Overview of the EAF Museum above the Il-14

When Spain abandoned the HA-300 project in 1960, Egypt took it over from Hispano Aviación. The design team, headed by Willy Messerschmitt, moved to Helwan in Egypt to continue its work on the aircraft, albeit ambitious and costly. The first of three, powered by a Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus turbojet, flew in March 1964. The aircraft displayed here, the third and last, used an indigenous E-300 engine produced in Egypt but problems with testing and take-off runs meant it never actually flew. The project was finally abandoned in 1969.

Displayed inside is this MiG-21PFM. Originally delivered around 1972

As it moved away from relying on Soviet types, the Egyptian Air Force acquired around 100 Mirage 5s in a variety of marks - 5SDD, 5DE, 5DR and 5E. Most were second-hand from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They have now all been withdrawn from service although the Mirage 2000 continues to operate. In 2022 Pakistan was negotiating with Egypt to obtain 36 surplus Mirage 5s to add to its large fleet.

The 205 Fighter Brigade had nearly 50 Su-20s at Beni Suef during the 1973 October War, the survivors later moving to Jiyanklis.

The F-16 is still in widespread use by the Egyptian Air Force, with over 200 F-16A, B, C & D models received.

There is a camouflaged Su-7 in the Cairo Military Museum also marked 7751 but that is false (actually 7320)

The backbone of Egypt's Air Force during the 1960s was provided by the delivery of 275 MiG-21s, this being one of the early variants supplied from 1962. Heavy losses in training and transfers to other Arab air forces halved this number by the time of the Six Day War in 1967, when most remaining aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Resupply of Czech-built and more advanced MiG -21 versions followed, along with Chinese J-7s later on. The last MiG-21s operated up until around 2010

The first batch of 14 Su-7BMKs was destroyed during the 1967 Six Day War. Between then and 1972, Egypt received an additional 185 Su-7BMK/UMK. Those which survived the October War with Israel were retired by the mid-1980s thanks to lack of spares

MiG-19s were operated by two squadrons of 15 Fighter Bomber Regiment from Hurghada and Fayid between 1962 and 1973. During the period around the Six Day War in June 1967, many were moved out to Syria.

Taking pride of place in the centre of the EAF Museum. At least 30 Tu-16s in various marks were acquired from 1962 and equipped three squadrons at Cairo West, Beni Suef and Aswan. Whole units were destroyed in the Six Day War in 1967 but measures were taken to limit losses the time of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. After relations with Moscow broke down, apparently Chinese Badger-copy H-6 bombers were also supplied. The last of the AS-1 Kennel air-to-surface missile equipped Tu-16K-11s and some of the H-6s may have soldiered on till 2000. The "TU-16" labelling is a recent, unfortunate addition!

The Gazelle is still in widespread use across the Egyptian Air Force, having equipped some six squadrons.

Another Soviet type used in large numbers before more modern equipment became available was the MiG-17. Heavy losses were experienced during the Six Day War in June 1967

MiG-15 trainers were used by the Egyptian Air Force's OTU from 1955 to 1961 as well as some of the Fighter Brigades

One of 120 Delfins supplied by Czechoslovakia

The Mi-8 and Mi-17 were acquired in considerable numbers in a range of versions and some are still in service. Four were seen at Almaza AB on landing at CAI

One of a large number of 'Hounds' supplied to Egypt by the Soviet Union, operated by 12 Sqdn here at Almaza AB between 1958 and 1971

Painted in the colours of the national aerobatic team 'The Silver Stars', the identity of this K-8 is unknown.

Another of the Soviet-era designs used by Egypt was the ubiquitous An-2. A Kiev-built An-2

Carrying the old style Egyptian roundel used from 1945 to 1958