Buenos Aires: Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica
My wife and I enjoyed three delightful weeks in Argentina, December 2023. While in Buenos Aires, I made a point of visiting the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica, dedicated to the history of the Argentine Air Force aka: Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA). Absolutely no one I talked to who resided in Buenos Aires had ever been there or knew anything about it. The museum's website is totally misleading and borderline useless. I was on my own.
My mission: Photograph a complete walk around of a FMA IA 58 Pucará, similar to those used in the disastrous Malvinas War of 1982, a complete and never forgotten embarrassment to the citizens of Argentina that helped fuel the end of the ruling dictatorships of that era. No Argentines ever refer to these islands as “The Falklands”. The Malvinas War is part of what also known as The South Atlantic Conflict that also involved issues with Chile.
Buenos Aires is as spread out as wide as Mexico City. It took a 50 minute taxi ride to arrive at Morón Airport and Air Base. The Air Base component is partially defunct.
Surprisingly, the Mueso is overseen by the Argentine Army, mostly young recruits. After going through an intimidating military checkpoint to access the base, the cab driver (he had never been there either) and I finally located three shabby looking hangers that comprised the museum.
View from the parking lot.
There were absolutely no visitors and by the time I arrived, I had only 35 minutes to do a speed tour before the thoroughly bored staff on hand closed it for the day. I could only visit one hanger which turned out to be a gold mine. A young soldier, well versed in “Netflix English”, appeared out of nowhere and glommed on to me the entire time. We hit it off so he removed all the barriers allowing me total access to the planes on exhibit. Here's what I saw:
IA-58 Pucará from first serial production run that started in 1974. It never participated in any military action. I shot a complete walk around that I will post later.
This large Pucará model in the foreground was built by a local Buenos Aires modeling club. There is a room full of models in the building and club meetings are held but I was unable to visit it.
FMA IAe. 27 Pulqui I -1947- Prototype. Only one built and this is it. It was replaced by the improved 33 Pulqui II which is displayed nearby.
FMA IA 35 Huanquero - 1956 - Used for multi functions including advanced shooting training, light bombing and rocket launches as well as passenger transportation. Only 47 of the planned 100 were built. Each engine has nine star cylinders. Retired in 1974.
FMA IA 50 Guaraní II -1963- multi use twin turboprop use for transportation purposes. It was the first aircraft built entirely in Latin America to cross the Atlantic in 1965. This plane was used for photographic reasons and retired in 2007.
Douglas A-4C Skyhawk - freshly re-painted in the colors of the Malvinas War.
Douglas A-4P Skyhawk - also re-painted in South Atlantic Conflict camouflage and participated in the Malvinas, May 1st, 1982. Retired in 1999.
English Electric Canberra B.Mk62 B-109 -1953- this plane participated in the Malvinas War and was retired in 2000.
Morane-Saulnier MS.760 -1954 -The FAA acquired 48 units of this French trainer of which 36 were built entirely in Argentina. Ten of these served until 2000.
Laécoère 25 -circa 1925- and used by the Argentine Post Office from 1929 to 1939. It is the only surviving example preserved in the world. It was made famous by French aviators including Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of “The Little Prince”. This is the museum's piece de resistance. My soldier buddy said French visitors often quickly walk in and photograph this plane and leave without looking at anything else.
Avro Lincoln B.2 This sad looking Lincoln was stripped and scheduled for restoration but sits outside forlorn on the tarmac, restoration completely stalled.
Soldier buddy told me there's no money to fix it. “Can you imagine how expensive it is to replace just one of these tires, let alone find one?” Valid point.
Below: Photo of the same Lincoln prior to it being dismantled:
At this point, time was up and I was asked to leave. There are various other planes, cars, tractors and a separate restoration hanger but I was not able to get around to those. Nor could I get much info on the Morón airbase other than it was used by the FAA from 1951-1988. It also served as Buenos Aires main airport for many years prior to that. There is also a large government run training school for civilian pilots on the runway adjacent to the museum.
If you ever get to Buenos Aires, make sure you call before you visit the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica. It's open only three days a week for very short hours and has been known to temporarily close for periods of time. It's well worth the hassle.
Here's a link to my Kinetic Pucará build:
https://imodeler.com/2022/02/1-48-kinetci-pucara-ia-58a-guerra-de-las-malvinas-group-build/
Quite the adventure but it sounds and looks like you had a good time. Thank you for sharing your story and pics.
Very cool, EB @eb801 ! 😎👍
Thanks for sharing your photos and opinion about this museum Eric.
It’s always sad to see how a nation can mistreat its history… and Argentina certainly is not alone on this matter
Interesting visit, Eric. If you ever get time the BBC Top Gear trip to Argentina is worth viewing. I see their newly elected president has vowed to transfer sovereignty of the Falkland Islands again……….
George @chinesegeorge. . From what I gathered talking to many Argentines and a Q&A talk by an Argentine Army Malvinas veteran, new president Milei has no intention of sparking another “Falklands War”. They say he favors pursuing a “shared sovereignty” of the islands with the UK. One has to remember current residents of the Malvinas/Falklands are British subjects, don’t speak Spanish and most are quite content with things just as they are. Not a good place to ride a motorcycle either. Too many peat bogs.
Thank you Eric for a good presentation.
Now, I realize what I missed on my two visits to Buenos Aires.
Thaks a lot for sharing this advanture, Eric @eb801
A pity you were only able to have a look for a short time.
Some wonderful aircraft indeed.
They didn't tell you why the air base was closed. Moron Air Base was one of the torture facilities where the military "disappeared" people during the "dirty war" of the 1970s. Probably why people in Buenos Aires don't go to the museum.
Looking forward to your walkarounds of those rare airplanes.
Tom @tcinla. Thanks for that info. I do know they loaded up the “disappeared” at Morón and flew over the nearby Rio de La Plata and pushed them out the door to their deaths.
Yes, that was the main thing that happened at the base. Bringing the people from the Navy Mechanics School, the main torture center, for their "final flight" and also the people they were torturing there.
@tcinla: I asked my Argentine friend, a professional tour guide, and she confirmed your comments. All the Argentine bases were used for torture purposes. She said the real reason the Morón museum is not well visited by locals is that it's too far out of the way and a real pain to get there and only open three days a week. There is a Naval Air Museum right in central Buenos Aires that is more popular and accessible.
Some real gems discovered at the museum, Eric! Really amazing! Thanks for sharing these valuable pics!
Interesting Eric, well presented, thanks for posting.
Thanks for sharing. That's interesting
Wonderful photos and info Eric. It's a shame that many people bypass another of the other aircraft just to see the Laècoère 25. It a wonderful plane, but there are so many other rare plane there to see too. It's also to bad about the Lincon, it would be nice to see it restored as well.
Very interesting, thanks for posting. While I would love to go to Argentina, I can’t talk my wife into going anywhere in South America. Maybe one day…
Greg @gwfabian - Too bad. Your wife is missing out. I would go back to Argentina in a heartbeat. Peru is amazing as well.