Museu Aeroespacial, Aerospace museum in Realengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu Aeroespacial is an aerospace museum on the Afonsos Air Force Base in the Realengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, displaying military and civilian aircraft, helicopters, engines, and technical equipment across several large hangars. The exhibits cover different periods of Brazilian and international aviation history.
The museum was founded following a government decree from 1973 and officially opened in 1976 on the Afonsos Air Force Base. It was created to document Brazilian aviation history before aircraft and equipment were lost for good.
The collection includes personal objects and original documents linked to Santos Dumont, the Brazilian pioneer who flew at the start of the 20th century. His presence throughout the museum gives the whole visit a very personal feel.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and sits on an active Air Force base, so entry requires a valid ID. The hangars are spread out, so comfortable shoes and more time than expected are both a good idea.
Some aircraft in the collection are still airworthy, including the Beechcraft D17S Staggerwing and the Douglas C-47, both of which are rarely seen today. This means those machines are not just on display but occasionally still flown.
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