AIR FORCE MUSEUM at MONINO (RUSSIA)
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    * DESCRIPTION
    * HOW TO GET TO THE MUSEUM
    * COMMENTS
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                             DESCRIPTION
 The AF Museum exists from 1958 and now is the biggest aviation museum
 on the territory of the former USSR. It was opened under the initia-
 tive of Air Marshal S.A. Krasovsky, the Air Force Academy head at
 that time. Now the Air Force Museum still forms an integral part of
 the academy, the "factory" of command and staff cadres for the mili-
 tary aviation, as it often called.
     Nowadays the Museum's collection numbers more than 160 aircraft,
 there are conventional planes, helicopters and gliders, as well as
 unusual flying machines, such as V.Tatlin's flapflyer, A.Rafaelynts'
 turboflyer, the second stage of orbital space plane, developed under
 the "Spiral" program and others.
     The Museum possesses over 120 engines (piston, air-breathing jet
 and rocket ones) from O.Kostovich's gasoline engine for airship
 (1883) to the most up-to-date engines.
     The collection also includes a lot of model aircraft, air guns,
 missiles and rockets, bombs, fuses and ammunition, navigation in-
 struments, pieces of radio and communication equipment, rescue
 equipment, flight insignia, uniform, combat banners and flags, docu-
 ments, letters, personal things of pilots, as well as many art
 exhibits.  There are also many books, photos, films on the history
 of aviation in the Museum's library.
     The Museum's exposition, the total area of which is about 20
 hectares, is located on the tarmac, in the hangar and halls, shops
 of the former aircraft repair plant are adopted for the halls. The
 vast territory allows the museum to expend its exposition, while
 the nearby runway can receive new exhibits: many of museum airplanes
 and helicopters made their last landing on this runway.
     In the halls historical material and exhibits are arranged
 chronologically.
     The origin and development of aviation in Russia, formation of
 domestic aviation science and industry between the Civil War and the
 Great Patriotic War, the Air Force contribution to the rout of
 German-Fascist occupants, the advent after the war of novel jet
 aviation and evolution of the latter up to the present day - all
 this review of the century history of the Russian aviation is pre-
 sented to a visitor of the museum during a two-hour guided tour.
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                               COMMENTS
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 "The finest professional display of Air Power I've seen"..
      Jay W. Kelley, Lieutenant General, US AF Commander.
 "The tour of this museum is a highlight of my first visit to Russia".
      Robert A.Davis, Vice-President of Boeing Company.
 "With my warmest thanks for a most impressive visit. I have never
 before seen such a remarkable collection of aircraft"..
      Geoffrey Ford, Air Marshal, R.A.F..
 "The contribution of Russia to the development of aviation are
 famous. It is important to preserve this history. The Museum is a
 treasure and I wish its curators success in their efforts".
      Norman Thagard, NASA astronaut.
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                        HOW TO GET TO THE MUSEUM
 The Museum is located in Monino, Moscow region (the 38th km of the
 Gorky highway). It takes about one hour to get there from Moscow by
 car, bus or train.
     The Museum is opened every day except Sunday and Wednesday from
 9.30 till 17.00 (the break from 13.00 till 14.30), on Saturday till
 14.00 without break.
     For foreign visitors it is necessary to book the pass in advance.
 Please, phone (095) 526-3327 for additional information.
 Russia 141170
 Monino, Moscow region
 tel. +7 (095) 526-3327
      +7 (095) 584-2180
 fax. +7 (095) 526-3351
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    Use Net Search MONINO.  Many pictures can be captured in Jpeg
 format.  Text may also ne saved.  Jim
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