The Netherlands, with its sweeping expanses of polder landscapes around the Ijsselmeer, devoid of landmarks for the eye
to rest on, is domed by a canopy of blue skies and fluffy clouds. Only the occasional windmill, scattered farmyards and
a line of wind-beaten trees interrupt the panorama as they jut out beneath the frequently dramatic, cloudy sky that
once captivated Vincent van Gogh. Suddenly, a jumbo jet comes into view near the city of Lelystad – and it is no mirage.
Perched seemingly right on the polder meadows, a full-size Boeing 747 greets motorists on the main N302 road, glowing
in the bright blue and white colours of Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM.
The Aviodrome in Lelystad, The Netherlands
By Hans-Leo Richter
Among seagulls and windmills
Hands on the levers of the Boeing 747 – today a child’s dream, tomorrow,
maybe a reality. The Boeing 747-200 on display is one of the top attractions
at the Aviodrome.
Upon closer inspection, visitors spot other aircraft – but
how did they get here, in the middle of the polders? The signpost
right in front of Lelystad regional airport soon solves the mystery –
this is the way to the ‘Aviodrome’. This neologism is the name of
a remarkable aviation museum, a veritable adventure playground
in the world of aviation. Numerous aircraft and myriad other
exhibits from the world of flying pay tribute to the history of
Dutch aeronautics – with a distinct and pleasing focus on the
civilian sector.
The origin of the museum can be found in a collection
that was exhibited back in 1960 at Amsterdam Schiphol, one
of Europe’s largest commercial airports and hubs. It is hardly
surprising that the Schiphol premises soon became too cramped
to accommodate any further additions, and in 2003 the museum
moved to its excellent new site on the flat polders near Lelystad,
in the province of Flevoland.
Visitors take off on a trip through time across more than
6000 square metres – from the heady days of the first ballooning
adventures in the late eighteenth century to the cutting-edge jet
aircraft of modern times.
The museum is divided into several sections. Naturally, the
‘eye-catchers’ are parked outside in the grounds, including the
previously mentioned Boeing 747, a Douglas DC 4 ‘Skymaster’,
a Lockheed ‘Constellation’ and a Fokker 100. The main historic
highlights are presented in a large, modern exhibition hall,
protected from the elements. Other treasures of aviation history
are on show in the adjacent T2 hangar, with the slight drawback
that visitors can only take a look from the catwalk that runs
around the building. This is the aircraft workshop, where one can
watch the restorers hard at work – truly a distinguishing feature
among aviation museums.
The ideal place to start in a logical, chronological sequence
is the airy exhibition hall. Naturally, the first exhibits illuminate the
dawning age of aeronautics, featuring a replica of the Lilienthal
glider as well as a model of the Wright Flyer alongside the histor-
ical Bleriot monoplane from 1909, in which the Frenchman
became the first person to fly across the English Channel.
Image: Aviodrome
The faithfully reconstructed terminal building at Schiphol Airport as
they were in 1928. From the former control tower, visitors overlook
the extensive Aviodrome.
AT THE MUSEUM
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