The Malta Aviation Museum

The Malta Aviation Museum in Takali (Ta’Qali) houses an impressive collection of aircrafts, military uniforms, and related equipment.

The main focus of the Malta Aviation Museum is World War II, particularly the important role played by Malta between 1940 and 1943. The main World War II exhibit can be seen in the ‘Air Battle of Malta Memorial Hangar’ which includes a Supermarine Spitfire MkIX and a Hawker Hurricane MkIIA.

History of The Malta Aviation Museum

The Malta Aviation Museum is situated on the site of the former Royal Air Force airfield in the village of Takali, Malta.

The museum is based in three hangars, and was set up in 1994 as part of the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation, which is a non-profit, voluntary association, which joined together multiple associations with the overarching aim of creating a unique display of exhibits related to Malta’s rich aviation history.

The museum is a living and working museum, with a collection of around 18 aircraft, aircraft engines, airfield equipment, uniforms, model aircraft, and much more.

Amongst its prime exhibits are a World War II Hawker Hurricane which was recovered from the seabed in 1995 and completely restored to working condition, as well as numerous scale models, a number of both vintage and modern motorcycles, dials and gauges, log books, medals, uniforms, and a canon.

There is also a small memorial garden and a chapel which pays tribute to Maltese RAF members who lost their lives during the Battle of Malta.

The Malta Aviation Museum Today

The museum costs 7 Euro to enter, which covers the upkeep of the museum. It is open 9 to 5 from Monday to Saturday, and from 9 to 1 on Sundays.

It is recommended that visitors explore the museum under the guidance of a tour guide, who can deepen their listeners’ knowledge of Malta’s wartime and aviation history.

Similarly, for those who wish to expand upon their knowledge of Malta during the war, the nearby Malta at War Museum examines Malta’s involvement with the Second World War, offering visitors a fascinating insight into the history of the country and the experiences of its people, particularly during the Blitz.

Getting to The Malta Aviation Museum

The Malta Aviation Museum is next to the National Sports Stadium. There is a regular, connecting bus schedule that takes around an hour from the city centre of Malta. It also takes around 15 minutes to drive, via either Triq Sir Temi Zammit or Route 16. For those who fancy a walk, the museum is reachable in around an hour and 45 minutes and is a fairly straightforward journey.