Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Sintra > Pêro Pinheiro
The Air Museum (Museu do Ar) is located in the town of Pêro Pinheiro, specifically in Fervença, in the municipality of Sintra, district of Lisbon. This space is part of the Air Base No. 1 area, known as Granja do Marquês, giving it an atmosphere directly connected to the history of Portuguese aviation.
Situated in a more secluded area, slightly away from the center of Sintra, the museum offers an immersive experience, ideal for those looking to explore aeronautical heritage in a dedicated and historically significant environment.
This museum houses a vast and diverse collection that documents the journey of aviation in Portugal, from its early days to the present. The collection includes a wide variety of aircraft representing different eras and functions, from fighter planes, such as the legendary Spitfire, to classic biplanes used for training and aerobatics, like the Tiger Moth. The exhibition also features a unique amphibious aircraft, the Widgeon, and several jets that marked the more recent past of aviation.
In addition to the aircraft, the collection is complemented by other crucial elements for understanding the history of flight, such as engines, propellers, instrument panels, and various navigation equipment. These components illustrate the continuous technological evolution of aeronautics over time, offering a detailed perspective on the industry's development.
The Air Museum pays special attention to the remarkable achievements of Portuguese aviation, covering both its military and civil history. Its facilities display not only the valuable heritage of the Portuguese Air Force but also include significant collections from TAP Air Portugal and ANA, Aeroportos de Portugal, broadening the scope of the country's flight history.
A visit allows one to recall pioneering moments and figures who stood out in national aviation, such as the historic South Atlantic crossing by Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral. Through its exhibition spaces, the museum preserves the memory and inestimable value of the national aeronautical heritage, narrating the stories behind the flying machines and the innovations that shaped aviation.
The museum's headquarters, located in Pêro Pinheiro, are housed in buildings that have intrinsic historical significance. Some of the hangars currently used as exhibition areas date back to the 1920s and were part of the original infrastructure of the Military Aviation School (Escola da Aviação Militar), which operated there.
The careful restoration of these spaces has created large and suitable areas for displaying the aircraft, while preserving elements of the original architecture. This approach integrates the collection into an environment that breathes the aeronautical history of the location itself, providing an enriching experience.
Due to the quality and scope of its collection, the Air Museum is a fundamental point of reference for understanding the history of aviation in Portugal. The relevance of the collection preserved here underscores the importance of the Portuguese contribution to aeronautical development.
The museum thus assumes the role of an essential guardian of the country's flight-related heritage, offering a space for knowledge and appreciation of the national aeronautical legacy.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.8370832,-9.3425116
Coordinates DMS: 38°50'13.5"N 09°20'33.0"W
Weather Pêro Pinheiro
On-duty Pharmacy Pêro Pinheiro
