A Big Part of a Bigger Whole
The Brno Technical Museum, in the Czech Republic’s second-largest city, is home to a large collection of exhibits highlighting the country’s rich scientific and technical history. Beyond the museum’s main building in the northern suburbs of Brno, several technical sites throughout the South Moravian region also fall under the museum’s authority.
Czechs have contributed to aviation almost since the dawn of powered flight, so it’s only fitting that the museum devotes part of its floor space to the science of flight. Aviation exhibits are scattered around the museum’s main building, though visitors will no doubt first have their attention caught by the Let L-200 Morava aircraft and HC-102 helicopter, both suspended in the museum’s atrium.
The Power to Fly
The ground floor of the museum is largely dedicated to engines of various types, so it’s quite appropriate to find the museum’s collection of aircraft engines on this level as well.
This exhibit shows a range of aircraft engines spanning the early piston-engine era right through to modern jet and turboprop engines. It’s genuinely fascinating to take in the evolutionary stages of the different engine types.
Most of the engines are displayed in cutaway format, allowing you to see their inner workings.
A Trip Outside
Behind the museum building, you’ll find a selection of preserved aircraft that you can get remarkably close to. The collection comprises both military and civilian types. The aircraft on display can vary, as the museum has a partnership with the Kunovice Aviation Museum and sometimes exchanges aircraft with it.
I’d recommend exercising a bit of care if you choose to take a close look under the aircraft. While there’s nothing stopping you from exploring them up close, there are few, if any, warning signs regarding sharp surfaces such as landing gear door edges and so on.
Much More than Aircraft
There’s a great deal more to see at the Brno Technical Museum than just the aircraft exhibits. Czech contributions to science and technology through the ages have been diverse and significant and deserve appreciation. This museum is a brilliant place to learn more about those achievements.
The museum is easily accessible by Brno’s public transport and should definitely not be missed if you’re at all technically inclined and visiting the city.
Learning More
- Brno Technical Museum Article at Beyond Prague—This link will take you to Beyond Prague, my website about the Czech Republic, and a fuller write up of what you can find at the Brno Technical Museum’s main building in Brno
- Brno Technical Museum website—This link will take you to the official website of the museum, where you can find out about operating hours and the Larger collection.
Pickled Wings 