A Neat Airplane Museum just outside Zürich
The Flieger Flab Museum in Dübendorf, Switzerland
Just on the edge of Zürich, on the grounds of the Dübendorf Air Base, you'll find the Swiss Air Force Museum (German: Flieger Flab Museum), a neat airplane museum with a very comprehensive exhibition in two huge halls with a collection spanning from the early 1900s to the 1990s.
Founded in 1972, through the display of aircraft and other military equipment, the museum roughly chronicles the development of the Swiss Air Force from its beginning up to the '90s (or so). The museum boasts over 40 airplanes and helicopters spanning the 20th century. From seeing the shockingly brittle-looking pioneering wood & canvas biplanes, to supersonic Cold War-era interceptors, the museum gives you a great overview of the blisteringly fast evolution of aviation over the past 120 years. There's a lot to look at!
For good measure, there's also an entire hall dedicated to anti-aircraft equipment and technologies. This is the "Flab" in Flieger Flab Museum. Flab is a Swiss-German contraction of "Fliegerabwehr" (meaning: air defense). Used for anti-aircraft targeting, they have one of those sprawling computers clocking in at a massive 2.3 MHz that takes up a bunch of floor space and makes you appreciate your iPhone (and Moore's Law).
Some highlights from the museum's collection include a Messerschmitt Bf 109, a Dassault Mirage IIIS, a North American P-51D Mustang, a Northrop F-5, as well as a few Swiss-made prototypes and planes like the EFW N-20 Aiguillon, the FFA P-16, the EKW C-36, and a few from Pilatus.
Throughout the museum you'll also find a large scattering of engines which are a ton of fun to explore and examine up close. From turboprops, turbojets, turbofans, a ramjet, and turboshafts. Did I mention they have a few helicopters, too!?
The 15 CHF adult entrance fee is well worth it. Large, spacious open halls make for good accessibility, and make it easy to keep social distancing. It's a great place for children—plenty of room to run around and some aircraft you can climb into.
Do note that the English signage on the objects is not great. However, it's not too big an obstacle, as most of the signage focuses on airplane stats—which you can figure out even if you don't speak German. The museum has an online virtual tour if you're not sure.
The Swiss Air Force Museum is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon, even for those only moderately interested in airplanes. There is a ton to look at and explore in the huge spacious halls - you'll feel that you got your money's worth!
Key Info
Entry fee
Children (6 to 16 years): CHF 6
Adults: CHF 15
Hours
Tuesday - Friday: 13:30 - 17:00
Saturday: 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 13:00 - 17:00
Plan to spend about 3 hours.
Getting there
Address: Ueberlandstrasse 271, 8600 Dübendorf
There is ample parking on site.
By public transportation take an S9/S14 S-train to Dübendorf station and walk 10 minutes down Ueberlandstrasse along the train tracks (which makes for some fun train watching!). Alternatively, take Bus 752/754 from Stettbach station and get off at the Dübendorf, Bettlistrasse stop. It's a 10 min walk from there.
Further details available on the English website.
This article is part of my 30 days / 30 articles challenge where I've attempted to write thirty articles within thirty days.