First aeroplane to note on the way in, is the ME-109. Its in a great condition as well.
Their latest addition to the collection, is the Hawker Hurricane Mk II, recently resorted in St Petersburg. The colour scheme is rather interesting, looking Battle of Britain from above, North Africa from underneath. The aircraft in question served with the Russian airforce until it was shot down by friendly fire in 1942.
Next an aeroplane I have never seen before, Yakovlev Yak-15. Interesting aeroplane though, one of the very few piston aeroplanes that successfully converted into a jet and the first Russian aeroplane to be refuelled inflight.
Next, another interesting aeroplane the Yakovlev Yak-23UTI, the two seat training version of the Yak-23 fighter aircraft. Sources differ to how many, if any, the Russian air force took delivery of this version.
Outside and we see the Yak-141, a VTOL aeroplane capable of supersonic flight. Russian technology, I think, is often overlooked, a lot of talk about the F-35 is made about it being able to perform VTOL and supersonic flight (unlike the Harrier), the Yak 141 first flew in 1987. With the mopping up of the Cold War, the project was too expensive to continue and was cancelled.
Next to the Yak-141, it being the only other mass produced VTOL aircraft away from the Harrier, the Yak-38. Although this aircraft is very different from its British counterpart, it has three engines, that take care of vertical and normal flying operations. As well as the three engines it has the more conventional nozzles that the Harrier has, although only at the back. It also had a rather novel hands free landing system, the aircraft used a telemetry link with a computer which would allow the Yak-141 to be guided onto the deck with no interaction from the pilot.
Lastly, a picture that hangs in main hall next to a Yak-9, the picture of course shows four Yak-9 flying over a rather depleted looking Reichstag. Often over looked in the West is the importance of the Red air force in the Second World War, its technologies during the Cold War branded ‘poor’ by Western Standards. The museum does a good job of showcasing Russian technology (the museum also houses a number of cars, weapons and tanks), its well thought out and an extremely interesting place to visit.
