The Israeli Air Force Museum was opened to the public in June 1991. Since then there has been an ongoing process in it's development, building, paving and organisation of exhibitions.
   The IAF museum is located adjacent to the Hatzerim Air Force Base, just outside Beer Sheba.Visitors to the museum are taken around by one of the soldier-guides, who speak not only Hebrew and English, but a wide variety of other languages, including Russian and Amharic. The visit also includes a video program in an adapted Air Force Boeing 707.
   There are signs directing visitors to the museum from the center of Beersheba and there are regular buses from the Beer Sheba Central Bus Station. Because the museum is a regular army base, it is closed on Shabbat and religious holidays. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday and holiday eves until 1 p.m. Admission on March 09, 1998 (this is the date of my visit to IAF Museum) was NIS 22 for adults.
   Today, more than 100 different planes can be found in the museum, some of them are airworthy, which are flown by veteran pilots at national events and festivals.
   In the AIF Museum you can see very interesting planes: "Spitfire", "Mustang", "Mezek" (Czech version of "Messerschmitt" Bf 109), "Avenger", Gloster "Meteor", "Ouragan", "Mystere", "Super Mystere" B-2, "Mirage", "Kfir", "Nesher", "Vautour", "Phantom", "Skyhawk", "Lavi" and many others. Helicopter's collection includes "Huey Cobra", "Gazelle", "Defender", "Super Frelon" etc. Among the planes there are also captured enemy planes - such as the MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-21, MiG-23, "Vampire", "Hunter".
   Aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons, missiles and radar systems are also exhibited in the museum.
   It's impossible to list all those on display in this fantastic place. You'll just have to go and see for yourself. Be warned however - take plenty of film (as for me, I wasted 5 films and didn't cover one half of exhibits I wanted to photograph)! And don't forget to take water to drink, sunglasses and a cap - Negev desert is a very sunny and hot place.
   But if you don't want to spend a whole day on hot Israel's sun you can make a short virtual tour to IAF Museum on this site. Let's go!

   Serge Batoussov.     September 26, 1998