National Museum of Romanian Aviation
About National Museum of Romanian Aviation
The National Museum of Romanian Aviation occupies the hangars put up in the first half of the 20th century on the southern side of the former Pipera military airfield, in the north of Bucharest. The airfield was set up in 1915 to train pilots who had qualified at the Military Flying School in Cotroceni. The museum was founded in 1990 by government decision and went through several temporary homes: tents on the Otopeni military airfield (1993), a space in front of Băneasa Airport, then one near Otopeni airport, until 2006, when it moved to Pipera. Since 2011 it has been a museum of national importance, and the building is a historic monument. The museum belongs to the General Staff of the Air Force.
The collection traces the history of flight in Romania, from the pioneers to jet aircraft: archives and personal belongings of Aurel Vlaicu, Henri Coandă and Elie Carafoli, replicas, aircraft, helicopters, radar stations, anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles.
What you can see
In the exhibition as it stood before the works, Hangar 1, the "Traian Vuia" hall, followed aviation from its pioneering days to the aircraft of the late 1950s: a replica of the aeroplane built by Traian Vuia in 1906, models of the machines of Aurel Vlaicu and Henri Coandă, a fragment of the propeller of the Vlaicu II, which crashed near Câmpina in 1913, a replica of the IAR 80 fighter and the Yak-23 and MiG-15 aircraft. Hangar 2 was devoted to the jet aircraft of the 1960s–1970s, with a MiG-19, a MiG-21 and a reconstructed command post. The open-air park displays aircraft and helicopters, among them an IAR 93, a MiG-29 Sniper, an L-29 Delfin and an L-39 Albatros, alongside radar stations and missiles.
Good to know
The museum is closed for consolidation, rehabilitation and modernisation work on the hangars and the outdoor park. Handover of the works is scheduled for April 2027; after that the main exhibition will be redesigned and the exhibits moved into the new spaces. After the works, Hangar 1 will be the main exhibition space, Hangar 2 will house the library and archive, and Hangar 3 the restoration workshops.
Information verified on 2 November 2026.
- The replica of Traian Vuia's 1906 aeroplane, in the hall named after the pioneer.
- The fragment of the propeller of the Vlaicu II, which crashed near Câmpina in 1913.
- The replica of the IAR 80 fighter, built in Romania during the Second World War.
- The open-air park, with its rows of MiGs, the IAR 93 aircraft, helicopters and radar stations.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is in the north of Bucharest, in Sector 2, on Șoseaua Fabrica de Glucoză, in the Pipera area. From Gara de Nord railway station it is ~7 km (~15 minutes without traffic), and from Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni) ~15 km, ~20–25 minutes depending on traffic.
Public transport: by metro, line M2, to Pipera station, ~400 m from the museum grounds.
- Rules
While the works are under way, the museum grounds are a building site and cannot be visited. Exhibits may not be touched, and children should be supervised in the aircraft park.
Frequently asked questions about National Museum of Romanian Aviation
How long does a visit to National Museum of Romanian Aviation take?
A visit to National Museum of Romanian Aviation takes about 1½ – 2 hours (hangars and open-air park).
Can you visit National Museum of Romanian Aviation with kids?
Yes, National Museum of Romanian Aviation is suitable for children (aircraft and helicopters up close).
How do I get to National Museum of Romanian Aviation?
National Museum of Romanian Aviation is located at Șoseaua Fabrica de Glucoză 2-4, București. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit National Museum of Romanian Aviation?
The best season for National Museum of Romanian Aviation: April – October (open-air aircraft park).
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