the Spanish Republic. This aircraft not only represents an important piece of aeronautical history but also a crucial symbol of Spanish political history. Continuing the visit, Hangar 2 houses a collection of engines, simulators, and aeronautical equipment. This space is dedicated to illustrating the technological evolution of aircraft, showing how advances in engines and flight equipment have influenced the development of aviation. Among the exhibits, you can see piston and jet engines, representing the different phases of technological innovation in the aeronautical field. Hangar 3 is dedicated to training aircraft and fighters used during and after the Spanish Civil War. A notable example is the Fiat CR.32, an Italian biplane fighter that played a significant role during the conflict. The CR.32 is a symbol of international aeronautical cooperation of the period and the complexity of military alliances at the time. A particularly fascinating area of the museum is Hangar 4, which houses a collection of helicopters and autogyros, including historical models like the Cierva C.30, designed by the Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva. The presence of these autogyros is a tribute to Spain’s important contribution to vertical aviation, a sector that has seen significant innovations thanks to De la Cierva’s pioneering work. Hangar 5 features a series of post-war Spanish Air Force aircraft, including the famous HA-200 Saeta, the first jet aircraft designed and built in Spain. This aircraft represents an important step in the national aeronautical industry, marking the transition to the jet age. In addition to the hangars, the museum’s outdoor exhibition area houses large aircraft, including the Boeing KC-97 and the Douglas DC-9. These sky giants offer an impressive view of the scope and capabilities of modern aviation, highlighting the various applications of civil and military aviation. An interesting anecdote concerns the restoration of the Breguet XIX “Jesús del Gran Poder,” an aircraft that made a famous non-stop transatlantic flight from Spain to Cuba in 1933. During the restoration, surprising details about the construction and modifications made to face the oceanic flight were discovered, offering new insights into the audacity and skill of aviators of the time.