A Forgotten Aviation Playground Hidden in the Czech Countryside
✈️ Air Park Zruč: A Forgotten Aviation Playground Hidden in the Czech Countryside
If you love aviation museums, unusual travel spots, or places that feel like they shouldn't even exist – then Air Park Zruč near Plzeň will be one of the most surprising discoveries of your entire trip to Czechia. This privately-owned outdoor museum is not polished, commercial or shiny. Instead, it's raw, authentic, wonderfully chaotic… and absolutely unforgettable.
Hidden on the edge of a small town, surrounded by quiet fields and forests, Air Park Zruč looks like a secret aviation graveyard — a place where abandoned aircraft come to rest. But once you step through the gate, you realize it's much more than that. It's the life's work of passionate collectors who spent more than 30 years saving aircraft, tanks and other machines from being scrapped.
Visiting Air Park is like walking through time: the Cold War, the Soviet era, and early Czech aviation all lie scattered around you, sometimes only a few metres apart.
The Story: From One Helicopter to a Unique Private Museum
The museum officially began in 1992, when its founders brought the very first exhibit onto a snowy meadow – a huge Mi-8 helicopter. Instead of fading into the ground or being recycled as scrap metal, it became the nucleus of what would later grow into one of the most unusual private collections in the country.
Over the years, more aircraft arrived: fighters, transport planes, helicopters and even a government Tupolev TU-154M, once used for official state flights. Today, the museum covers dozens of machines and several types of military equipment. Some items are refurbished, others are worn and sun- bleached — but that's part of the charm. Nothing here feels artificial.
You don't walk through sterile exhibition halls with touchscreens. You wander between massive metal giants standing freely under the sky.
What You Will See
Air Park Zruč is divided into two main areas:
1. The Public Zone
Here you'll find the largest aircraft and vehicles, many of which you can walk right next to. The stars of the collection include:
Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters
Various Soviet-era fighters
The iconic TU-154M government aircraft
Armoured personnel carriers, tanks and artillery
Several refurbished replicas and restored aircraft
Everything is outdoors, so you experience the machines in full size, with the smell of grass and wind around you. You don't just look at them — you feel their presence.
2. The "Special Zone"
Reserved mainly for enthusiasts, photographers and aviation fans, this area features additional machines, technical parts and pieces waiting for restoration. It's the "backstage" of the museum.
For many visitors, this zone feels like the most magical part — messy, real, and fascinating.
The Atmosphere: Why This Place Feels So Different
Most aviation museums are clean and strictly organized. Air Park Zruč is the opposite — and that's exactly why people fall in love with it.
There's something poetic about seeing a giant helicopter resting between trees or watching sunlight fall through a broken cockpit window. You'll hear birds, not loud crowds. You'll find yourself touching metal that once flew thousands of kilometres above the ground.
It's a place where history isn't hidden behind glass. It's out there in the open, aging, rusting, surviving.
For photographers, this museum is a dream. For kids, it's an adventure playground. For travelers who enjoy unusual spots, it's a true hidden gem.
Where Is It and How to Visit
Location: Zruč-Senec, just 10 minutes north of Plzeň and 1 hour from Prague.
Parking: Right next to the entrance.
Type: Outdoor museum – expect grass, open space and natural terrain.
The visit usually takes 1–1.5 hours, but photographers often stay longer.
Because the collection is outdoors, the best time to visit is from spring to early autumn. In winter, some areas may be muddy or closed depending on weather.
⭐ Why You Should Go
If you enjoy destinations like abandoned factories, forgotten fortresses, Cold War bunkers or strange museums with character, Air Park Zruč will be absolutely your style. It's one of those places few tourists ever hear about — yet everyone who visits leaves with a smile and great photos.
And for travellers from the Netherlands who love discovering something non-touristy and authentic, this place is an easy winner.