I recently visited the Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bangkok while waiting for my temporary work permit (TRC) to be processed in Thailand. This was my second trip to Bangkok, so I decided to skip the temples this time. Instead, as a big military history enthusiast, I chose to explore something different.
The Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bangkok sits around 30km north of the city centre. Best of all, entry is completely free. The museum displays a wide range of aircraft, from early aviation models to modern fighter jets.
How to get there / cost of transport
Although I’m no Thailand transport expert, I highly recommend using Bangkok’s public transport system. Traffic in the city can be intense, so the BTS Skytrain is usually the fastest option.
To reach the Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bangkok, take the BTS Sukhumvit Line and get off at Royal Thai Air Force Museum Station. Yes — it really is that simple.
Cost of transport
Ticket prices range from 17–45 THB depending on distance. Alternatively, you can purchase an unlimited day pass for around 120–150 THB. Therefore, if you plan to travel around Bangkok, the day pass may offer better value.
Arriving at your stop
Once you exit the station, the museum is about a five-minute walk. Simply turn left and follow the road.
When you arrive at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bangkok, you’ll see a large statue near the entrance. Walk past it to reach the main building. Inside, you’ll find: toilets, two coffee shops and plenty of storage lockers.
Exploring the museum
The museum consists of several large aircraft hangars. Each hangar focuses on a different era of aviation history. As you move through the exhibits, you can clearly see how aircraft technology has evolved over time.
The layout makes it easy to follow the development of flight. Early propeller planes sit alongside Cold War jets and modern military aircraft. Consequently, you gain a strong understanding of aviation progress in Thailand and beyond.
The outside area
As I mentioned there is a vast array of aircraft in the outside section some really cool aircrafts from Russian MiGs to huge transport aircraft that you can explore from within the cockpit.
Aircraft simulator
One of the most interesting and pleasantly surprising parts of the museum was the aircraft simulator. I came across this section accidentally in one of the secondary hangers. There are number of simulators that are placed into real aircraft with a surround screen set up, which gives you a surreal immersive experience.
Summary
I would highly recommend giving this museum a visit if you’re interested in military history, there is a huge selection of aircraft and the transport links make it an easy location to reach and with the museum being free is the icing on the cake.