The Air Museum (Museu do Ar in Portuguese) is an aviation museum of the Portuguese Air Force located at the Air Base No 1 in Sintra with additional sections in Alverca and Ovar. It was created in 1968 and officially inaugurated on July 1 1971.

The Alverca section, which opened to the public in 1971, is the oldest of the three museum sections. Here the origins of the Portuguese civilian and military aviation are presented with special emphasis to the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (1917) and the African Colonial Wars.

The Sintra section was inaugurated in 2009. Here most of the aircraft are stored in the main hangar, a renewed structure with over 3000 Sq meters. About 42 aircraft are presented together with photos and artefacts that document the first 100 years of military and civilian aviation in Portugal. The historic hangars, built in the 1920s present some of the aircraft used during the African Colonial Wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea between 1961 and 1974. The other rooms present the history of the Portuguese airline TAP Portugal, ANA (Airport Authority) and the Portuguese aviation pioneers.

Interesting aircraft to be seen at the museum include the Junkers JU52 (1930), the Avro Cadet (1931), the DH-87 Hornet (1934), the DH-89 Dragon Rapide (1934), the Spitfire (1934), the DC-3 Dakota (1935) and the F-86 Sabre (1947).

The photos shown here were taken in Sintra and Alverca.

Air Museum - Museu do Ar

Air Museum/Museu do Ar

Portugal - December 2014