Prague Aviation Museum Kbely: Overview and Visitor Information

The Kbely Aviation Museum was established in 1968 as the largest aviation museum in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, located at the Kbely Airport.

During the mid-1960s, the Prague Military Museum began recovering and restoring historic aircraft. Initially, one hangar was used for public display, and later, one of the original Wagner-type hangars on the airfield was repurposed for housing early aircraft types. A Picha-type hangar was also added, bringing the total to four.

Following the division of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, several aircraft were transferred to the Slovak Republic. In recent years, the museum has also exchanged Czech and Soviet-designed aircraft for those from other countries.

The museum's collection features numerous Czech-designed and built aircraft from World War I through World War II and up to the 1960s, including unique types like the 1920s Avia BH-11 and the Avia S-92 (Czech version of the Messerschmitt Me-262A).

The post-World War II era is represented in the collection by aircraft such as the Avia S-199, Avia CS-199 (Messerschmitt Bf 109G with Jumo engine), and the Aero C3A (Siebel Si-204).

The museum displays several Soviet-designed airliners built under license in Czechoslovakia, including the Avia 14M, Avia 14T, an ex-CSA Ilyushin Il-18, and a CSA Tupolev Tu-104. Light aircraft include the Czech-built Praga E-114 Air Baby and others.

The collection also includes helicopters such as the HC-2 Heli-Baby, designed by VZLU, showcasing a range of aviation technology.

A fully authentic Supermarine Spitfire LF.IX, which was formerly displayed, was transferred to the National Technical Museum in Prague in 2008.