First aircraft lands at Springs Mining and Military Museum
The first aircraft of three has recently landed at the Springs Military Museum.
Though it has only been around for 18 months, the Springs Mining and Military Museum (MMM) continues to grow.
This museum has recently become home to the Mirage III, which has now become the first aircraft to land at the museum.
According to the founder of the museum, Tony da Cruz, the museum has been lacking airforce displays.
Earlier this year, he approached the South African Air Force Museum at Swartkop, the largest military aviation museum in South Africa.
Both Tony and the SAAF Swartkop museum agreed that Springs would be a feeder for airforce displays, which could lead to more attraction to Swartkop for more airforce pieces.
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Over the past few months, legal processes and agreements were completed between these two museums before the Mirage III was uploaded and moved.
“Moving an airforce display is a very logistical task because the engine, tail and wings have to be removed and reassembled on site,” Tony said.
The Mirage III is 15m long and weighs approximately 10 tons. It is currently still in several pieces but is in the process of being assembled.
Soon the SAAF Swartkop Museum will also provide the Springs MMM with an Impala jet.
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According to Tony, the Dunnottar Harvard, which was supposed to move earlier in May, will still make its way to the Mining and Military Museum.
“We don’t want to go crazy with the number of aircraft but after these three are mounted, we might get small exhibits such as engines, missiles and drop tanks.”
“I think it gives the museum gravitas and will be taken more seriously with our new airforce displays.”
The idea behind the Springs MMM has always been to establish it as a national significance and something worth visiting. The museum’s fence will soon have to be altered as more exhibits are landing.
“For now, we are excited about the restoration work on these aircraft; hopefully we can mount them on a pole soon and start a new phase for the museum.”
