Austrian Air Force Museum, Zeltweg 2008 |
Here we are at the gate guard in front of the museum hangar, from left to right: On Saturday 4. Oct. 2008 we went to Zeltweg in Styria/Austria, to visit the small but very interesting museum of the Austrian Air Force. This small museum is situated right at the military air base of Zeltweg. The collection is being preserved and attented by a "Club" which was established specially for the purpose to preserve at least one example of any aircraft type which was ever flwon by the Austrian Air Force since 1955. Our guide for this tour was Vzlt. Hubert Strimitzer ret., former Jet pilot with the Austrian air force and former crewmember of the famous "Karo-Ass" aerobatic team. He served with the Austrian Air Force for many years and flew various types, like the Fouga Magister, Saab J29, Saab 105 and finally the Saab Draken, just to name a few, amassing no less than 11.000 hrs in various types and about 1.000hrs in the Draken. We could not have asked for a more competent and ambitious guide for our tour and I would like to say once again thank you very much for a wonderful and most impressive tour! The museum is located inside an old aircraft maintenance hangar which was build back in 1940, what a fitting place! The main attraction of the collection is definitely the Saab Draken, of which no less than 5 are on display. Besides the Ostarichi 996 Draken in its striking red-white-red livery the Black Knight is on display as well as 2 other Draken and a very special one with almost the entire planking removed on one side, thus allowing an unobstructed view at the internal parts. All aircrafts are in excellent condition with all parts in place. The "club" is trying to exhibit at least one example of any aircraft which was ever used in the Austrian Air Force but due to the fact that the entire museum is relying on donations only, this is no easy task. The Saab 105 OE is until now not on display because this aircraft is still in use but as soon as this type will be retired, (something that will happen pretty soon) I'm sure that a few example of them will find a good place here as well. On the outside are another Draken and a Saab Saphir on display , once again in very good condition and a few wing and tail parts as well. The interesting fact about those parts is that some of those wings are wearing Swedish camouflage and show clearly the remains of Swedish markings. According to some people of the museum staff, these parts were removed from Draken which were retired, pretty interesting due to the fact that Austria bought and flew only 24 Draken and none of them ever had a dark green camouflage. If you ever plan to come to Austria, I can only recommend this fine museum to anybody who is interested in such aircrafts and the history of the Austrian Air Force, it is definitely worth a visit. |