Museum of Yugoslav Aviation

The Museum of Yugoslav Aviation was established in 1957 under the command of the Yugoslav Air Force. Its iconic, purpose-built facility—located near Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport—was opened to the public on May 21, 1989. Since then, the museum has been visited by more than 600,000 people.

The collection includes over 200 aircraft, among them numerous aviation rarities—from the pioneering Ivan Sarić monoplane, to the Orao, MIG-21, and Super Galeb G-4. A true highlight is the FIAT G.50 bis, a rare Italian WWII-era fighter — the only surviving example in the world.

The museum’s WWII fighter collection is particularly significant, showcasing nearly every aircraft type that flew over Europe during the war. Around 50 aircraft are exhibited inside the main building, with about a dozen more displayed in the surrounding park.

The museum houses a library with over 10,000 volumes, an archive of technical documentation, a photographic archive of 250,000 images and negatives, and a video archive with hundreds of hours of footage. Additional facilities include a film screening room, children’s café, model shop, and exhibition gallery.

According to international experts, the museum ranks among the top 10 aviation museums in the world. Within Serbia, it remains one of the most visited cultural institutions.

During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the museum actively documented the events and expanded its collection with numerous authentic wartime artifacts — including cluster bombs, cruise missiles, UAVs, and debris from downed aircraft such as the F-16C and the iconic “invisible” F-117A Nighthawk.

The museum is located just a 5-minute walk from the passenger terminal of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and is open to visitors year-round.
Information: +381 11 670 992

Museum Activities

“Dule and Baron” Memorial Contest
An annual model-building competition held in memory of Dušan Popović and Vartkes Baronijan, organized each May by the museum. The event counts toward the national model-making championship.

Yugoslav National Model Championship
Previously the most important model aircraft competition in Yugoslavia, held traditionally each October, organized in cooperation with the Air Sports Association and the museum.

Aircraft on Display

Gliders

  • Košava
  • Orao
  • Vrabac
  • Mačka
  • Roda
  • Jastreb

Piston-engine Aircraft

  • Sarić No. 1
  • Njepor N.XI C1 Bebe
  • Fizir FN
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 Ga-2 “Gustav”
  • Hurricane Mk IVRP
  • Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister
  • Spitfire LF Mk VC Trop
  • Fieseler Fi 156C “Storch”
  • Tiger Moth
  • T-6G Texan
  • Po-2
  • Yak-3
  • Ilyushin IL-2m3 “Shturmovik”
  • F-47D Thunderbolt
  • Ikarus Aero 2-DE
  • UTVA 213
  • SOKO 522
  • Ikarus 451
  • Ikarus S-49C
  • KB-6 Matajur
  • Utva 65-S “Privrednik”
  • Utva 66
  • SOKO J-20 Kraguj
  • Junkers Ju 52/3m
  • Douglas DC-3 / Dakota C-47B
  • Ilyushin IL-14P
  • Short Sunderland Mk I (amphibious)
  • Antonov AN-12B (currently not on display)

Jet Aircraft

  • Lockheed T-33A
  • RF-84G Thunderjet
  • F-86D Sabre
  • de Havilland Vampire F Mk1
  • MIG-21F-13
  • SOKO J-22 Orao
  • SOKO G-2 Galeb
  • Ikarus 451M / 451MM
  • SOKO J-21 Jastreb
  • Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle
  • SOKO G-4 Super Galeb (tail section)
  • McDonnell Douglas F-16C (in fragments, AV 55 FS – Aviano base)
  • F-117A Nighthawk (in fragments, AF 82 806 HO – Holloman AFB, New Mexico)

Helicopters

  • Sikorsky WS-51 Mk IB
  • Sikorsky (Soko) S-55-5
  • Mil Mi-2
  • Kamov KA-25 PL
  • Mil Mi-4A
  • Kamov KA-28