Pakistan Air Force Museum

Pakistan Air Force Museum Faisal (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ عجائب گھر) is an Air Force museum and park situated near Karsaz Flyover on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.[1]

Pakistan Air Force Museum
پاک فضائیہ عجائب گھر
Main Entrance of PAF Museum Karachi
Pakistan Air Force Museum is located in Karachi
Pakistan Air Force Museum
Location within Karachi
LocationKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Coordinates24.8720°N 67.0974°E / 24.8720; 67.0974
TypeMilitary
Collection sizeAirforce equipment, captured and retired aircraft, paintings.
Websitehttp://www.pafmuseum.com.pk

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 Pasroor town, Pakistan 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.[2]

History

The museum was established in 1990 in two unused hangars in a remote part of the Base. The museum was expanded significantly from its humble beginnings in the period 1999–2004. Additions include children's playing areas, rides, and eateries.

Management

The museum is managed by a committee headed by the Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command; however, it is managed and run by the Administrator. Recently the museum has been renamed as Historical Record & Archives Section and given additional responsibilities for maintaining some documented history of the PAF. The current Administrator of Museum is Air Commodore Syed Ali Zaidi. However, the museum was developed by Wing Commander Syed Salman Ahmed.

  • Main Gate
    Main Gate
  • Mirage III Aircraft
    Mirage III Aircraft
  • F-6 Aircraft
    F-6 Aircraft
  • Archives Gallery
    Archives Gallery
  • Museum Hall at night
    Museum Hall at night
  • Captured Indian Folland Gnat from 1965 war on display at the PAF Museum Gallery.
    Captured Indian Folland Gnat from 1965 war on display at the PAF Museum Gallery.
  • Shenyang F-6 Aircraft
    Shenyang F-6 Aircraft
  • Auster Aiglet retired from the PAF on display at the PAF Museum, Karachi.
    Auster Aiglet retired from the PAF on display at the PAF Museum, Karachi.
  • Fighter plane At PAF Museum
    Fighter plane At PAF Museum
  • Museum Hall Inside View
    Museum Hall Inside View
  • 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.
    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.

Selected exhibits

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

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.[3]

See also

References
  1. Air Chief inaugurates martyrs monument at PAF Museum Karachi, The Nation, Published 7 September 2015, Retrieved 14 September 2017
  2. Japanese sailors visit PAF Museum, Dawn, Published 8 September 2012, Retrieved 14 September 2017
  3. "Statue of Indian pilot Abhinandan installed in Karachi's PAF Museum". Dawn. 13 November 2019.
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