Sri Lanka has one aviation themed museum. It is located on military ground - entrance via base gate with basic security check. SECURITY WARNING - photography of objects outside museum strictly prohibited. Very well organized, with gift shop (good prices), free potable water and diner. Outdoor exhibition surronded by trees and plants from Sri Lanka, which makes very good impression on visitors.
Tripod - strongly recommended inside hangar (it is very dark). Photos below was made handheld and some of them lack of quality because of ISO1600.
Lenses (FF) - 24-70 for outdoor, 15-35 hangar. I used 24-70 and 11-20 on APS-C.
Flash - about three aircrafts are open with flight deck and cabin to shoot.
Official website: airforcemuseum.lk (wikipedia)
Adress: Ratmalana, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka (google maps)
Entry fee: 15 USD
Opening: tue.-sun. 08:30-16:30
(information updated on February 2020)
Below are my photographs of aircrafts preserved:
4R-AAO (# 561) | Hiller UH-12B | Sri Lanka Air Force
Acquired from Ceylon Air Academy by Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1961.
In 1953, Ceylon acquired its first helicopter (this one) - which preceded the purchase of two Westland-Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly helicopters for the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) in 1955. Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala and other government officials used this helicopter extensively to travel around the country for official and personal business.
CH501 (# WA/H/137) | Westland Widgeon II | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CH532 (# 5006) | Aérospatiale SA 365C1 Dauphin 2 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
Two helicopters were delivered in 1979 to No. 04 Squadron for VIP transport. These were also used for evacuation of soldiers from battlefront airfields to hospitals. They were retired in 1989 as they became oddball helicopters in the fleet as Bell aircraft were introduced in 1984. These were replaced by Bell 412s in the VIP transport role and by Bell 212 in the MEDEVAC role.
CH580 (# 2382) | Bell OH-13H Sioux | Sri Lanka Air Force
Based on Bell 47G-2. Equipped with a 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming VO-435 engine. Very popular in US Army (used about 450 of them) and famous from M*A*S*H series.
SHT550 (# 307) | Bell 206A JetRanger | Sri Lanka Air Force
CR575 (# 7001410) | Kamov Ka-26 Hoodlum | Sri Lanka Air Force
Sri Lanka Air Force was using two Hoodlums from 1971 to 1979 in the #4 Helicopter Squadron for passenger transport and medevac. These helicopters were part of a package that the USSR sent to Sri Lanka as aid to fight a 1971 communist insurgency.
CH615 (# 3532421622231) | Mil Mi-24V Hind E | Sri Lanka Air Force
CT102 (# C1/0155) | De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10| Sri Lanka Air Force
Royal Ceylon Air Force ordered Chipmunk in 1950 as a first basic trainer for its pilots. First four arrived in October and were assembled at Katunayake by Ceylon engeneers under guidance of RAF staff. First flights were performed in February 1951. Next five arrived in July 1952 and began flying in November 1952. The last batch was purchased in March 1953.
CT103 (# C1/0156) | De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 | Sri Lanka Air Force
CT107 (# C1/0664) | De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 | Sri Lanka Air Force
CT110 (# C1/0851) | De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT111 (# C1/0856) | De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT123 (# 040/64-003) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT124 (# 041/64-004) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT127 (# 304/60-001) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT128 (# 677/60-005) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka Air Force
CT131 (# 025/64-009) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CT162 (# 471/37-009) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka Air Force
Sri Lanka Air Force were using some SF.260TPs, but in 1990 they purchased twelve former Myanmar SF.260W as cheap option of an aircraft for the primary training role. Aircrafts were locally refurbished and in service till 2001 when they were replaced by new build CJ-6s.
CT166 (# 229/21-05) | SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP | Sri Lanka Air Force
CT183 (# 6432026) | Nanchang PT-6A | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CA302 | Boulton-Paul Balliol T.2 | Sri Lanka Air Force
Two such aircrafts are preserved at SLAF and probably only these two left in one piece in the world. Ceylon purchased 12 such aircraft in 1951 as an intermediate trainer. They were known for being over powered and susceptable to "torque stall" but the pilots loved them for aerobatics.
CA310 (# BP/11C) | Boulton-Paul Sea Balliol T.21 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CA605 (# C1/0155) | FMA IA-58A Pucará | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CC602 (# 148) | Scottish Aviation Pioneer | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CC651 (# 337-01461) | Cessna 337F Super Skymaster | Sri Lanka Air Force
CC656 (# 337-01460) | Cessna 336 Skymaster | Sri Lanka Air Force
CF-712 | IAI Kfir C2 | Sri Lanka - Air Force (dummy)
Only a model of oryginal CF712 (cn 160) from SQ #10 which was written off 21 Jan 97. The model is acting as it is chasing Zlin 905 displayed nearby (photo at the bottom).
CF901 (# 3819/3820) | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI Midget | Sri Lanka Air Force
CF904 | Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-17F Fresco | Sri Lanka Air Force
CF905 (# 3205) | Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-17F Fresco | Sri Lanka Air Force
CJ701 (# PAC/W/5754 06/01) | Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.51 | Sri Lanka Air Force
CJ704 (# PAC/W/5766) | Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.51 | Sri Lanka Air Force
There is a bit of mystery about this registration. Squadron Leader Noel Lokuge (Pilot Officer then) ejected out of CJ 704 and became Martin Baker Tie Club Member No. 57 on 02/01/1960. So this reg is not correct as the real CJ704 is sitting at the bottom of the Negombo lagoon.
CR801 (# 14135) | De Havilland DH-114 Heron | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CR804 (# 14139) | De Havilland DH-114 Heron | Sri Lanka - Air Force
Douglas C-47A Skytrain
Established in 1947, state-owned flag carrier Air Ceylon started operating on domestic and regional routes after acquiring three Dakotas (read more). Airline was replaced by Air Lanka operating jet aircrafts from 1979 and two DC-3 were transferred to SLAF in 1975.
SLAF phased out Dakotas in 1986, but some operators still used them on revenue and cargo flights around the world (more than 11000 of them were buildt 1935-1946). Due to its legendary ruggedness and ability to take off and land on grass or unpaved runways it is still very popular in developing countries.
CR-821 (# 25464/14019) | Douglas C-47A Skytrain | Sri Lanka - Air Force
This one was constructed in Oklahoma and from 24 July 1944 in US Army (43-48203). Then from february 1947 in Air Ceylon with VP-CAS, CY-ACG and 4R-ACG. From 1978 as CR821 in SLAF. March 1993 placed on display at museum. full history
CR822 (# 33556/16808) | Douglas C-47A Skytrain | Sri Lanka - Air Force
This one was constructed in Oklahoma in 1944 for US Army (44-77224). Then from 28 June 1945 in Royal Air Force (KP254). From 2 June 1951 to 11 November 1959 in British European Airways as G-AMJY. Then bought by Air Ceylon as 4R-ACI and from 1975 as CR822 in SLAF. March 1993 placed on display at museum. full history
CR831 (# 1587) | Avro 748 Series 1 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CS402 (# 04464) | De Havilland DH-104 Dove | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CS404 (# 04497) | De Havilland DH-104 Dove | Sri Lanka - Air Force
CS450 (# BA-433) | Beech E18S | Sri Lanka Air Force
CX123 (# 83645) | De Havilland Canada DH-82C Tiger Moth | Sri Lanka - Air Force
Delivered before WWII to the Ceylon Air Academy and used until the 1970s for flight training. Sri Lanka Air Force took it and restored back to flyable condition in 2009. It is currently used for airshows and other displays (as 4R-AAB in civil register).
SFM-721 (# 189) | IAI Kfir C7 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
SFS-735 | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger | Sri Lanka - Air Force
SFT-1301 (# 550718) | Shenyang JJ-5 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
SFT-1302 (# 551021) | Shenyang JJ-5 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
VP-CAO (# 2124) | Auster J1 | Private
Aircraft was bought by James Peter Obeysekara, who served in World War in Europe. Long way home - London to Ratmalana - took him 103,5 hours and 31 stops. Buildt 1947 served till 1971, when it crashed on takeoff during training flight (both occupants killed). Written off, but restored to this condition by museum restoration team.
905 (# 0037) | Zlin 143L | Sky Tigers
On 20 February 2009, about 8:40PM, two aircrafts were detected over Puthukkudiyirippu by radar. This one was shot down by Sri Lanka defence fire on the way to SLAF base at Katunayake. Crashed in marshy area adjacent to air force base, was packed with 210kg of explosives and piloted by LTTE suicide terrorist. Second aircraft was gunned down over Colombo before one hour from detection.
Without photos:
CR867 (#3208) | Sri Lanka - Air Force | Antonov An-32B
One of 10 aircrafts delivered in 1995. These aircraft acted as a 24/7 airbridge supplying the northern bases. One was shotdown by AA fire leading the loss of the crew and all passengers (68). Another crashed in bad weather wih all lives lost (81). Two were damaged in landing and takeoff accidents. The rest have been refurbished and soldier on in peace time with great respect among the SLAF crews.
The cockpit area of this workhorse of the SLAF. # 02 Transport Squadron flew these aircrafts 24/7 in support of ground troops in all kinds of conditions. One was shotdown by AA fire leading the loss of the crew and all passengers (68). Another crashed in bad weather wih all lives lost (81). Two were damaged in landing and takeoff accidents. The rest have been refurbished and soldier on in peace time with great respect among the SLAF crews.
CT-18* | Nanchang CJ-6 | Sri Lanka - Air Force
In 2001, twelve aircrafts were obtained from China and put to service with the #1 Flying Training Wing of the SLAF. These serve as the primary trainer for the cadets. This aircraft has been preserved as part of an art exhibit/memorial made up of written off aircraft.
CT-169 (#228/21-04) | Sri Lanka - Air Force | SIAI-Marchetti SF-260MB
Once used as a trainer aircraft but now incorperated into an art memorial for lost aircraft. At war's end, the SLAF commissioned an artist to make this monument with the cockpit section of An-32B (CR865), one engine and parts from other WFU aircrafts. There are another SF.260 and a CJ-6 here too.
