Airplane Museum of Szolnok

{{Infobox museum

|name = Airplane Museum of Szolnok

|image = JA 37 Viggen front view.jpg

|caption = Saab JA 37 Viggen at the Airplane Museum

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|established = 1973

|dissolved =

|location = Szolnok, Hungary

|type = Aviation museum

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|website = http://www.reptar.hu/

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The Szolnoki Repülőmúzeum ("Airplane Museum of Szolnok") is a large museum displaying old military and civilian aircraft and aircraft engines in Szolnok, Hungary. It was located next to the "Lt. Ittebei Kiss József" Helicopter Base of the Hungarian Air Force; most of the collection has now moved to premises in the city centre, under the new name of Reptár.{{cite web |url=http://www.reptar.hu/ |title=Home |website=reptar.hu}}

History

The museum started out as the aircraft and technical peripherals collection of the "Kilián György Flight Technical College" in 1973.{{Cite web |title=Navicup - the map platform |url=https://navicup.com/object/hungary-grand-tour/airplane-museum-of-szolnok-304554/gb |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=navicup.com}} It was established in 1967.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-03 |title=Military aircraft museum in Szolnok Hungary |url=https://wanderlustwelshman.com/2024/03/03/military-aircraft-museum-in-szolnok-hungary/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Wanderlust Welshman |language=en-GB}} Since then many things changed but the collection remained, growing always bigger. Originally the museum focused on military aviation but later civil and utility aircraft were introduced to the collection which is divided into two: the open air part, and a separate indoor area with weaponry, uniforms and photographic collections. The museum also stores the remains of a number of Second World War warplanes shot down over Hungary and it plays a leading role in salvaging and conservation of such wrecks. As result of these efforts the museum recovered an Il-2, two Bf 109s and a LaGG-5.{{Cite web |title=Navicup - the map platform |url=https://navicup.com/object/hungary-grand-tour/airplane-museum-of-szolnok-304554/gb |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=navicup.com}} The collection also included a Lisunov Li-2 which was since restored to airworthy condition, thus becoming the only airworthy exemplar of the kind.{{Cite web |title=Navicup - the map platform |url=https://navicup.com/object/hungary-grand-tour/airplane-museum-of-szolnok-304554/gb |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=navicup.com}}