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THE AVIATION HALL

The Aviation Hall, opened to the public in 1972, is managed by the Royal Museum of Armed Forces – Musée Royal de L’Armée. The MRA is part of the WHI – War Heritage Institute – and is responsible for the layout and maintenance of the aircraft. The Aviation Hall can only exhibit part of the collection since there is a lack of space to exhibit all of it. The 145 pieces identified in 2016, of which many pieces remain outside of the museum are included in the general catalogue of  The Aviation Department of the Royal Army Museum in Brussels. This catalogue may be purchased in the Museum Shop of the Royal Museum of Armed Forces.

A brief presentation of the collection

On the first floor of the Hall de l’Aviation you will find an assembly of balloon nacelles, early pioneer aircraft, aircraft of the 1914-18 war, inter-world war aircraft and light aircraft of the post 1940-45 era.

On the ground floor can be found vintage rescue helicopters and most of the fighter aircraft used by the Belgian Airforce since 1946.

You will also find exhibited different aircraft used by Eastern Bloc countries during the « Cold War « as well as aircraft used by NATO  during and after this period.

One part of the ground floor is devoted to the 1940-45 war, and transport aviation.

SABENA is represented by a Caravelle placed on high. The old Belgian airline has its own stand where a jet  engine and cockpit of a Boeing 707 are exhibited along with respective uniforms and  memorabilia of this era.

1900 – 1918 period
1919 – 1945 period
1946 – 2020 period
Airship
Balloon
Glider
Helicopter
Plane
ULM
Sopwith

1 ½ STRUTTER

Artillery spotting aircraft - United Kingdom - First flight in 1916 - Max.speed 159 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1916 to 1921 - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Bristol

17 F2B Fighter

Fighter and reconnaissance aircraft - United Kingdom - First flew in 1916 - Max.speed 195 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1920 to 1930 - Entered the museum in 1989.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Nieuport

23-C1

Fighter aircraft - France - First flight in 1917 - Max.speed 165 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1917 to 1920 - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
César

BATTAILLE

Triplane of private construction - Belgium - Unique example - Not known to have flown - Entered the museum in 1972.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Halberstadt

C.V

Photographic reconnaissance aircraft - Germany - First flight in March 1918 - Max.speed 170 km/h - Currently under restoration - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
RESTORATION
IN PROGRESS
LVG

C.VI

Reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft - Germany - First flight in 1917 - Max.speed 170 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1919 to 1921 - Currently under restoration - entered the museum

1900 – 1918 | Plane
RESTORATION
IN PROGRESS
Aviatik

C1

Two-seater reconnaissance aircraft - Germany - 1915 Max.speed 142km/h - Shot down near Nieuport in 1916 - Currently under restoration - Entered the museum in 1975.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Voisin

De Caters N IV

Experimental sports aircraft - France - First flight in 1909 - Replica - Rebuilt in 2008.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Fokker

Dr-1.425/17

Fighter aircraft - Germany - First flew in July 1917 - Max.speed 165 km/h - Accurate replica - Entered the museum in 1983.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Sopwith

F1 Camel

Fighter aircraft - United Kingdom - First flight in December 1916 - Max.speed 185 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce in 1918 - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Caudron

G.III A2/E2

Two -seater reconnaissance and flight school elementary trainer - France - First flew in in 1914 - Max.speed 114 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce in 1918 - Entered the museum in 1975.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Hanriot

HD.1

Fighter aircraft - France - First flight in 1916 - Max.speed 183 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1917 to 1926 - Entered the museum in 1924.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Voisin

LA-5

Reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft - France - First flight in 1915 – Max.speed 109 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce in 1915 and retired from the front in 1916 - Entered the museum in 1988 and

1900 – 1918 | Plane
RESTORATION
IN PROGRESS
Maurice Farman

MF.11

Reconnaissance, light bomber and artillery spotter aircraft - France - First flew in 1914 - Max.speed 109 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1915 to 1920 - Entered the museum in 1980.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
Ballon la Belgique

Nacelle

Hot-air Balloon - Belgium - The nacelle was flowing by H.M Albert 1st of Belgium while still Prince Albert at the time of his maiden flight.

1900 – 1918 | Balloon
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin

Nacelle L.30

Dirigible - Bomber - Germany - First flew in 1906 - The nacelle of Zeppelin L30 - entered the museum in 19??

1900 – 1918 | Airship
Royal Aircraft Factory

R.E.8

Reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft - United Kingdom - First flight in June 1916 - Max.speed 157 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1917 to 1918 - entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
SCHREK-FBA

TYPE H

Anti-submarine seaplane - France - First flight in April 1916 - Max.speed 142 km/h - Entered service with the Belgian Airforce 1918 - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane
SPAD

XIII C1

Fighter aircraft - France - first flight in April 1917 - Max.speed 217 km/h - In service with the Belgian Airforce from 1918 to 1921 - Entered the museum in 1920.

1900 – 1918 | Plane