Santiago - Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio

For aviation enthusiasts visiting Santiago, the Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio offers a rewarding deep dive into Chile’s aviation history. The museum is located on the grounds of the former Los Cerrillos Airport, giving the entire site a fittingly authentic atmosphere. Founded in 1944, the institution preserves the development of Chilean aviation, from early experimental aircraft to Cold War fighters and modern equipment used by the Chilean Air Force. It may not be the largest aviation museum in the world, but it offers a fascinating snapshot of aviation history in South America. We visited the museum in 2024.

The collection includes several notable Chilean aircraft, and most of it is accessible to visitors. That said, some parts of the collection are not open to the public but can be viewed from a distance, such as the LAN-Chile Boeing 707. Additionally, a separate hall houses several jets but is only accessible at designated times upon request.

There are several highlights, including the Fairchild-Hiller (Fokker) FH-227 Friendship, multiple Cessna A-37 Dragonfly aircraft, and a variety of smaller propeller-driven planes. The museum also features several foreign aircraft, such as an American F-4D Phantom, a French SEPECAT Jaguar, a British Harrier, and an Aerolíneas Argentinas DC-3.

All in all, the museum offers an impressive collection of aircraft and is a must-visit for any aviation enthusiast traveling to South America.