Karelia Aviation Museum

Lappeenranta, Finland

The Karelia Aviation Museum is located at Lappeenranta Airport. The museum is run by Kaakkois-Suomen ilmailumuseoyhdistys ry. The museum is housed in two covered halls and displays fighter aircraft and smaller objects from the Second World War and onwards.

The first hall, the MG Hall, houses the Mig-21BIS MG-127 fighter. The showcases also feature aircraft instruments and gauges, turbine blades and parts from bombers which saw action during the Second World War. On the walls are flying equipment from the Mig fighter, as well as the wing and fuselage fuel tanks of the aircraft.

The second exhibition hall houses a SAAB 355 Draken fighter and SAAB 91D Safir Trainer. Other exhibits on display in the hall include objects originating from the air battles fought during the ‘Winter War’ and the ‘Continuation War’. During the early part of the ‘Winter War’ (1939-40), on 1st December 1939, Immola airfield was bombed by the enemy’s Tupolev SB-2 planes. It was during this bombing raid that Captain G. Magnusson shot down one of the attacking planes above Lake Rampalanjärvi in Ruokolahti. The plane plunged into the lake, in flames, and its observer was taken prisoner at the perimeter of the airfield. Here, you can examine the wing flap and other parts of this bomber plane.

Reference: Museums of South Karelia

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Category: Museums in Finland

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4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Robin Bobin (3 years ago)
Want to visit, we have already stopped by twice, but so far we have not succeeded. Will the third attempt be successful?
Janc Reikop (3 years ago)
Small but nice. Very children friendly, kids can climb into planes :)
Mira Hämäläinen (5 years ago)
Great place for kids.
Heikki Hellgren (5 years ago)
3 halls containing all kinds of aviation stuff especially from the war times. Old planes, cannons and helicopter you can visit. The guy at the reception is very nice and has good knowledge of the presented things.
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