On Saturday, 11 October 2025, the team of the GDIP Media Center organised an exclusive tour titled The Squadron of Airships for representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps, where diplomats explored the history of Ukrainian aviation.
Among the participants were the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Albania, Ernal Filo, and Montenegro, Borjanka Simićević, as well as diplomats from the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Türkiye. Representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, UNHCR, and UNICEF in Ukraine also took part.
As part of the visit, the diplomats toured Oleh Antonov State Aviation Museum — one of the country’s youngest and largest historical and technical museums, currently closed to the general public due to martial law. The diplomats immersed themselves in the history of Ukrainian aviation, viewing legendary models of aircraft, helicopters, engines, and armaments now preserved across two unique locations. The museum’s collection features more than 30 samples of military and civilian aircraft and helicopters that once soared in the skies. Among the exhibits are the supersonic bomber Su-24, the fighter-bomber Su-20, the attack aircraft Su-25, as well as the unique jets Tu-104 and Il-86. The assembled collection impresses with its remarkable combination of power and elegance — qualities that defined the aviation of the last century. Participants had a unique opportunity to see these machines up close and literally touch the living history of Ukraine’s skies.
After visiting the museum, the foreign guests proceeded to a laboratory of aviation technology — the training hangar of the State University ‘Kyiv Aviation Institute’. It is the largest educational space in Europe, covering an area of 7,200 m², and houses an impressive collection of Ukrainian civil aircraft from different eras, including ANT-7, An-2, An-24, L-410, Yak-42, Tu-154, as well as Mi-2, Mi-4, Mi-8, and Ka-26 helicopters. During the visit, the diplomats not only viewed these iconic aircraft but also explored the technical structure and inner workings of the planes. Particular attention was drawn to the display of powerful aircraft engines, including gas-turbine models. The aircraft and helicopters were presented in dissected form, allowing visitors to observe their design and engineering features that are usually hidden from passengers.
An important part of the tour was an overview of modern aerial weaponry used by russia to attack Ukraine since 24 February 2022. Among the exhibits were demilitarised Kh-22 and Kh-55 missiles, a mock-up of an S-300 surface-to-air missile, modified Geran kamikaze drones (the russian version of Shahed), guided and high-explosive aerial bombs, a Kalibr cruise missile, as well as training models of aircraft guns and machine guns.
The tour was led by an experienced pilot who knows everything about every aircraft. He demonstrated how the systems operate: propeller rotation, landing gear deployment, and flap control. Using a flight simulator, the diplomats had the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be a pilot: take the controls, lift off, land on the runway, explore the cockpit, step inside the aircraft, and take vivid photos. For every participant, it was a unique chance to get closer to aviation technology and feel the spirit of real aviation life.
