Slovácké letecké muzeum

The Aviation Museum in Kunovice sits right next to the local airport in the Slovácko region of eastern Moravia, and it's one of the most rewarding stops for anyone interested in aviation history. The museum was founded in 1970 by members of the Slovácko Aero Club, Alois Hráček and Jiří Marek, who wanted to preserve the story of the region's aircraft industry. The collection was originally kept in a hard-to-reach location, but in 1991 it moved right next to the Slovácko Aero Club grounds, where it remains today.

What will you see there?

Since the 1930s, Kunovice has been one of the region's key centers of aircraft manufacturing, and the museum exists to document that legacy. The permanent exhibition includes several dozen military, transport and sport aircraft, more than half of which were actually built at the local aviation works. Among them are genuine one-of-a-kind machines and prototypes you won't find anywhere else.

Most of the aircraft stand outdoors — air taxis, sport planes, passenger and transport aircraft, military machines, and a helicopter. A small hangar houses the indoor part of the exhibition: the Aero L-39 ZA Albatros light fighter jet, the Zlín Z-126 Trenér II training aircraft, and the Sojka III TVM unmanned aircraft.

Two machines in particular carry remarkable stories. The Tupolev Tu-154M, nicknamed the "Nagano Express," flew the Czech ice hockey team home after their Olympic gold medal in Nagano in 1998. A Yak-40, meanwhile, is the aircraft that brought Pope John Paul II to Kunovice in 1990.

What is a visit like?

One of the museum's biggest draws is that there are essentially no barriers between visitors and the exhibits. A single admission ticket lets you look inside many of the aircraft cabins and even listen to recorded radio communication between flight crews and the airport tower. That hands-on approach gives the visit a genuinely authentic, working-airfield feel that appeals equally to aviation enthusiasts and to families with children.

How to get there?

The museum is located at Letecká 1383 in Kunovice, right beside the airport and the Slovácko Aero Club. It's a convenient stop for anyone exploring the Uherské Hradiště area and the wider Moravian Slovakia region, and it pairs well with a visit to the nearby towns that make this part of Moravia so popular with tourists.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum operates seasonally. From April to October it's open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with extended hours until 20:00 in July and August. From November to March, the museum is closed to visitors, so spring, summer or early autumn are the best times to plan a trip. The last admission is always 30 minutes before closing time.

Frequently asked questions

How many aircraft can you see at the museum? The permanent collection includes several dozen aircraft — military, transport, passenger and sport planes — including unique prototypes built at the local aviation works.

Can you go inside the aircraft? Yes. One of the museum's main attractions is that there are no barriers between visitors and the exhibits, so a single ticket lets you look inside the cabins of many aircraft.

What are the most famous aircraft in the collection? The best-known are the Tupolev Tu-154M "Nagano Express," which flew the Czech national ice hockey team home after their 1998 Olympic gold medal, and the Yak-40 that carried Pope John Paul II to Kunovice in 1990.

Is the museum open year-round? No. It's open seasonally from April to October, with extended summer hours in July and August, and it's closed from November through March.