Civil Aviation

During the twentieth century, aviation in all its segments developed to unimaginable proportions. Once unimaginable and unreal, it has become a tangible reality for people. Aviation became a branch of human activity that changed the world. 

The national Air force did not lag behind the world. Following the trends, aviation first became recognized and then became an integral part of state policy. The development of the aviation industry raised the country to a significant level on the international scene. By intertwining and complementing two important aspects, military and civil aviation, a potential was created that was reflected in the modern, strong, organized work and development of aviation from its beginnings until today. Precisely thanks to such a comprehensive development of the national aviation, the possibility of creating an Aeronautical Museum with a diverse fund that includes all segments of aviation was created and used.

The history of civil aviation is one of the foundations of the entire collection of the Aeronautical Museum, providing a multitude of material testimonies significant for the origin and development of our aviation. Through objects, photos and archives, we get to know the history of civil aviation, which is more than a century long.

The collection follows several important themes: The pioneering period of the national Air force from the beginning of the twentieth century to the Great War; Development of the aviation industry; Air traffic, as well as significant personalities who influenced the creation and development of aviation through their work. Each segment is of special importance and each contains important museum materials that are characterized by diversity, richness and rarity.

The objects stored in the collection of the history of civil aviation represent an inexhaustible source in the study of the history of domestic aviation and the review of all relevant facts in that process. The oldest item in the collection is a part of the rib of the Merćep-Rusjan airplane from 1911, which was taken by Strahinja Ban Nušić from the crash site of Edvard Rusjan's plane and dedicated to the future Aeronautical Museum.