Air Force One Museum of Yogyakarta (Museum Dirgantara Mandala)

The Indonesian Air Force has an excellent but little known air museum in Yogyakarta called the Museum Dirgantara Mandala. The museum is located behind the main Yogyakarta airport. All aircraft are under cover and beautifully maintained in static condition. A tribute to the curator who must work with a very limited budget. Included are a Badger bomber complete with air-to-ground missiles, Catalina flying boat, Grumman flying boat, Auster MkII, Lavochkin LA-11, PZL-104 Wilga, Mitsubishi Army type 98, Nakajima KI43 Oscar, Zero, Mustang, NA16/AT-6, Vultee Valiant, B25, B26, C47, Hillier 360, DH114 Vampire, Sikorsky UH34D, Boeing Stearman, MIG15, MIG17, MIG19, MIG21, MI4, L-29 Dolphin, CAC F-86 Avon Sabre and T-33A.

The museum also has excellent well maintained displays of missiles, radar and aircraft related equipment as well as model displays telling the history of the Indonesian Air Force and the fight against the Japanese and Dutch.

A check of the visitors book revealed that only locals and school children visited. Admission was by Rp10,000 or larger donation. The museum is supposedly open every day from 8am to 1pm except Friday (Islamic holy day) and public holidays. The museum is mostly manned by volunteers and as such may be closed when none can be found. The guard at the gate requires a bond such as your driver’s licence or credit card before allowing you to enter as the museum is on the Air Force base at Yogyakarta.