Curiosities 6 - The Museum of Monino
João Henrique Barboza Jorgetto • Jan 27, 2023
This information regarding the museum of the Russian Air Force in Monino, on the outskirts of the capital of Moscow, is a little outdated but still interesting.
The order signed by the Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, intended to dismiss the museum and take the more than 190 aircraft to the "Patriot Park", founded by Putin in 2015. However, pilots and technicians at the museum, as well as specialists, warned that this could mean the end for many aircraft, since almost all of them are not in flight condition and will have to be dismantled for transport, which can cause irreparable damage. The design departments of the remaining companies that have had planes there, such as Sukhoi and Antonov, also warned that the move could turn these works of the past into lifeless, disposable mockups. A pity, isn't it?
But let's get to know a little bit about the museum? Monino was a Soviet base until 1956, when it was closed in a Soviet government cost review. There, however, was an ideal space for some spare aircraft to be placed. From there came the idea for a museum, even keeping part of the Soviet material from the 2nd World War. In 1960, the Monino museum was officially opened, with visitation limited to officials, family members of the military and government guests. This only changed recently, with visitation permission released to the general public.
There you can observe the history of Russian aviation from its beginnings. Many planes are exposed to the weather (as it is) and still maintain the grandeur they had in their past. There are dozens of jets, fighters, bombers and the coolest thing: it is also home to many abandoned projects.
A full plate for those who like aviation. Check out some symbolic aircraft that are in Monino:
Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik
Iconic Soviet ground attack aircraft in WW2. Its creators found the creation of an armored aircraft interesting, I bet the pilots who were targeted during the war also found it, right? There were 36,000 aircraft produced.
Petlyakov PE-2
Another well-known aircraft from the so-called "Great Patriotic War". That's what the Russians call World War II. This plane was a dive bomber, used during all phases of the war. The aircraft present in Monino is the result of joining the remains of 3 planes used in the war.
Lavochkin La-7
This aircraft has a special detail: it was the plane used by Soviet ace Ivan Kozhedub, who claims to have shot down 17 German planes with it.
Prototype Bi-1 Rocket Plane
The first flight of this prototype took place in 1942 and lasted only 3 minutes. The aircraft could reach 800 km/h, a very impressive feat for the time. After seven prototypes were made and one was destroyed in an accident, killing its pilot, the project was terminated.
Sukhanov's discoplanes
They are Soviet gliders that have a very curious shape. They would have been manufactured by Sukhanov based on captured German designs at the end of the war.
The American B-25
Yes, there are some examples of American aircraft that were donated by the USA to the USSR at the beginning of the War, through the Lend Lease program. In addition to the B-25, P-39 Airacobra and Dakotas DC-3 are also present in the museum.
The B-29 cover (Tupolev Tu-4)
This aircraft, although identical to the American Boeing B-29, is actually a Tupolev TU-4, reverse-engineered from the American plane after being captured by the Soviets.
Myasishchev 3M Bison, M4 and M50
The Soviet giants were designed as long-range bombers and were used well into the 1960s. The M50, in particular, was a supersonic bomber that was never commissioned. This project was superseded with the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Yakovlev Yak 27 & 28
The sister jets, each with its own function (air reconnaissance and bomber, respectively), rest with their curious noses in the courtyard of Monino.
Yakovlev Yak 36 VTOL
Yes, a soviet VTOL. This experimental aircraft was used for vertical take-off and landing tests, and was even used in public demonstrations in the 1960s.
Tupolev Tu-144 Airliner
This plane was the world's first supersonic passenger plane, which was announced just two months before the Concorde. This aircraft came into use in the year 1977, it only performed 55 commercial flights.
Sukhoi T-4 bomber (or Sukhoi S100)
This cool supersonic bomber prototype was designed to be a direct competitor to the American XB-70 Valkyrie, but was eventually abandoned. Only one plane has survived and it is resting in Monino.
MIG 105 Spaceplane
Look how cool. This experimental aircraft was part of a project to study orbital vehicles.
Mil Mi 12 "Homer"
The biggest helicopter in the world is also there. The "Homer" could carry up to 194 people. Only 2 were made.
Beriev VVA-14
Star Wars USSR edition? No, but almost, right? This was an Ekranoplane that was abandoned after the death of its designer.
MIG and Sukhoi
The classic and current aircraft of the two companies could not be missing.
Luckily, the aircraft have remained in Monino and were not transferred to Patriotic Park.