The Royal Thai Air Force Museum is located near Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. There are around 70 planes and helicopters on display and you can climb into the cockpits of a few of them. It’s a great place for both adults and children so spend a few hours. Click here to book a great hotel in Bangkok.
The museum was established in 1952 as a way to collect and restore airplanes, helicopters and other equipment used by the Royal Thai Air Force. The museum has some rare aircraft, including the only surviving Vought O2U Corsair.
The museum is split into different sections, with some airplanes outside and some inside. Just to the right of the main entrance you’ll find F-5A and F5B Freedom Fighters, an F16-A Fighting Falcon and a Gripen.
As well as the more modern airplanes, there are lots of older planes also on display, such as the Breguet III that was in service from 1913 to 1918.
Another of the rare airplanes on display is the Curtiss Hawk III. The one at the museum is the only one left in the world.
And being British, it was nice to see that they had a Spitfire on display.
The museum has a whole hanger full of helicopters including these two by Sikorsky.
One of the good things about the helicopter displays is that you can climb into some of them and have a look around. The one below is a Sikorsky S-58T.
The Sikorsky next to the S-58T is an H-19 Chickasaw.
There are also some older Sikorsky helicopters, including the Sikorsky YR-5 A.
There are also many other helicopters on display, including this Bell OH-13H Sioux that was in service from 1972 to 1973.
As well as the airplanes and helicopters, there is lots of other air force equipment on display, including the bomb disposal robot and suit shown below.
The museum also has a display of some parts of an American P51-D Mustang that was shot down near Don Mueang Airport on 9 April 1945.
The pilot and crew managed to survive.
All the above is just a very small section of what’s on display, and it’s easy to spend a few hours looking around. The museum has a small cafe and also serves some Thai food dishes. It also has a shop where you can buy model planes, t-shirts and other Air Force items.
Royal Thai Air Force Museum Details
Location: Near Don Mueang Airport
Opening Hours: 09:00-16:00 every day except holidays
Entrance Fee: Free
How To Get There: Take the BTS to Mo Chit station and then take a taxi from there.
Website: museum.rtaf.mi.th/index.php/en/
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