The Aerospace Museum of the Bolivian Air Force (Museo Aeroespacial de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana) is an aviation museum located at El Alto International Airport in El Alto, La Paz, Bolivia. Established in 2015, the museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing Bolivia’s rich aviation history.
Museo Aeroespacial de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana
El Alto
museoaeroespacialfab5@gmail.com
+591-22845586, +591-71563125, +591-72020001
Visiting Hours:
- Monday to Friday:
- Morning: 09:00 – 12:30
- Afternoon: 14:30 – 18:30
- Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: Visits can be arranged upon request.
Aircraft collection
| FAB-740
FAB-747 FAB-103 FAB-921 FAB-700 FAB-140 FAB-301 FAB-72 TAM-01/TAM-16 FAB-90 – FAB-X02 TAM-01 FAB-636 FAB-503 FAB-362 FAB-411 FAB-452 FAB-028 FAB-016 FAB-161 | Aerospatiale HB315B Lama
Aerospatiale 3160 Alouette III BAe 146-200 Beech VT-34A Mentor Bell UH-1H Iroquois Cessna 152 Cessna U206G Caravan Convair 580 Douglas C-47 Dakota Fokker F.27-400M Troopship IAI 201 Arava Lancair 360 Lockheed L-188A Electra Lockheed T-33A-F Neiva N 621 (T-25) Universal North American T-6D Texan North American T-28A Trojan Pilatus PC-7 Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander Stearman C3R/PT-17 Kaydet Uirapuru T-23 Zarapa |
History and Mission
The origins of the Museo Aeroespacial de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana date back to 1958 when Amalia Villa de la Tapia, Bolivia’s first female pilot, began collecting artifacts related to the nation’s aviation heritage. Her efforts laid the foundation for the Bolivian Air Force’s Historical Collection. In 1985, historian Ramiro Molina Alanes assumed curatorship of the collection. Initially housed at the air force headquarters starting in 2001, the collection found its permanent home at El Alto International Airport in 2015.
Exhibits and Collections
The Museo Aeroespacial de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana boasts an extensive array of aircraft and aviation artifacts, including:
- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet: A biplane used for training purposes.
- North American T-6D Texan: A renowned training aircraft.
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain: A military transport aircraft.
- Lockheed T-33A: A jet trainer aircraft.
- Pilatus PC-7: A turboprop training aircraft.
- Beechcraft VT-34A Mentor: Another notable trainer aircraft.
- Bell UH-1H Iroquois: A versatile utility helicopter.
- Aérospatiale Alouette III: A light utility helicopter.
- IAI 201 Arava: A short takeoff and landing transport aircraft.
- Neiva T-25 Universal: A Brazilian-made trainer aircraft.
In addition to aircraft, the Museo Aeroespacial de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana features a collection of engines, propellers, and other aviation-related equipment, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of Bolivia’s aeronautical evolution.