Malta Aviation Museum, Ta 'Qali, 15 June 2023

[skypirate]

Made it to historic Ta' Qali in even more historic Malta! No sign of the old RAF airfield; just a couple of hangars. A few of the aircraft listed in the museum brochure are absent. But very pleased to get my hands on a relatively rare G.91/R3.



Quite a small museum, run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers.
Fine collection of scale models as well. A sample:



Plenty for everyone, here in Malta.
Recommended!
Perhaps beware of limestone dust!

Cheers,

David

[PaulBradley]

Nice! Malta has a thriving scale modelling community.

[skypirate]

I will post more pics from my camera when I get home.

David

[iggie]

Try to get to Mosta; the church with the bomb hole in the roof (now repaired but visible) and the story that goes with it is well worth a visit

[skypirate]

Try to get to Mosta; the church with the bomb hole in the roof (now repaired but visible) and the story that goes with it is well worth a visit

Yes, we did get there, Jim, heard the story and saw the replica bomb. Wonderful story and gobsmacking church!

David

[skypirate]

OK, here's some more pics as promised.
Many of the aircraft listed in the museum brochure (such as the Swordfish and Meteor T.7) are not present. I did not see the brochure list until after my visit. And I couldn't get a 'whole' photo of the RN Vampire T.11.

Fiat G.91/R1



Rolls-Royce Griffon 74 from a Fairey Firefly.



Hawker Sea Hawk



Bristol Mercury



DH Gypsy Queen



Agusta-Bell UH-1N



Cessna L-19E Bird Dog



Douglas Dakota Mk.IV



Gloster Meteor F.8



Gloster Meteor NF.14



8-gun Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA Z3055.
This aircraft was one of forty-two Hurricanes delivered to Malta in May/June 1941. They were flown off the carrier HMS Ark Royal as part of Operation Rocket. It became operational in July 1941.



8-gun Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA



Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX EN199.
Arrived in Malta from North Africa with No 154 Squadron at Ta' Qali where it took part in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.
Moved to Sicily/Italy with 1435 then 225 Squadron.
Returned to Malta in October 1945 and took part in meteorological flights from Hal Far.



Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX



Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX







Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX



8-gun Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA



David Brown tractor with Bell 47 in the background



Austin 'Tilly' utility vehicle



That's all folks!

David

[PaulBradley]

What a neat collection! Thanks for sharing, David - nice photos!

[iggie]

Lovely photos
The Tilly looks great...

[jssel]

Great photos. The Dak will never grow old.

[Eric Mc]

Going to Malta in February. Hopefully I'll get a chance to visit the museum.

[skypirate]

Going to Malta in February. Hopefully I'll get a chance to visit the museum.

Eric, though a historic site, this volunteer-run museum is a bit run down and quite small. We found a bus route that went right past it.
I think I missed a more extensive war museum in Valetta itself.

Cheers,

David

[beany]

Many of the aircraft listed in the museum brochure (such as the Swordfish and Meteor T.7) are not present.

There wasn't a lot of the Swordfish to see when I was there in 2011 David - I can't see it getting back into the air any time soon!







I don't recall seeing a T.7 either - perhaps that is also a "partial build"?!
Cheers
Al.

[DavidWomby]

IIRC, the only aircraft on display in the Valetta area is the fuselage of Faith in the National War Musuem (also has Malta's George Cross). T'Qali is small but well worth a visit IMHO.

David

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks for sharing !