Hubschraubermuseum

Description

In the centre of Bückeburg on Sablé-Platz is the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg, an institution devoted exclusively to the history and technology of rotary-wing aircraft. As the only museum of this specialization in Germany, it is one of the few helicopter museums worldwide.

The museum’s roots lie near the Heeresflugplatz Bückeburg, where since 1960 the Heeresfliegerwaffenschule (today Internationales Hubschrauberausbildungszentrum) has been based. The first holdings were assembled as early as 1961 on the barracks grounds; this initial collection belonged to the military sector and was accessible only to service personnel, invited guests and registered school classes. In 1970 the collection was moved into the town centre; the city provided the Münchhausen-Burgmannshof, and the museum opened there to the public in 1971. An extension adding a 2,000-square-metre annexe followed between 1978 and 1980. For its 40th anniversary, a modern extension was opened in 2011 and the exhibition was comprehensively redesigned. In 2013 the museum joined with other Lower Saxony aviation museums to form the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Niedersächsischer Luftfahrtmuseen. Internationally, the museum stands alongside the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare (England) and the American Helicopter Museum (West Chester, Pennsylvania).

As its symbol the museum uses Leonardo da Vinci’s aerial screw from 1483; the museum building, the former Burgmannshof, is first documented in 1463.

The Förderverein Hubschrauberzentrum e. V., founded in 1970, operates and maintains the museum, preserves an extensive archive and a library, and promotes scholarly exchange, among other things through the biennial Hubschrauberforum.

The collection comprises single-rotor and multi-rotor helicopters, autogyros, Flugschrauber, drones, as well as numerous models, historical photographs, functional rotor models and technical teaching materials including components and instruments. As of April 2023, 53 full-size exhibits are on display. A helicopter simulator is available for visitors.