Description
The objective of the project is to preserve Czech cultural and technical heritage by saving the unique group of historical buildings comprising of four hangars and connecting parts of the former AERO company premises on the site of the Prague-Letňany. Thanks to the project two historical hangars in serious state of disrepair threatening their existence – hangars No. V and No. VI, will be reconstructed in accordance with the historical methods and technology to the maximum possible extent. The hangar No. V represents typical sample of World War II airport architecture and after its reconstruction it will be an excellent place for housing the collection of bombers, attack planes, fighter-bombers from World War II up to the 1980, which currently cannot be displayed to public due to the lack of space and which are kept in unsuitable open-air area threatening their condition. The exposition will be accompanied by the exhibition of the European resistance during WWII. The hangar No. VI will be devoted to the history of the AERO aircraft production. A unique museum site will come into being and the historical planes manufactured by the AERO company will return to the place of their origin. Creation of this museum site is fundamental for the conservation of the Czech Republic´s cultural and technical heritage. Significant part of the project partner´s collection (Military History Institute) will thus be preserved for future generations including a number of unique planes, such as the most valuable recent addition to the collection of the partner, the Soviet bomber Petlyakov Pe-2 from WW II, one of the last three preserved planes, which was acquired from the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum in Bodo. Thanks to the project the plane will be completely renovated in close cooperation with the Norwegian museum in front of visitors of the hangar No. V. The museum site will be open to public free of charge. Part of the museum will focus on children with educational interactive exhibition.
Summary of project results
Historical hangars No. V and No. VI of the former AERO company premises representing typical sample of World War II airport architecture situated on the site of the Prague-Letňany Airport were in serious state of disrepair threatening their existence while there was no suitable place where collection of bombers, attack planes, fighter-bombers from World War II up to the 1980 could be housed and displayed to public. Thus, the objective and outcomes of the project were to (1) restore Czech culture heritage by reconstruction of unique historical hangars No. V and No. VI of the former AERO company in accordance with the historical methods and technology and, afterwards, (2) to create exhibition of collection of bombers, attack planes, fighter-bombers from World War II up to the 1980 and a supporting exhibition of the European resistance during WWII in collaboration with the project partner (Military History Institute). The objective and both outcomes of the project were achieved as planned without any modification. Project outputs delivered: - reconstruction of historical hangar No. V; - reconstruction of historical hangar No. VI; - installation of exposition in the reconstructed hangars leading to extension of adjacent complex of the Air Museum in Kbely operated by the project partner. In order to preserve the cultural and technical heritage of the Czech Republic, the partner of the project, Military History Institute in Prague, uses the reconstructed hangars of the project promoter as part of the museum complex corresponding with the latest world trends in exhibiting historic airplanes, including the part dedicated to flying exhibits. As a part of the museum exposition, the visitors have a chance to see maintenance, restoration of historic airplanes, and flight displays in the premises of the hangars reconstructed in accordance with the historical methods and technology to their condition in 1941. The Hangar No.V houses an exhibition of bombers, combat planes and fighter-bombers from World War II to the 1980s (incl. most valuable Soviet bomber Petlyakov Pe-2 from WW II, one of the last three preserved planes, which was acquired from the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum in Bodo) and a supporting exhibition of the European resistance during WWII. The Hangar No. VI is dedicated to the history of the AERO aircraft production, therefore, four unique prototype planes manufactured by AERO are exhibited there.
Summary of bilateral results