The HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum is India's first aerospace museum located at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited premises Bangalore. The Museum houses a collection of aircraft, plus a gallery of rare photographs that chronicles the history of aircraft manufacturing and aviation industry in India since its inception.
This is the second largest public aviation museum in the country with ten aircraft and two mockups. It is a rare display of sorts, first of its kind and unique in its nature.
A visit to the Heritage centre is a most spectacular feast for the eyes, unseen anywhere in the country. HAL has given Bangalore an unique status City of Aeronautics.
The Museum was opened on August 31st, 2001 by the then Chairman of HAL, Dr. K D Nair. The museum with its collection of ten aircraft and two mockups can claim to be the second largest public aviation museum in the country, next only to the IAF Museum in palam with its 40+ aircraft.
There are two main display halls / buildings. The visitor has several galleries to choose from. Most of the aircraft are displayed outside the main building. The two exceptions are the HUL-26 Pushpak and the HAL Basant which are inside the Hall 2.
The Hall 1 is a circular building with seven galleries chronicling HAL through the years. In Hall No. 1, each of the rooms takes you down a bygone era from 1940, showing the growth of the Indian aviation industry, and HAL's achievements and progress over the years. Back in the 1940s, Bangalore was one of the important centres which serviced and repaired the aircraft of the Allied Forces engaged in World War II. Visitors can trace aviation history through photographs, special stamps, and models of aircraft and even space vehicles. Each gallery has metal models of the aircraft from that decade on display. Several photo mosaics illustrating HAL's expertise in Trainer aircraft, Combat aircraft, Transport Aircraft are also seen.
Hall 2 has a small hall where two aircraft, the HUL-26 Pushpak and the HA-31 Basant are on display. There are several models of aero engines on display including a radial engine from a Dakota. Several models of aircraft are also on display here. Hall 2 also hosts a couple of flight simulators running PC Flight sims to give the visitor a feel of what it is sitting in a cockpit.
The most enjoyable experience in the hall 2 is the Air Traffic Control building. A charge of Rs 10 is levied from the visitor to go to level 3 where a dummy ATC has been built. The ATC gives a clear view of the Bangalore airport. With aircraft taking off every hour, the ATC is a good experience. Here again, the obssesiveness of Indian security agencies shows. Cameras are not allowed beyond Level two as taking photographs of the airport are considered "Detrimental to the security".
A trip to Bangalore will be incomplete without a visit to the Heritage Centre. A visit to the Heritage Centre takes you into a new world of Aerospace and speaks volumes about the technological growth of our nation.
An audio visual at the lounge shows you HAL's contribution in our country's Aerospace programs. One will be taken to dizzy heights by looking at the magnificent aircraft on static display at the Museum.
Models of GSLV and PSLV Satellite launch vehicles are also exhibited. The Museum also houses a small souvenir shop that sells mementos, postcards and posters. There are also aircraft simulators, air traffic control towers and an aero-modeling club. An air control building is also available in the museum.
ENTRY FEES:
- Visitors Rs 20/- per head
- Camera Charges Rs 25/-
- Video Camera Charges Rs 45/-
- For HAL Employees Rs 10 per head
- ATC and Flight Simulator Rs 10
VISITING HOURS:
- The Museum open to public from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- It is closed on Monday and National Holidays.
HOW TO REACH HAL HERITAGE CENTRE?
- The HAL Aerospace musuem located at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited premises, on old-airport road, towards Marathahalli,
- To reach the HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum, you have to take the Airport-Varthur Road and go past the HAL Helicopter Division.
- You can reach here by auto rickshaw or your vehicle.
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