Aeronautical Museum Methodius Vlach

The Metoděj Vlach Aviation Museum in Mladá Boleslav is one of the more unusual attractions in a city otherwise best known as the home of the Škoda car factory. Standing on the northern edge of the local airfield, it has drawn aviation fans and families looking for a hands-on day out ever since it opened.

Who was Metoděj Vlach?

The museum takes its name from Metoděj Vlach, a local aviation enthusiast who, back in 1912, built his own aircraft powered by a car engine. In 2001 a foundation was set up in his memory with the goal of documenting and preserving the region's aviation heritage. That effort eventually produced the museum building itself, designed by the studio Hlaváček – architekti and opened to the public in spring 2015. The architecture was recognized even before the doors opened, winning the Building of the Year award in 2014.

What is there to see?

What sets this place apart from a typical technology museum is its self-description as a "living museum." Rather than static aircraft locked behind glass, visitors find historical planes and their replicas that are still airworthy, some of which appear in flying displays. The collection runs to more than 25 aircraft, spanning machines built over a century of aviation history — from early pioneering designs to contemporary planes — which makes it possible to trace how flight technology evolved decade by decade.

Interactivity is central to the experience. Guests can take the controls of simulators modeled on World War I-era aircraft to get a feel for what flying was like in the earliest days of aviation. There are also stations that let visitors experience the g-forces of aerial maneuvers, plus a parachute jump simulation — attractions that tend to be especially popular with younger visitors, though plenty of adults line up to try them too.

How to get there and when to visit?

The museum sits right on the grounds of Mladá Boleslav airfield, on the town's northern edge, making it easy to combine with a visit to the town center or the nearby Škoda Museum. It's open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, closed only during the Christmas week between the holidays — a notable advantage over many regional museums that shut down on weekdays or outside peak season.

Plan on spending at least an hour and a half to two hours if you want to see the exhibits and try the simulators. The museum works well as a stop on a trip through northern Bohemia, particularly for families with children interested in technology and flight.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors actually try things out, or is it just a display of exhibits? Trying things out is one of the museum's main draws. There are flight simulators modeled on World War I aircraft, stations for experiencing the g-forces of aerial maneuvers, and a parachute jump simulation.

How many aircraft are in the collection? The collection includes more than 25 aircraft, combining historical machines and their replicas with contemporary planes.

Is the museum open year-round? Yes, it's open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with the only closure being Christmas week at the end of December.

Who was Metoděj Vlach, the museum's namesake? He was a local aviation enthusiast from Mladá Boleslav who built his own car-engine-powered aircraft in 1912. A foundation was established in his memory in 2001, and it was that foundation's initiative that eventually led to the museum's creation.