The plan is for its gradual restoration to the state it was in six decades ago. „The aircraft has been on display outside since 1981, and the last partial renovation took place in 2008,“ recalls museum guide Otomar Šimák. However, since then, despite all the care from the museum staff, the machine has significantly deteriorated due to weather conditions.
„The paint on the entire surface has degraded to such an extent that it no longer serves its protective function. The cabin cover is in a similar condition. The aluminum skins and parts of the internal structure are affected by corrosion. In the first phase, it will be necessary to disassemble the aircraft, remove the old covering and paint, and treat the areas affected by corrosion. This phase should be completed by the end of this year,“ explains Hrabec.
The next phases include sheet metal work, covering it with fabric, renovating the interior, restoring the engine, painting work, and reassembling the aircraft. It should be completed by the end of 2026. At the latest, the machine should return to the exhibition the following year.
„The limiting factors are time and money; however, we have everything planned so that the repairs can be completed on time. We would of course like to start the second phase this year, but our plan also accounts for it being next year. We will see how the first phase progresses and how we manage to secure funding,“ added Hrabec.
For the first phase of restoration, the museum received significant financial support from the Ministry of Culture, which supported the project with a grant of over 260,000 as part of the integrated system for the protection of movable cultural heritage. The museum will contribute over 100,000 to the project. „We are very grateful for this assistance. Financing everything from our own resources would be very challenging for us,“ emphasizes the museum director.
We hope and believe that the Ministry of Culture and potential partners will again provide financial assistance for the next phase, so that museum visitors can enjoy the exhibit as soon as possible.
