[ZS-VAN]

Boy! That was a long title. Yesterday while on business in Johannesburg I had the opportunity to briefly drop into the museum. All I can say is AWESOME!!!

One of the first things I saw was a Fw190A6/R6! What an awesome looking machine! Two 20mm cannon in the wing roots plus 2 30mm cannon in pods under the wings. In addition, it had a fairing on the top of each wing with three antennae.

Displayed with it was a crashed Bf 109E 3 and a Me 262B-1a/U1. Stunning! OK, so I'm charged up, what's next? I step out toward the next hall and I pass a German 88, Pak 35/36, 38 and 40! Really nice guns.

On into the hall! First thing I see is a Spitfire FVIII in bare metal. After passing it numerous times I notice the extended wing tips! On the opposite side of the hall is a Bf 109F-2 Trop No. III Gruppe. Looked like a JG27 bird to me.

Between the Spit and 109 is a SE5a. Interesting! At the back on my left I see a Mk IIc Trop Hurricane and on my right is a DH9 and Hawker Hartebees. Then I look up. Sitting perched on on its undercarriage but raised on plinths is a blue PR Mosquito! Am I in heaven?! In my own country?! Wicked.

The next hall has loads of small arms from rifles, submachine guns, heavy MGs swords, field guns, a Stuart, Sherman and the Sexton (Sherman chassis with field gun).

Outside there's old artillery pieces dating from the Boer War. Walking on there's a naval display with a German Molch submarine! Wait! I look left, a Mirage IIICZ with a Buccaneer S Mk 50 behind it.

To my left is an aviation shop. They had the Armour Mirage III for sale. Truly a huge disappointment with the real thing so close by for comparison! I was tempted by two Easy Model Mig 3s and 1/100 series Model Power B25 and P61. I held out.

Stepping out of the shop there's a row of armoured vehicles starting with the Comet, Centurion and T34/85. Further on is a stunning T55 in sand and brown camo. There's more armour but what next catches my eye is SdKfz 251 in Afrika Korps colours. Very nice indeed.

Nearly done, got a plane to catch! Aarhhh, South African G5 and G6 self propelled gun, AWESOME! Then a row of artillery pieces, some Russian when my eye catches the twin 57mm AA gun behind this lot, very cool. Whoa! What's that uuurgly tank?! Oh, it's a Churchill!

Wait, gotta bail. Hhhmmm, first, lets have a another look at the Spit, Hurri, Mossie and 109F. Happy! Now the 262 and that stunning 190. Yesss, happy. Think I can go now.

Unhappily I went on business so no camera, but, I did think of you lot so I bought a few post cards. Strangely they only covered the German birds. Enjoy! Check out the website: http://www.militarymuseum.co.za/

[mustangdriver]

Very cool looking museum. Some real rare birds in there. Thanks for posting.

[STARMAN 352ND]

They have a Museum there too...Wow...That does look like a nice place to vist
someday..Thanks for sharing that with us ZS.
JP

[Captain Eddie]

Hey, ZS-VAN, any pics of the WW I birds available?

[bsmith13]

Awesome pics! It looks like a very nice museum. I like the dispaly of the crashed 109...

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Hey, ZS-VAN, any pics of the WW I birds available?

Unhappily no Captain Eddie. I will have to make a plan to get to Johannesburg sometime in the future to take some pics. It's a thousand miles away, literally. When I do, I'll be sure to take the camera and maybe take a days' leave to get there and spend some quality time checking everything out. As I said, I was on business then grabbed the opportunity when it arose.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

They have a Museum there too...Wow...That does look like a nice place to vist
someday..Thanks for sharing that with us ZS.
JP

Given that ZS-VAN is most likely very polite, let me provide some facts of interest with regard to South Africa:

• South Africa fought on the side of the Allies in both World Wars and in Korea
• The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the second oldest military airforce
• South Africa developed a nuclear military capability/arsenal several decades ago and subsequently became the first country to voluntarily dismantle it (under international supervision) in the early 1990s after it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• First human heart transplant was undertaken by Dr Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1967
• The G5 artillery system and G6 (Rhino) mobile artillery system developed in SA are widely regarded as among the best (if not the best) available today, with the G6 being first produced/deployed in 1987
• The 'V' chassis design for the new mine-proof vehicles being developed and deployed for use by the US military in Iraq have their genesis in South African designs dating back decades
• South Africa has a reasonably competent rugby team (Springboks) but the New Zealand All Blacks are better .

So, given the abovementioned facts and alluding to the abovementioned quote, I would have to say "yes, they have museums there too" ...

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Given that ZS-VAN is most likely very polite, let me provide some facts of interest with regard to South Africa:

• South Africa fought on the side of the Allies in both World Wars and in Korea
• The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the second oldest military airforce
• South Africa developed a nuclear military capability/arsenal several decades ago and subsequently became the first country to voluntarily dismantle it (under international supervision) in the early 1990s after it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• First human heart transplant was undertaken by Dr Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1967
• The G5 artillery system and G6 (Rhino) mobile artillery system developed in SA are widely regarded as among the best (if not the best) available today, with the G6 being first produced/deployed in 1987
• The 'V' chassis design for the new mine-proof vehicles being developed and deployed for use by the US military in Iraq have their genesis in South African designs dating back decades
• South Africa has a reasonably competent rugby team (Springboks) but the New Zealand All Blacks are better .

So, given the abovementioned facts and alluding to the abovementioned quote, I would have to say "yes, they have museums there too" ...

The All Blacks are better?! Bringing out the patriot in me Card! It should be noted that it took the All Blacks 70 minutes to finish off a team slated as a second rate by yourselves and the Aussies this morning. World Cup here we come!!!

Thanks for the insights on South Africa Cardinal. I couldn't have done better myself. Also of interest in Cape Town is Thunder City where YOU, yes YOU, can take a hop in an EE Lightning, still one of the fastest jets from standstill to 50000ft! Check out :- http://www.thundercity.com/

[tank nut]

cool stuff thanks for sharing with us !!!

[ZS-VAN]

OK, so it's been a while but I've finally managed to make the 1000 mile trip to Johannesburg to take plenty of piccies! I took as much as I could to give an idea of all the exhibits. Enjoy!