Royal Saudi Air Force Museum, Riyadh

[Latinbear]

The group decided to take a day off from the World Defense Show to visit the RSAF museum in central Riyadh and track down a new airbase out in the desert that housed PC-21s and doesn't feature on Google Maps. However, it does show on Maps,me. Suffice to say that we couldn't really get anywhere close to the base let alone see any flying but it was worth giving it a go. 

 

The RSAF Museum was a different story. Open from 4-9pm each day we decided to chance it and arrived at 10.15am and were let in! There was no charge. Much to our relief the two parties of school children present soon disappeared and we had the place to ourselves. 

 

This is a nice museum and for anybody visiting Riyadh it is certainly worth spending some time in. Uber operates in Riyadh too! 

 

1. 

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

6.

 

7.

 

8.

 

9.

 

10.

 

11.

 

12.

 

14.

 

15.

 

16.

 

18.

 

19.

 

20.

 

21.

 

22.

 

23.

 

24.

 

25.

 

26.

 

27.

 

28.

 

29.

 

30.

 

31.

 

32. This poor old ADV is dumped around the back of the museum. 

 

33. Not part of the museum this Apache was snapped from a moving car outside the impressive HQ of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. 

 

That's it, thanks for looking. 

[Vultures1]

Fascinating photos! Thanks for posting 

[mick]

great photos, thanks for posting

[canberraman]

Wow, I never realised the RSAF had a national museum let alone one so packed full of rare and interesting exhibits! A very worthwhile detour from the main air event rewarded with some fantastic and unusual images. Thanks for sharing!

 

Mark

[Alpha Delta 210]

What an interesting collection and in seemingly good condition, considering the punishing climate. Thanks for taking the time to post them!

[Paul J]

Thanks for sharing. The Dakota inside the building has unusual cowlings doesn't it..

[Pete in Lincs]

The Aircraft stock has increased since the last time I was in there. I spent twenty years working in Riyadh and at Al Kharj airbase, An hour or so South.

There was a large area on the adjacent Air Base in Riyadh which contained retired Aircraft and vehicles. We were told that a Museum was to be built.

Some of the guys were diverted fro work to help to refurbish some of the Airframes for display but resources were slim so they used what they had.

On the way to work one day we passed a huge convoy of low loaders full of Texans and other Aircraft from other Airbase dumps.

Some of these became display Aircraft. I had a small team and we moved the Strikemaster coded 1129 up there. The wing roots are damaged as we had

to use whatever strops we could find to suspend it from the crane. We dismantles some of the Strikeys when they retired.

The C-54 was complete but the Rudder disappeared for some reason. The Lightning had spent many years in the big hangar at Riyadh.

As you say, the staff are very good and entry was always flexible. 

[Latinbear]

Thank you for the kind comments gents - much appreciated! 

[pigsty]

Interesting stuff.  What's no.24?

[junglierating]

Is that a S61 or Yeovil Sea King ?

 

[Latinbear]

56 minutes ago, pigsty said:

Interesting stuff.  What's no.24?

 

Thank you, it's a Caproni CA-100.

[Latinbear]

43 minutes ago, junglierating said:

Is that a S61 or Yeovil Sea King ?

 

 

I don't recall seeing a board in front of the helicopter but according to this photographer it's a Westland product. 

 

Royal Saudi Air Force Westland WS-61 Sea King-HC.4 120 – v1images Aviation Media

[Bradders]

super interesting! thanks for sharing!

[Red Dot]

Absolutely top stuff from what looks like an interesting museum. It sounds like you really enjoyed your trip as a whole,

 

Andy 

[SAT69]

Is #18 an F.2 on loan from the RAF?