ESTABLISHMENT AND HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

The Museum of Aviation in Krumovo was established in 1991.There are presented about 6800 exhibits and 65 aircrafts - airplanes, helicopters, gliders, radio -relay stations and others. They are located in two inside and one outside expositions, two repair-restoration hangars and archives’ storehouse.

The idea of creating a museum of aviation in Bulgaria is very old. It emerged in 1919 to preserve for the history some of the first airplanes of Bulgaria. But the signing of the Treaty of Neuilly, according to which all the airplanes of the Bulgarian aviation must be destroyed, made the idea unfeasible.

Only the fifth attempt proved successful. With the efforts of many enthusiasts, with the direct participation of the personal staff of 25th aviation regiment - Cheshnigirovo, and 44th regiment - Krumovo, 19th regiment - Graf Ignatievo, 22nd regiment - Bezmer and many others, was built and arranged the Museum of Aviation in Krumovo. It was opened on September 21, 1991. The Museum is a branch of the National Military Museum in Sofia and is part of the structure of the Ministry of Defense.

The exposition gives the aviation lovers the opportunity to see very interesting exponents. The museum possesses many unique objects. Here is preserved the airplane,constructed by the Bulgarian Georgi Bojinov in 1912 – only 9 years after the first flight of the Wright brothers. Of course, he fails to make the plane immediately, due to lack of funds. But he built it in 1926 and that is exactly this one kept it in Krumovo.

The most interesting, which can be seen is the hydroplane "Arado 196 A3 Akula”. It was produced in 1937 in Germany and was delivered in Bulgaria in 1943.It was destined to fight underwater and surface boats. This plane is unique because it is the only of its kind, preserved in the world. There is no other museum that holds an airplane of this type. Another unique machine is the dropping device of the spaceship "Union 33",by which in 1979 was realized the flight of the first Bulgarian astronaut Georgi Ivanov.

Among the interesting exhibits is the most constructed Bulgarian airplane "Laz 7M”, designed by Prof. Tzvetan Lazarov. Visitors can enjoy the airplanes of World War II - "Yak 9" "Li 2”, “Il-2”, “Tu 2” and almost all subsequent models. Here you can see the first jet-propelled airplane, which arrived in Bulgaria – “Yak 23" and also the series MiG – “MiG 15", "MiG 17", "Mig 19", "MiG 21 and “Su 22". Presented are different helicopters – from some of the first that came in armament in 1957 – “Mi1” and “Mi4" to the modern" Mi8 ". As model that can be seen and the newest entry in the Bulgarian Air Forces,is the helicopter "Kougar 701”.

In the inside expositions are classified documents, personal belongings of pilots, swords, parts of airplanes, aviation engines and armament, aviator’s dress.On photo-boardsare depicted archival photos and documents from the history of the Bulgarian Aviation and certificates of the aviator’s everyday life and the reality of the Bulgarian airports.

CONTACTS

MUSEUM OF AVIATION – village of KRUMOVO

Village of Krumovo, Plovdiv, 4112 Bulgaria
Tel : + 359 32/ 90 63 58

Working hours:
Exposition - Wednesday - Sunday from 9.00h. to 17.00h.
Administration - Monday - Friday from 9.00h. to 17.00h.

Dear users, the new site of the Museum of Aviation in Krumovo is in process of development. Expect us!