Rows of historic aircraft, starting from fighter jets of the Liberation War to the very first aircraft of independent Bangladesh, decorate a natural park, the Bangladesh Air Force Museum.
The museum was set up at Agargaon of the capital, opposite the well-known electronics center IDB Bhaban. The museum is home to many historic aerial bodies. The flying structures are placed in the greenery across walkways for the viewers to have an overall view of the monumental air vehicles.
“It is a different experience from other indoor museums. It feels better to see this all in the open, under the sky,” claimed a group of visitors at the park recently.
“Not everyone has the privilege of boarding an aircraft or to see them life-size. This place offers that along with the opportunity of learning their historic contribution,” shared Rifat Hasan from Brahmanbaria on his occasional visit to the museum.
The setting is built for visitors to stroll and wander in nature accompanied by the aircraft. Not just the physical presence but the historic presence of the structures is also significant. Aircraft like the ‘Balaka 0001’ stand tall right at the beginning. Not just the beginning of the park but at the beginning of the country’s very own line of aircraft. Balaka 0001 was the first aircraft to be built in independent Bangladesh. It was used by both the President and the Prime minister of the country.
Other air jets such as the MiG 21 FL Aircraft and the Fouga CM-170 Magister stand in line. The MiG 21 was initially in the Indian Air Force in 1963. The Indian Air Force used the Mig in air to air and air to ground combat during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Later, it was handed over to the Bangladesh Air Force as a gift. The Fouga, built in 1952 was introduced in the Bangladesh Air Force in 1977. It served as the Bangladesh Air Force pilot jet trainer vehicle from 1977to 1997.
Trainer aircraft such as the Airtourer stand with the others. It was inducted in the Bangladesh Air force in 1977. The New Zealand-built structure was used for the flying trainees in Bangladesh Airforce Flying Training School until 1977. Along with the winged vehicles, military and heavy carriage choppers are also placed across the park.
The premises are not just limited to seeing the aircraft from the outside. Additional ticket counters beside all the large models give an opportunity to have a look on the inside at the expense of only Tk 30. Other facilities such as food stalls, kid’s zone with rides, boat rides in the adjacent lake makes the experience more wholesome. The park also houses a small mosque where visitors can pray. To top it all off, there is a spherical studio where visitors can watch a Laser Light Show.
A ticket to the museum costs Tk 50 for adults, Tk 30 for children and free for kids below the age of 5. The museum is open to the members of the public to visit from 2pm until 9pm. It remains closed on every Sunday.
