Tourism
of Goa
Museums
of Goa
Naval
Museum India's
one and only Naval Aviation Museum is situated along the Vasco-Bogmalo road
barely six kilometres from the port city of Vasco-da-Gama.
This
Naval Aviation Museum established in Oct'1998 is the only one of its kind in
the whole of Asia. May be perhaps, it has not received the publicity it
rightly deserves and hence remained unvisited and unseen by many Goans
Situated
atop a plateau overlooking the wide expanse of the Arabian Sea where from
you can get to see the Bogmalo Beach, the Naval Aviation Museum is divided
into two sections, one that is out-door in the open air and the other that
is housed indoors.
As one enters the Main Gate, one is welcomed by
the site of the huge 'Super Constellation' standing like a sentinel keeping
a watch over the entire place. This Aircraft was first used by the Indian
airlines for transporting passengers, later on it was passed on to the Air
Force for use as a transport craft. Thereafter the Navy borrowed the same
from the Air Force and till now lies in their custody, though
de-commissioned.
As you walk into the outdoor section of the
museum you are greeted on the left by the display of the various Aircraft
engines like the Sea Hawk, Helicopter engine, Sealand Aircrafty engine and
an old Fire Engine too used by the Navy in the early 60's. As you move a
little further there are the seven different aircraft on display.
The
seven types of aircraft are
- the Sea Harrier, a single sitter Jet
Fighter used as a reconnaissance aircraft
- the Dove, a twin engine
aircraft was used for light transportation and a variety of other roles
- the Sealand, plays a dual role of plying on land as well as on the
sea
- the Seahawk, a single sitter single Engine Jet Fighter
- the
Vampire, a small bodied side-by-side 2 sitter fighter trainer
- the
Hughes, a two seater helicopter with side-by-side seating
- the Alize,
a 3 seater carrier borne anti-submarine and reconnnaisance aircraft
As
you enter the indoor section of the museum one gets the feeling that you are
entering the aircraft carrier INS Viraat itself. Since on either sides of
the corridor are neat paintings of the interiors of the Viraat thereby
creating a natural ambience as though one is at sea on board the Viraat. The
other rooms too are planned with the ship in mind.
First on your
left is the room where all armaments are on neat display. Here you come in
close contact with torpedoes, bombs of varying sizes, rockets, war heads,
missiles, depth chargers etc.
As you come out of the armament room
you are faced with the 'Sonobuoy Room'. Sonobuoys are Sensors that are used
by Aircraft for detection of underwater enemy targets.
The
Suraksha Room has on display the various gadgets and protection gear used by
the naval personnel while at sea and in air in the event of any dangers and
eventuality. Items on display here are the floating dingy , the parachute,
Fighter Pilots's Ejection Seat, Pilot's outfit etc.
A little
further there is the Multimedia Room, which houses the simulator. Here the
children and adults too can have a first hand experience of the Jet Fighter
cockpit in a simulator.
While you walk along the corridor admiring
the beauty of the place you notice "Shradhanjali" the granite slab
adorning the wall paying tributes to all the men in uniform who laid down
their lives while flying for their motherland from the year 1958 to 1997.
Adjacent to this is the heart of the museum, the "Hall of
Silence". This is the Meditation Room. The place is serene, cool and
calm. Richly done up in granite, a beautiful painting in blue colour
brightly lit adorns one wall.
The bigger hall has the photo
gallery where old photos are on display profiling the Naval Aviation History
from 1959 onwards in pictures and footnotes. Black and White Photos of "Operation
Vijay" during the liberation of Goa are also on display.
On
your visit to the Museum do not forget to step into the small Museum
Souvenir Shop. It stocks various items from pens to key chains, leather
wallets, and caps and T-Shirts too and pick up a memento or two to remind
you of your visit to this beautiful landmark.
The Naval Aviation
Museum is worth going miles to see for it's a source of knowledge and
inspiration to youngsters to instill in them the love to join the defense
forces. It is best to plan the visit to the Museum in such a manner so as to
wind it up with a picnic at the scenic picnic spot at 'Hollant Beach' just
about two kilometres from this point.
The Museum remains open from
10.00 am. To 5.00 p.m. on all days except Mondays. The entrance ticket is
Rs. 15/- per adult and Rs. 5/- per child.
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