PAF Museum, Karachi

Pakistan Air Force Museum Faisal () is the official museum of the Pakistan Air Force located on the south-western edge of PAF Base Faisal near Karsaz Flyover on Shahrah-e-Faisal at Karachi.

The museum is the only military aviation museum in Pakistan, with more than 50 aircraft, radars and missiles on display. The museum draws thousands of visitors each day making it one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions in Karachi.

History

The Museum dates back to the time of colonial rule when two hangars were erected by the British in the remote part of PAF Base Drigh Road which through the years were abandoned. In the years that followed, then Base commander of Faisal Airbase ( Abbas Khattak) suggested an idea of establishing a museum to preserve the history of the air force. The museum was established in 1990 under the supervision of Air Commodore (retd) Usman Ghani who renovated the old hangar and developed the barren area. Between 1999 and 2004, the museum was expanded significantly. Additions included children's playing areas, rides, and eateries.

Exhibits and collections

A majority of the aircraft, weapons and radar are displayed outside in the park but the main museum features all major fighter aircraft that have been used by the Pakistan Air Force. The museum also houses the Vickers VC.1 Viking aircraft used by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, and a Folland Gnat of the Indian Air Force, that landed in Pasrur town in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. Also on display are the scale models of some World War I, World War II and some more modern aircraft and photo galleries of almost all the squadrons of Pakistan Air Force.

Some of the aircraft that are preserved in the museum are:

* Martin B-57 Canberra
* De Havilland Tiger Moth
* North American Harvard
*Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
* North American F-86 Sabre
* Dassault Mirage 5
* Shenyang F-6
* Lockheed T-33
*Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
* Auster Autocar
* Antonov An-26
* Antonov An-12
* A-26 Invader
*U-9 Aero Commander
* Vickers Viking
*Folland Gnat
* Kaman HH-43 Huskie

Besides those from PAF inventory, visitors can see the captured Folland Gnat of Indian Air Force and Afghan Air Force Mig 21 and Iraq Air Force, Antonov An-12.

A statue of Indian Airforce's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman along with the parts of the fuselage and tail of his Mig-21 aircraft are also on display in a gallery named Operation Swift Retort.

Gallery

File:PAF Museum Karachi, Pakistan 01.jpg, Main Gate
File:PAF Museum Karachi, Pakistan 03.jpg, Mirage III Aircraft
File:PAF Museum Karachi, Pakistan 04.jpg, F-6 Aircraft
File:PAF Museum Karachi, Pakistan 06.jpg, Archives Gallery
File:PAF Museum Hall.jpg, Museum Hall at night
File:PAF gallery.jpg, Captured Indian Folland Gnat from 1965 war on display at the PAF Museum Gallery.
File:PAF Museum Karachi, Pakistan 02.jpg, Shenyang F-6 Aircraft
File:Pakistan Air Force Museum Austin Aiglet 1.jpg, Auster Aiglet retired from the PAF on display at the PAF Museum, Karachi.
File:Bombs At PAF Museum.JPG
File:Fighter plane At PAF Museum.JPG, Fighter plane At PAF Museum
File:PAF Museum Hall Inside View.jpg, Museum Hall Inside View
File:Pakistan Air Force Museum 30 mm cannon of F-6 and model of Martin B-57.jpg, A model of the Martin B-57 bomber and the 30 mm cannon installed on the Shenyang F-6, on display at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Museum, Karachi.

See also

* List of museums in Pakistan

References

External links

Archived Homepage PAF Museum, KarachiPAF Museum in Karachi
on YouTube
PAF Falcons Enthusiast

{{DEFAULTSORT:PAF Museum
Pakistan Air Force
Aerospace museums
Air force museums
Museums in Karachi
1990 establishments in Pakistan
Tourist attractions in Karachi