The Polish Aviation Museum is situated a short drive northeast of the city centre of Kraków, on the now decommissioned Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire established the airfield in 1912, to serve its adjacent garrison. It became Kraków civilian airport later, until 1963 when it had to gave way to house development run by the Soviets. Airlines relocated to the airport of Kraków-Balice, on the western side of the city. Balice still serves the city as international airport today.
The Polish Aviation Museum was established at Rakowice in 1964. Although it is a static aircraft museum, on a very rare occasion a few small fixed-wing aircraft use a remaining runway. Wear and tear is clearly visible on almost all the many aircraft parked outside, but inside the new hall some aircraft have been nicely restored in shiny and glittery condition.
Photos taken during my visits in September 2021 and June 2024.
On the museum grounds outside