The Belgrade Aviation Museum

About

Without even taking the aircraft on display at the Belgrade Museum of Aviation into account, architect Ivan Štraus’ modernist mirrored mushroom building is a landmark in itself. Housed around and within the structure is the museum’s collection of aircraft, which runs from the early 1900s to the 21st century. A testament to the unique history of former-Yugoslavia, the museum is the only place in the world where visitors can see a Messerschmitt Bf 109, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk V, and an Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik, three of the most iconic planes of World War II, side-by-side. Along with these classics, NATO aircraft and drones disabled during the Yugoslav Wars, such as the remains of a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, both shot down in 1999, are proudly on display. Outside, visitors will find larger aircraft, and a sprawling graveyard of fighters that didn’t make the cut for the main exhibit.