Visit at the Riga Aviation Museum

Before leaving Riga, I visited an "open-air" museum that is located near the Riga International Airport. The entrance costs 5 euro, and it offers an exciting walk-through with various types of planes, helicopters, equipment etc. During the time of Soviet Union according to the museum guide/worker whom I spoke to the aviation of the Soviet navy and its "Baltic Fleet" were located in Riga. The museum artefacts were once used during the time of the Cold War, and some of the planes and helicopters such as MiG-29 and Mi-8 are still being used today by armed or civilian organisations around the world. 

Mi-6 transport helicopter called Hook on NATO call-sign with transportation possibilities for 65-90 persons depending on the situation. Compare the size of the helicopter with my little "frendo". 

Inside in the helicopter, since it was the only artefact at the museum that was possible to enter. 

It was enough space in the helicopter that it could be transformed into a flat. Some explanation down below on Latvian, Russian and English. 

Mi-2 Hoplite helicopter. 

Mi-8 Hip helicopter used for transport but that even could be armed and used as attack helicopter. 

 

Mi-1 Hare helicopter was a training helicopter. 

Mig-29 Fulcrum multi-role fighter jet that still is used by air forces around the world. This version was two seated and called UB which in Russian stands for "combat trainer". 

Mig-27 Flogger ground attack aeroplane that was mostly produced during the 70's. 

The 30-mm automatic cannon for MiG-27. 

 Mig-25 Foxbat. This version was RBS which stands for  "high speed reconnaissance airplane". Also made mostly during the 70's. 

The MiG-23 that was similar to MiG 27 and also called Flogger. This was a multi-role version. 

The following pictures show the different types of MiG-21 Fishbed that already were made at the end of 50's and used in the Vietnam war and so-called Arab-Israeli wars in the 60's and 70's. Among the oldest aeroplanes at the museum. 

 The version on the right was a modernized version of the original MiG-21. 

 The oldest jet at the museum. The MiG-15 Fagot which already was used during the Korean War -1950-1953. This one was used as a trainer aeroplane.  

Firetruck used by the Soviet Air Force. Just look at the size of the water cannon. 

Su-7 Fitter. The plane was used for ground attack missions but this version was a two-seat combat trainer. 

 It looks nasty but this is actually a reconnaissance plane called 
Yak-28 R Firebar. Little bit ugly design for my taste. 

 Aero L-13 Blanik. It was a training glider and the only one of its kind at the museum. 

Ka-26 Hoodlum multi-role helicopter. This one was a civil version used by Aeroflot.

  

 A real "fighting fortress" still used by armed forces around the world. The Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter but also with the possibility to transport 8 persons. 

Thanks for making me company my "frendo".