A Visit to the Israeli Air Force Museum
Story and photos by Del Laughery
Just west of Be’er Sheva, Israel, is a little known but extensive collection of aircraft located at the edge of Hatserim Air Base, known as the Israeli Air Force Museum. As with all things outdoors in Israel, everything is covered with the fine desert dust for which southern Israel is famous, but visitors quickly get past this fact and pay attention to the collection itself which was established in 1977 and opened to the public in 1991. Walking along the rows of combat aircraft originating from Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany, which, when cobbled together formed an air force, it’s easy to get a feeling for the fight that this country has been in since its independence in 1948, for indeed since that very moment Israel has dealt with what are effectively consecutive conflicts and openly hostile neighbors.
World War II types are well represented among this collection. No less than three Supermarine Spitfires Mk IXs – one in flyable condition – are represented as are two North American P-51D Mustangs and two North American Harvards. What will catch your eye, though, is the Avia S-199, a Messerschmidt BF-109 constructed in Czechoslovakia from parts and designs remaining from Luftwaffe production during the war. The S-199 was Israel’s first combat aircraft and went to war immediately following assembly from loose parts in shipping containers.
Late 1940s and early 1950s types are also found in abundance. Five marks of the Gloster Meteor are parked near each other, with another used as a gate guard, as is a Boeing KC-97 “Masada”, a type that is immediately distinguishable as the worlds first mass-produced aerial refueling aircraft. Also, a Nord Noratlass stands well above a number of Dassault Mystere, Super Mystere, and Ouragan fighters as well as De Havilland types like the Vampire and the Venom.
More recent types are also represented. No less than six F-4 Phantom IIs are on display near other McDonnell-Douglass types like an A-4 and F-15. Also highly visible is the large collection of Mirage III and Mirage-based Kfir fighters. Yes, sir, if delta wings are your thing, this museum is for you! Very noticeable, also, is the IAI Lavi, a home-grown 4th generation fighter that caused great upheaval at home due to its enormous cost as well as consternation within the U.S. Government due to potential competition with American aircraft on the export market. The second of the three prototypes is on display.
Captured and shot-down enemy aircraft are heavily factored into the museum’s display. Various marks of Mikoyan designs are present; a shot-down MiG-15, a MiG-17 that mistakenly landed in Israel, and a Mig-21 and MiG-23 both carrying defecting pilots to name a few, as are the remains of an SU-7 shot down in 1967.
With over 150 aircraft in the collection, it would be easy to overlook the most interesting aspect of the museum. At the north and northeast edges are earthen berms that border the museum. I’d encourage you to climb the berm and look over the top, for there you will see dozens of retired A-4s, F-4s, and Mirage types. You cannot walk out to them, otherwise an irate IAF Security Forces solder with a loaded M-16 will quickly seek you out and explain, in no uncertain terms, why your decision to do so was a bad idea, but there is a certain cool factor to being able to view these aircraft all bunched together as they await whatever fate has in store for them.
So, if you find yourself wandering through southern Israel some day, factor in some time for this great museum. While currently closed for improvements, it will open again in October, 2023.
